THOUSANDS OF SHEEP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 268, 7 February 1941, Page 5

THOUSANDS OF SHEEP

OYER 40,000 FOR AUCTION

ALL ROADS BUSY

During the first ten days of this month over 48,000 sheep will be offered at auction sales in the Bay ot Plenty, the main sales being scheduled to take place at Whakatane and Opotiki. For some weeks past all roads leading from the Gisborne and East Coast districts have been massed with sheep arriving not only for the sales to be held but also !i 'oil trek to tlie Waikato. It is estimat-* ed that this year more than 200,000 breeding ewes will be absorbed in the Waikato.

Sheep movements began earlier this year. In the past not so many mobs have been on the road for the Waikato before New Year but* in response to a request from buyers, the annual trek commenced sooner.. It is likely that a chief reason for this was the expectation that motor traffic would be less than in other summers. Miost of the sheep have been.sold forward to farmers who wish to take delivery on their farms although the stock companies have large offerings for auction.

As yet the movements have not commenced in the Rotorua district to the great extent anticipated when the Native Land Schemes send away many thousands.

Large consignments have been travelling by rail from Tanealua, one* day last week a train of 36 trucks passing through Whakatane. \Vest and last week-end 62 trucks going through in one train. Several thousands have also been transported to the Tauranga district from the East Coast by boat and there transferred to the rail.