DROVING MISHAP

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1933, Page 12

DROVING MISHAP

CATTLE OVER WHARF.

INJURED BEASTS SHOT.

While a large number of cattle were being driven along the Greymouth Wharf to the abattoirs last week by Mr. H. Gibbons, they became frightened at the wharf with the result that three bullocks were pushed over the edge of the wharf by some of the other cattle. All of the three were injured and two of them were quickly despatched by a .22 rifle and bled, but the third struggled into the water and commenced to swim down the river. The two dead beasts, were put on a lorry and carted away. The third bullock, which had a broken left fore-leg, continued his swim in the river. For some time he defied the efforts of the occupants of two “flatties to turn him down tire river, but he was eventually turned in to the lagoon, where it was intended to despatch him in a similar manner to the other two. Before a shot could be secured however, he turned again and commenced to swim down the river with the boats in pursuit. An attempt was made to shoot him from the boat with the .22 rifle, but a number of shots proved quite ineffective, due to the small calibre of the rifle. The animal eventually worked over to the Cobden side of the river, where he rested on a ledge, half out of the water. Tlie small rifle having proved ineffective, a call was made for a larger rifle as it was thought the beast could be towed ashore dead. Mr. F. Stent procured his .303 rifle and essayed a shot across the river, about 150 yards. The first was slightly high, but the second shot scored a direct hit, a good shot, considering that only the head of the animal was visible. The beast rolled over, and appeared dead, but a second later, however, it revived, gave a few struggles, and commenced to float down with the current. Then came the disappointing part for the owners, for, instead of floating so that a rope could be secured, it went down and came up twice, and then disappeared. Despite a search by the boat, it could not be located, having sunk to the bottom.