Cattle destined for market were at first driven along the track from Weheka back to Gillespie’s Beach and then along the coast to just north of Okarito at the Forks where there was a rough inland narrow gravel track used as a horse track. From there the cattle headed for Arahura just beyond Hokitika where the first cattle sales were held. I can remember Uncle Fred Williams arriving at our house at Whataroa clad in oilskins on his way north with a mob. Access to holding paddocks for the cattle along the way enabled drover, dogs and cattle to break the journey at various places overnight depending on the length of the cattle drive.
Before he died, Lawn Williams, told of store cattle purchased from the Nolans down at Okuru which he’d driven up to Weheka along the coast - a distance of over 100 miles. In his prime, Lawn became a champion axe-man competing at local sports meetings.
Before the first train went through the Otira tunnel in 1923, cattle destined for Canterbury were railed from Ross (extended from Hokitika in 1909) to Otira, driven over the Pass, and put aboard the rail again at Arthur’s Pass. At the time of its opening, the tunnel was the longest in the then British Empire. The tunnel opening by Prime Minister Massey also heralded the end of the coaching era over the Pass.
As stated earlier, the Coast papers always reported local events, including cattle sales, of considerable interest to farming communities. Not only did it give an idea of how others were doing but it also became a matter of pride as to who got the best prices for their stock. Crops of turnips were used to fatten up cattle before they made the long trek up north for sale. It was the usual practice to sell bullocks in Spring when they were 3 years of age.
Grey River Argus - 4.9.1912 - advised on the fortnightly stock sale at Arahura yards with a nice even line of cattle from Messrs Sullivan Bros, Weheka, well sought after and readily sold.
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