DROVING

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1928, Page 7

DROVING

IN OUTBACK AUSTRALIA

A FIFTEEN JOURNEY

SYDNEY, September 2

Remaps one of the most romanti'occupations in Australia is that of t-"e drover, who, more than auynody else, is proving that, although this may be the age of the motor car, the horse still has its uses. Some icmn riftible droving feats have been a ■■ • mplishe l in the past, an epic- in this regard heing the moving last year of 11,000 head of cattle from the Northern Territory into New South Wales. Tim stock travelled in mobs of I‘2oo, and so successful was the undertaking that another important contract has just been let. New Zealanders who have little idea of the magnitude of the great outback of Austr lia will find it difficult to realise that this latest journey will occnpy at least lo'*months, during which time it is hoped to move 3000 bead oi cattle from the Territory into New South Wales. There will hie three “plants” provided by the contracting drovers, ancl each plant will handle 1000 cattle. What is a plant? Well a plant is now on its way from Brisbane and it comprises '4O horses, a lour or five horse waggon, equipped with tanks, cooking gear, cam]) ovens, tarpaulins—all the varied impedimenta of a droving party. The party has to travel] overland a distance of 600 miles where the cattle are waiting. On the way there this party will be joined by the two other parties.

The droving will not commence until March next, when the routes will he dry enough to travel stock, yet with enough water for them. The Water supply is no small consideration. The'three outfits will operate about tens days apart, and each will move its cattle at the rate of 56 miles a week—eight miles a day.- The men who have pioneered this route have done their work remarkably well, for it is stated that there is usually good water practically the whole of the Way if tne season is at all good. jOf course there are dry stretches, and then the cattle are kept on the water until midday, and then travelled only about six miles The next day they travel about twelve miles to the water, and when the water is close the cattle take a- great deal of holding. To a veiy large extent thle weather conditions govern the route to be taken, so it will be realised tnat droving is a task to be undertaken only by the most experienced of men. There is big money to be earned at droving and the big money is certainly well earned. “We don’t like this stalling business,” said the head drover in Hrisbane the other day. “ Wliat we like is the finishing up and the dividing of the cash. The contract gives us 2s°per head per 100 miles travelled, so that we will make £3OO per fortnight when the whole 3000 are moving and we will need every bit df it with wages to pay and butter about 5s a lb at Camooweal. Still, it is a good life, and when we have finished there is a chance of a contract to remove 20,000 head of cattle from the Roper River. That would be- worth while.”