FAT LAMB SEASON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 39, 14 January 1935, Page 6

FAT LAMB SEASON

NOW AT ITS HEIGHT. BUSY TIME ON THE RAILWAYS. With the fat lamb season now at its height there are usually four stock trains passing through Palmerston North each night on their way to Petone and Ngahauranga, an average of 800 trucks a week convey mg <0 lambs each being used. Although the rush has fallen an ay a little, immediately after the rain, those responsible at the Palmerston North railway station for the marshalling of the trucks at the desired points in this district have been called upon to exercise all tlieir organising ability. The work is exacting and requires at its head an officer who has undergone a considerable amount of training an who has a flair for organising highly developed. This season promises to be a long drawn out one and on present indications the department is expecting to have fat stock . passing through Palmerston North until about May. . , ~ Each year there are times when the supplv of trucks becomes short and even this year what are known as the high-sided steel vehicles have been requisitioned for carrying stock. Ih®y are used for short' hauls, where the animals will not remain in them for a o-reat length of time, the specially constructed sheep trucks being employed on the long distance hauls Ihe high-sided trucks carry about 40 lambs each. , , _ Palmerston North is a centre through which the fat stock from over a wide area pass on tlieir way to W ellington. and trains reach this pomt from Hawke’s Bay, Rangitikei, Wanganui and the Alain Trunk areas. No only do arrangements have to be made for the carriage of the fat stock to the freezing works, hut there are also the empty trucks to be returned and they provide special trains in themfreezing works at Longburn also call for considerable sheep-truck accommodation and are fed by trains which have their starting points many miles from this centre. LARGE STOCK TRAIN.

TOTAL OF FIFTY WAGGONS. WHANGAREI. Jan. 12. What is probably a record in railway transport of livestock to the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company’s works at Moerewa was created when 50 waggons were drawn by two engines, the stock lieing collected from as far south as Tangowahine and intermediate stations. The stock comprised mostly lambs and pigs, which were in excellent condition. The exceptionally large stock train is accounted for by the setbacks encountered during December, when North Auckland experienced heavy floods which greatly interfered with transport. It is understood the stock trains, which run twice weekly, are already fully reserved for the next week.