DISTRICT SHEEP NORTHWARD BOUND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21934, 31 January 1946, Page 4

DISTRICT SHEEP NORTHWARD BOUND

ANNUALJEXODUS WAIKATO TRANSFER '‘STAGGERED” SEASON MAIN WORK FINISHED Drought conditions prevailing in outside districts, including the Waikato, are having their effect on the annual exodus of breeding and store sheep from this district, but even so substantial numbers of sheep have been sent from this district. The Gisborne-East Coast area is essentially a breed ground for sheep and the surplus slock has to go out of the district each year for fattening on country more suited for this purpose than the hill country here. The first deliveries of sheep were made to the Waikato this season in late October when the first of the newly-shorn two-tooth ewes and wethers went on to the road. Traffic in dry sheep went on until Christmas, about which time the wet ewes were weaned and made ready for the journey north.

From early in January district sheep have been going through to the Waikato pastures in large drafts, both by road and rail as far as possible. The back of this work has been broken now and about two-thirds of the total number have either reached their destination or are on the way. Much of the stock that has latterly been transported out of this district was purchased early in the season by outside buyers on the tinderstanding that delivery would be taken after shearing. Because of the unusually dry conditions in the Waikato some local farmers held the sheep bade here as long as they could, but now as the position becomes more acute here with regard to feed and water this holdback has to be cleared. Watering places on the route north are not too plentiful as most of the creeks have dried up and several of the smaller rivers are the worst for the dry season. Shortage of Drovers The shortage of drovers held up the exodus to some extent. As usual, there was some difficulty In getting an ade-

quate number of men about this time of the year because of the abnormal demand" on their services, but this year the position seemed to have worsened. This may be due to the fact that several of the drovers have obtained work on stations during the slack of droving activities and have a disinclination to take to the road again. Then again many of the men feel they are too old to stand the long journey and there does not appear to be sufficient young drovers coming on to take their place. The Railway Department has been busy carrying sheep to the Motuhora terminus, "from where they complete the journey by road. The Gisborne station-master, Mr. T. Martin, stated this morning that there was an abnormal demand for wagons, but the department had been able to place all orders without undue delay to farmers. Abnormal Demands

“If at times the railway cannot cater for the demands' immediately, it is not because of a direct shortage of rolling stock, but because of the abnormal demand.” Mr. Martin commented. “There is sufficient rolling stock to meet the usual needs, but at a time like this we may be hard pressed occasionally. However, there has been no undue delay caused and all the orders have been fulfilled.” “The season has been more ‘staggered’ than usual, for outside districts have been unable to take the quantity of cattle and sheep because of the drought conditions prevailing almost universally in * the Waikato and Hawke’s Bay.” ' So far less stock than last year had been carried by the railways, he said, although the biggest lots would be coming forward after the sales in February. . . Sheep from the East Cape district are also on the move northwards, swelling the numbers for the Waikato. How this season’s tally will compare witli last year’s figures cannot be definitely known until all have left here, but the indications are that there will not be much difference between the two. Tuesday, February 5, will mark the commencement of ewe fairs in the district and these are expected to bring fresh impetus to the outwardbound movement.