THE CATTLE KING.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1919, Page 3

THE CATTLE KING.

A STAY IN AUCKLAND; AN £8,000,000 RAILWAY. One of Australia's most remarkable men, Mr. Sidney Kidman, was in Auckland last week en route, by the Niagara, to America. He is known as the "Cattle King," even in the land where thousands of men measure their holdings by tlw mile. An interviewer fouiul him to be a tall, lean man, of about 00 years, and a typical Australian. In the course of. ant hour's conversation, one gathered that, notwithstanding the vast land and other interests of this man, who, by the way, does not know the extent of his holdings, and can only guess at the amount of stock he owns, he remains at heart the stockman of the Never Never and the friend of the campfire. He speaks in the slow, soft drawl of the Australian, sometimes using the language of the drover and sometimes that of the financier and man of affairs,, and he displays no more interest in referring to transactions the size of which take the breath away than to the branding of a bullock.

He began by saying that in many parts of Australia, particularly in New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia, there had been drought for about twelve months, and that if good rains did not fall by November it would be one of the worst droughts the country had ever known. "We have some, sheep stations in the West Darling country," he remarked casually, "and we've lost a lot of sheep through the drought. We're probably 80,000 sheep short, and if it doesn't rain we'll lose a lot more. Of course, my principal interests are in cattle," he proceeded. "I have some cattle stations in South Australia where in some places there hasn't been two inches of rain in 18 months." He referred, in passing, to some further cattle stations he possessed in West Queensland, where drought also prevailed, but he was obviously unconscious of the fact that anyone could take any particular interest in these references to "some more stations."

HEAVY LOSSES OF CATTLE. When questioned as to how the farming districts were faring, he said that lie was "mixed up a good deal in squatting," but he "did some farming too," and indicated that in some parts there would be no crops to speak of if it did not rain. It would seem that the greatest problem of life in Australia is summed up in that constantly reiterated sentence, "If it will rain," In regard to tlij sheep, it occurred to him to say that a continuance of the drought might make it impossible to shear all the sheep. He explained that if the animals were too weak to be driven the best that could be done was to shear what could be mustered at temporary sheds in distant parts of the stations. As to cattle, he said that he had lost about 70,000 head in the ISI4-1S drought, but if rain did not come within the next few months he would IO3C "a lot more than that this year.'' The effect of tin drought had been to increase the price of beef throughout Australia, but, he added, "Beef is not 80 dear nver there as I saw it sold at West(ielti to -lay." For a time he spoke about New Zealand affairs, referring to the cnal shortage, the Government, and other matters. NO SIGNS OF MEAT TRUST.

Questioned about the meat trust, he said he had seen 110 signs of it ill Australia, whore there were too many independent organisations to make the creation of a trust easy. He considered that some of these organisations were far too powerful to be absorbed by any trust. Some conversation upon the progress —or lack of it—in railway construction in New Zealand brought forth the staggering remark: "Joe Tiuni'" I have iill'ered the. Government to build the trans-continental railway." and it was uttered in the most casual tones possible Asked for further particulars, he said that the 1200 miles of railway they had offered to built in three years would connect. l'ort Darwin with Adelaide. The line from Adelaide northwards had now reached Oodnadatta, 088 miles away. The cost, would be £8,000,000, and they offered to accept payment in Government bonds. The offer had been made about four months ago, but the Government had not yet had time to eome to a decision. "Timms and 1 do a lot of work for the Government," he added. "We're building a big reservoir at the Todl Kivcr, South Australia—Port Lincoln wa\—where there's a wonderful harbor. It was the first place Admiral JeUicoe visited. The Government is going to pump the water 011 to a hill, so that it can be carried by gravitation 240 miles. Tn connection with the lochs on the Murray, we're digging a channel 30 miles long into Lake Victoria.

MAN OF MANY ACTIVITIES. All sorts of matters were remarked upon by Mr. Kidman wheu going through a bundle of papers, newspaper cuttings, and photographs in search of some fur ther information about the £8,000,000 railway project. "There's a view of one of live wooden ships Mayo and I are building for the Commonwealth," was one remark. "That's a picture of myself lassooing a bullock," he continued. "We do most of our branding work with a lassoo from horseback. That's how we transport the casings for artesian bores," he remarked when he came across a couple of photos of camel trains. Some reference was also made to the ravages of wild dogs among the sheep and to the need for shooting wild horses which could not be tamed. Apparently designs are entertained by the visitor upon the lives of 2000 wild horses "when the weather gets warmer." He also came across an inquiry from the Government of India for some 2000 horses, which appeared to be quite an ordinary affair. Sir. Kidman failed to find further particulars about the great railway scheme, but ho added that it would open up hundreds of miles of country which was not settled and which could carry population. "There's fine country beyond the McDonald ranges," he added. "The rainfall increases as you go north, and after Pine Creek it is heavy. Timms and I know the country well," were the lastwords of this remarkable man.