RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 28

RANDOM REMINDER

PASTORAL PEACE

While one can not but admire the industry and efficiency of those who provide New Zealand with its farming backbone, one can not fail to sympathise with the farmers, for the beasts of the field are often vexing in their habits. Take the Darfield man who ran sheep, and who decided to acquire a cow. The animal was trucked down to him from another farm, and put into a field. To that stage, no hint of the drama ahead. The new owner concluded it was about time to milk the cow, which was offering ample evidence that servicing was required. Yet the obstinate beast refused to be cornered. The man pur-

sued it on foot and a little later he was reinforced by a friendly stock and station agent who, if dressed for town with a new turned down hat and a sports coat of beautiful tweed, saw that help was needed. They would have done it better on the Ponderosa no doubt; at Darfield, two men on foot found it difficult, for if it seemed to be carrying half the town milk supply, the cow showed remarkable agility and determination. But finally it was cornered and caught. The owner asked his wife to tie it up, and he produced a stool and a bucket. The operation began. It proceeded satisfactorily until an advanced

stage: the bucket wai about half full when the cow began to move. Ant? it took with it the un hinged gate to which th« farmer's wife had attached it. It also took with i‘- the fanner, and the ,<tock and station agent, and the stock and station agent took with him most of the milk, on his fine tweed sports coat and immaculate flannel trousers. The great Chicago fire had beginnings somewhat similar. The chaos was comparable. There were legs and buckets and stools and the gate and the two struggling people. And there was the cow, out in front, and making the most of a moment which swiftly reduced the, dignity of farming the land to a custard pie comedy.