ROMANCE OF DROVING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5375, 16 January 1929, Page 4

ROMANCE OF DROVING.

“ OUTBACK ” IN AUSTRALIA. MOVING 3000 HEAD. Perjiaps one of the mos.t romantic occupations is that of the drover, who, more than anybody elsje, is proving that although this may be the age of the motor, the 'horse still has its uses. Some remarkable driving feats have been accomplished in the past, an epic in this regard being the moving last year of 11,000 head of cattle; from the Nortiiern Territory into New South Wales. The stock travelled in mo.bs of 1200, and so successful wa3 the undertaking that another, important contract has just been let.

New Zealanders v r ho have little, idea of the magnitude of the great outback of Australia will find it difficult to realis.e that this latest jo.urney will occupy at least fifteen months, during which time it is hoped to move 3000 head of cattle from the territory into New South Wales. There will be three “ plants ” provided by the contracting buyers, and each plant will handlel 1000 cattle.

What is a plant 1 Well, a plant is now on its way from Brisbane, and it comprises 40 horses, a four or fivehorse waggon equipped with tanks, cooking gear, v amp ovens, tarpaulins —all the varied impedimenta of a droving party. The party has to travel overland a distance of SOO miles to where the cattle are waiting. On the way there this party will be joined by two other parties. The drbt'ing will not commence until March next, when the routes will be dry qnougii. to. travel stoc.k, yet with enough water for them. The water supply is, no small consideration when it is realised that a mob of 1000 swallows 1600 gallons of water at each drink. The three outfits will operate about ter. days apart, and qach will move its cattie at the rate of 56 miles a week—eight miles, a day. The men who have pioneered this route have done their, work remarkably wejll, for it is stated that there is usually gco.d water practically the whole of the way. Of. course, there are dry stretches, and then the»c,attic are kept on thewater until midday, and then travel only about six miles. The next dlay they travel about I'2 miles to the water, and when the water is close the cattle take a gr,eat deal of holding. To a very large extent, the weather conditions govern the route to be taken, up it will be realised that d rving is a task to be undertaken only by most experienced; men.

There is big money to. be earned at c'roving, and the big money is certairly well, ear.ned. “We don’t like tiij.; stmting bnsiness,” said the head drover in Brisbane the other day. “ What we like is the finishing up and the dividing of the cash. The contract gives us 2s a head for eac;h ICO- miles travelled, so that we will make £3OO a fortnight when tie whole 3000 are mo.ving—and we will need every bit of it with wages to pay and butter about 5s a pound, at Camopwcall. still, it is g, good life, and when we have finished there is a chance of a contract to remove 20,000 head of cattle fr,om the Ropejr River. That Xvould be worth while.”