ON A CATTLE RANCH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 7, 6 December 1932, Page 2

ON A CATTLE RANCH.

THE WORK OF THE PIONEERS

Some insight into the life on a cattle ranch in Queensland was given members at to-day's meeting of the Lunch Club by Mr A. Hinrichsen. who explained at the outset that his father had been one of the pioneer ranchholders in Queensland that the speaker had spent in boyhood days in northern Australia. in commenting upon the vastness of Queensland, Air Hinrichsen explained that its acreage was so immense that' it could contain 1U or 12 countries of the size of New Zealand. As a result of that immenseness there was a variable climate, the north being extremely hot- with the area further'south comparatively cool. Referring to the seasonal occupations, the speaker explained that the spring was an extremely busy one on a cattle ranch for it marked the burning oil' period. By that he meant the burning off of the old grass, it being the opinion of ranchers that it was not good policy to allow the old grass to grow season after season. Those burning-offs often entailed grave danger in the event of a strong wind springing up unexpectedly, and a few years ago 15 fire-fighters had lost their lives in endeavouring to stop the progress of a, fire which had got out of hand. Such operations were performed in the spring, either at the end of July or in August. The period from September to October marked the arrival of the wonderful and beneficial rains. Although accepted as a dry climate, it rained very heavily at times, and the speaker had experienced 36 inches of rainfall within a period of as many hours. Thereafter the blue grass quickly put in its appearance to grow- 3ft to 4ft in height, while, if allowed to seed, it developed a soft vel-vet-blue flower. However, ranchers endeavoured to prevent the grass advancing to that stage for it then became somewhat hard. Early in the spring, continued the speaker, cattle dipping operations were undertaken for every safeguard had to be taken against the cattle tick. The summer brought the buyers from the meat companies. The securing of the young animals suitable for fattening purposes often occupied months and entailed the covering by the drovers of 600 to 1000 miles. On arrival at the homestead the new arrivals had to be inoculated against disease, earmarked and branded. The winter season brought the drudgery tasks. Men were sent afield with drays seeking and cutting out the prickly pear which was carted, placed in heaps and carefully burned. Every endeavour was made that not a single leaf should remain for with the rain it would come to life and throw out roots to later develop into a strong, ' healthy plant. Fencing was becoming more and more common. Drought periods brought difficulties to the rancher when the cattie died for want of moisture and food, while the days were dark and long, the atmosphere being darkened by dust particles. The conservation of water was .still a difficulty in Queensland. The Hereford cattle had proved to be the best for Queensland conditions, although the Polled Angus was gaining in popularity. Air Hinrichsen concluded by remarking that the ranch life of to-day differed in many respects from olden times. Electrical plants supplied light to the ranch and at night when all the buildings were glowing with lifrht the area was like a small township. Then there was the wireless, the telephone and regular postal services, which all assisted towards making the life much more pleasant. The present generation owed much to the pioneers who had borne the heat of the dayj who had fought hard, and the heritage of the sons of those pioneers was a rich one indeed. Mr A. G. Roe accorded the speaker the customary vote of thanks for his instructive address.