ROMANCE OF DROVING

Evening Star, Issue 20029, 21 November 1928, Page 11

ROMANCE OF DROVING

"OUTBACK" IN AUSTRALIA MOVING THREE THOUSAND HEAD Perhaps one of tho most romantic occupations is that of tho drover, who, more than anybody else, is proving that although this may bo tho ago of the motor, the horse still has its uses. Some remarkable driving feats have been accomplished in the past, an epic in this regard being the moving last year of 11,000 head of cattle from tho Northern Territory into New South Wales. Tho stock travelled in mobs of 1,200, and so successful was tho undertaking that another important contract has just been let.

New Zealanders who have little idea of tho magnitude of tho great outback of Australia, will iind it difficult to realise that this latest journey will occupy at least fifteen months, during which time it is hoped to move 3,000 head of cattlo from tho territory into Now South "Wales, There will bo three “plants’.’ provided by the contracting drovers, and each plant will handle .1,000 cattle. "What i,s a plant? Well, a plant is now on its way from Brisbane, and it comprises forty horses, a four or fiveliorso wagon equipped with tanks, cooking gear, camp ovens, tarpaulins—all the varied impedimenta of a droving party. , The party has to travel overland a distance of (500 -miles to whero tho cattle are waiting. On tho way there this party will be joined by the two other parties. The droving will not commenco_inil.il Alarch next, when tho routes will be dry enough to travel stock, yet with enough water for them. The water supply is no small consideration when it is realised that a mob of 1,000 swallows 1,(500 gallons of water at each drink. The three outfits will operate about ten days apart, and each will move its cattle at the rate of lifty-six miles a week—eight miles a day. The men who have pioneered this route have done their work remarkably well, for it is stated that there is usually good water practically the whole of the way. Of course, there are dry stretches, and then the cattle are kept on the water until midday, and then travel only about six miles. The next day they travel about twelve miles to the water, and when the water is close the cattlo take a groat deal of bolding. To a very large extent the weather conditions govern tho route to be taken, so it will bo realised that droving is a task to bo undertaken only by ihc most experienced of men. There is big money to be earned at droving, and tho big money is certainly well earned. “Wo don’t like this starting business,” said tbo head drover in Brisbane tho other day. “What wo like is the liuishing up and the dividing of the cash. Tho contract, gives us 2s a. head for each hundred miles travelled, so that we will make £3OO a fortnight when tho whole 3,000 are moving—and wo will need every bit of it with wages to pay and butter about 5s a pound at Caraoowcal. Still, it is a. good life, and when we have Jiuishcd there is a chance of a contract to remove 20,000 head of cattle from tho Bopcr Bivor. That would be worth while.”