SWIMMING THE WAITOTARA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 70, 16 December 1907, Page 2

SWIMMING THE WAITOTARA.

AN EXPERIENCE WITH SHEEP,

We shall have to be up by daylight 111 ' the mornmg to get tho sheep across the river, Sl ud my host tho evoning botoro (writes our travelling correspondent). Tho only way to put sheep, horses, and cattle over tho \\ aitotara river is to swim them. A mob of sheep had come up over the big saddle from Kai Iwi from Mr. Brotherton's, to be put on his bush section, and,they were put . hi Sir. Sexton's,yards over night, right in front of the crossing place. I was up In . fairly good time, but when I appeared on the sceno I saw several sheep had already been . put across. Goodness only knows:how niany dogs wore both helping and hindering. The dm was deafening. It was a steep bank with a run way of papa clay down to the water, and this bank ran up against a perpendicular cliff, so that, when the sheep were drivel down, they wore stopped by the cliff, and had either to run back (which the dogs and ' men prevented), or take to the water. They had literally to bo shoved and thrown'in. Even then they stood as long as they could. By and by a hurdle was brought, with which a small crush pen was made at the base''of the cliff. "Now then, boys, altogether; rush ' em in, keep'em going." And we did. Such a gamo you never'saw; everybody waving a blanch, or shoving the sheep down the bank; dogs barking, puppies yelping, lambs bleat- '" ing, their mothers constantly turning back, : till at last we got the pen full. All hands then pushed and shoved till a couple of ewes made a frantic jur.ip into the stream. Directly they began to swim a lot more jumped in, so vory soon the water was lull of sheep and lambs. Then other troubles began. Several lambs turned back, or went down stream bleating all the time; and at once the owes went after them. They got under the cliff, and tried to scale its stiaight wall. Of course, they began to sink when they lifted their forefeet. Some triod to get on the backs of others. "Quick; bring up ■the canoe. These lambs are drowning. Hurry up, man. Never mind the sheep; they will be all right." As Boon as possible the canoe—a flat-bottomed boat—was paddled rouud,_ and the lambs lifted in, all but ono poor little thing, which was drowned before the canoe could be got round. " Well, I'm not going to put any more across in this way; it's-not good enough. Wfe shall be here all day." So said Sexton, and certainly it was most exasperating. The next scheme was to muster' up the sheep which had already crossed, and hold them at the water's edge on the opposite side, so that when another lot were forced in they 'would see sheep across, and make for them. , - This plan was much moro successful, and a' r man on the other side received the sheep as they came ashore. Very soon the soft papa bank became a bog, in which the sheep sank;up to their bellies. As they could not extricate' themselves, the man had to go and tug them out. He was very in the, same plight, and finally was over his knees', too.' He would clutch a sheep, pull away, and, of course, the harder ho pulled the deeper, he sank. Wβ'on "our side could not possibly help laughing. The climax came when, sinking deeper, he put his hands down to lever himself out; and there ho was, stuck fast, over his knees at one end and over his elbows at tho other. Laiighl Wo just did, and no mistake. However, he took it all in good part, and seemed to he enjoying the fun as much as anybody. Finally, all the sheep were got over tno stream, but a good many lambs had, to be put across ,iii the canoe. There was a tremendous leak in it, and consequently sho was half full of water. All hands were dripping wet, as they : had to go into tho water to force the sheep. Still, it was. 'a';goq&tempered ;: crowd, and, having a,swear word now and then when the sheep would not move, everybody was in a good''humour. It will be'-a long time before I shall forget crbssing" sheep in the Waitotara river.