STOCK-DROVING.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 12 June 1914, Page 2

STOCK-DROVING.

AS IT WAS. ! Some years ago it was necessary ; to take a small mob of cattle from '■ our station at Tonio to Baranda, i another station sibaut 250 miles ! North-west. In these days this is only an ordinary journey, practically ; unattended by outside danger, but ; at that time it was a question of j being aide to reach the destination { with a whole skin, besides taking a j mob of cattle safely. But it was j one of those necessary risks which i so many of the pioneers of the West | had to undertake before increased civilisation crept further inland. The mob for droving were in paddocks near the head station, and were tolerably quiet, and the evening before starting- they were all j yarded ready to enable us to make an early start next morning, j Also the provision and ammunition waggon was packed, water bags filled, and all other essentials for the journey wisely prepared. j For the number of cattle alone, three men would .have been su/ncient but under the circumstances I deemed it necessary to increase the number, so six of us mustered. We made a good sttirt, the cattle settling down to the road by evening, and for the first four days all went satisfactorily, during which time we made good progress. Water began to get less plentiful then, however, and we had to economise; also at this time the blacks showed themselves, and their attitude was anything but amiable. At first we merely ignored them, yet kept a vigilant eye against surprise, but the next day they began harassing two of us who had gone ahead to define the route, and as we were skirting a patch of scrub at the time it was not wise to make a halt before reaching open country, which we anticipated doing just before sundown. Our calculation proved good, and before darkness fell the cattle were quartered, fires lighted, and watches set for the night, after which we sat round the camp fire for an hour, speculating whether there would be any further move or not on the part of the blacks on the following day. Until dawn we were fairly sale, for as a rule the black fellows don't care about fighting in the darkness, so, rolling into our blankets, we made the most of a few hours' sleep, two of us being on watch ar different intervals all through the night. At the grey of dawn on the following morning we were roused up by the watch, who told us that some blacks were in sight, and on looking out. we beheld about a score of them, corroborating in front of the camp ami working up their courage, ready for what seemed to be certainly little less than a pitched battle. And we were not lsmg kept in doubt, for at the first appearance of the sun they advanced rapidly to within about twenty yards of the camp, and the first indication of hostilities was the arrival of about a dozen spears, well aimed, but fortunately doing no damage. Tt was then that their artful tactics became apparent. They had placed themselves so that the rising sun shone at their backs, while the rajs dazzled us, making it difficult to follow their rapid movements. This would never do, and since they had commenced hostilities T instructed my five companions to open careful fire, not to waste any shots, and if possible put an end to the affair in one deadly sweep. This proved highly effective, for after two rounds all that were left who could get along made off as fast as they could, which ended that encounter. For the remainder of that day we were left severely alone, but on the following day the savages assailed us again, when breech-loading rifles once again more than compensated for disparity in numbers. After that the blacks took to the cattle, attempting to stampede them, and driving the poor beasts frantic with spear wounds, so that recovery became impossible. Also some of the horses at this time, driven to torment by thirst, drank water more salt than fresh, while others ate poisonous weeds, and either died or went mad, and could j not be caught, thus hindering us to such an extent that at one time we only travelled five miles in 3i hours. Our obstinate determination, however, must have disheartened the blacks, and this, together with the fact that they were getting- out of their usual grounds, caused them to , retire. At any rate, we were not • molested again, and it was a welcome addition when we were met Iby three station riders from Baranda, who had come to help us finish the journey. I I need not add that I was iini mensely relieved when the cattle, : about HO less than when we started, were handed over and safely paddocked again.—"Weekly Telegraph."