SHEEP SHIPMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20153, 24 January 1940, Page 6

SHEEP SHIPMENTS

GISBORNE AND COAST TAURANGA PORT BUSY SOUTHERN PROSPECTS TWO LOADS POSSIBLE The season for the movement of sheep from Gisborne and East Coast districts to the Waikato has reached its height, and many thousands are being moved both by road and by sea.

Inquiries are being made regarding the prospect of sending several thousand sheep to the South Island this season. The South Island market for Poverty Bay breeding ewes was a large one up to about 10 years ago, and in one season more than 100,000 were shipped there, mainly to Lytteltop. Although the trade has dwindled to but a fraction of its former dimensions since then, hardly a year has passed without at least one boatload being sent south, although none went last season.

There is a prospect of two boatloads, approximately 5000 breeding ewes, being sent to the South Island this season, if adequate shipping arrangements can be made. Most From Coast The greatest part of the shipments north is being taken by the Pakura, which has been fitted up specially for the sheep traffic, taking approximately 2500 at a load. Arrangements have been made for the Pakura to move between 50,000 and 60,000 sheep before the end of next month. Most of these will be from the Coast, but this vessel is expected at Gisborne at the end of the week to load for Tauranga.

The Margaret W. also is engaged in the sheep trade, and at the end of the week will take a load to Tauranga, returning to Tolaga Bay during the weejc-end to move a load to Orakei, Auckland.

Most of the sheep being shipped north are going through the port of Tauranga, which presents a busy appearance, while practically all those which are driven to Taneatua and railed also pass through that town. Thousands of head of cattle also have passed through the town heading for the Waikato. Te Puke Fair To-morrow Gisborne and East Coast sheep have been recruited for the first sheep fair of, the season to be held in Te Puke to-morrow, for which the entry totals 8000. The greater part of this number, GOOO, will be from the Gisborne and East Coast districts, and a large bench of both local and outside buyers is expected. The following well known breeders are represented in the Te Puke offering:—Estate W. B. Mill; estate E. R. Murphy and Jas. Mill, of Tokomaru Bay; Messrs. Elmers, Wallis, Hall, Fitzgerald, and Ruakaka station, Gisborne.