Merino: A Story of Sheep. This radio documentary features interviews, narration and dramatisation and focuses on the farming of merino sheep in the Marlborough region.
Part One opens with sound effects of sheep and dogs. The unidentified male narrator describes a merino muster taking place in Marlborough at Richmond Brook station. Owner Seymour Richmond describes the sight of a mob of 2,000 merino whethers coming in from the back country, covered in heavy wool. The narrator describes Richmond Brook station, which is still in the original family's hands.
Nearby Bankhouse station is owned by Mr H.Y. Monro, who talks about his ancestor founding the station, and also Hawkesbury Homestead where Mr S.J. Goulter of Wellington speaks for his grandfather Cyrus Goulter about the founding of this farm. [Short excerpts from Mr Richmond, Mr Monro and Mr Goulter continue to appear throughout the recording.]
The origins of New Zealand sheep farming in the Wairarapa is explained, with a dramatised re-enactment of Frederick Weld and Charles Clifford discussing moving to the Wairau to farm. Mention of the 'recent Wairau Massacre' and bringing sheep in from New South Wales.
Weld founded Flaxbourne while other settlers such as David Monro settled in other areas of the region. Mr H.Y. Monro talks about merinos being brought in from Australia.
Part Two. Cyrus Goulter's original cob house is still in use on the homestead today. Mr Goulter describes his grandfather's journey to the property.
Mr Richmond talks about his ancestor's arrival in the Awatere Valley. The history of these families is tied with the story of the merino breed in New Zealand. Mustering is described, with sound effects of shepherds' whistles and dogs. A dramatised re-enactment follows, with Charlie Goulter talking with his father about improving the breed and bringing in new stock.
The musterer's life driving pure-bred merinos from Leslie Hills in Canterbury to Hawkesbury is described by Mr Goulter, who also explains how his father brought in more stock from the Murrays and from Australia.
Part Three focuses on the trials of farming merino - especially scab disease, wild dogs and rabbits. The use of hot lime dip is recalled, which could scald the sheep if not done correctly. One of the interviewees says his grandfather unfortunately introduced rabbits to the property. Another man says his father would ride to the Clarence to shoot rabbits and bring them back, which caused much interest locally, but eventually rabbits moved into Marlborough, eating everything in their path. Poisoned grain was used to control rabbits but the fumes from the phosphorus could cause 'phossy jaw' in farm workers.
Boom times came as the New Zealand population expanded and the Franco-Pussian War saw wool prices boom in the 1870s. However, prices dropped after this and sheep were killed off.
Mr T.A. Beddington, a London wool broker, talks about the demand for fine New Zealand merino wool in 1950 sales.
The use of dogs to muster merino sheep is discussed by the narrator, who names some of the local mustering families: Forbes, Smith, Eves, Watson, Pierpont, Laidlaw.
Part Four. Jim Laidlaw talks about a clever heading dog he owned and that dog's descendants who continue to win at trials. The dog brought back a lost lamb on his own, without being told.
The annual visits to Marlborough sheep stations by 'swaggers' are recalled. Some of the nick-names of the transient men are mentioned: Scotty Martin, Jimmy the Arab, French Joe, The Shiner, Harry the Soldier, Death Recorded.
Mr Monro describes an anecdote about the swag-man known as "Death Recorded" turning up at for a pannikin of port wine at Bankhouse every year.
Mr Weston, a head shepherd who has been at his station [Richmond Brook] for 30 years, is interviewed about his different dogs.
The sounds of a shearing shed are heard [with a belt-driven shearing machine] as the narrator describes a sheep being shorn and the actions of the shearer.
The programme ends with a description of a mob being mustered into the yards. The dog heard barking is 'Digger" a mustering and trial dog owned by Mr J.H. Weston of Richmond Brook.