NEW ZEALAND'S VETERAN WAE HORSE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5339, 21 May 1909, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND'S VETERAN WAE HORSE.

. "Major,";; tho valuable charger of Colonel l*o»ter, C.«., <lio<l «*t Heattierlea on May 11th .from, the effects of a severe chill. The noted historical career of "Major" hus on bevarnloccasions been published throughout New Zealand and in London, where his photograph was also published. The clwreased charger was an exceptionally fine stamp of horse, possessing all the best poin&i of strength and endurance, with a good pedigree of well-bred stock In tho Wairarapa district. -The Dominion's contribution to the remount horses sent to South Africa during the war. numbered 10,000, and of this largo uumber "Major" was the only ono that returned to.lsow Zeniunu, uu |er escaping, all tho hardships of campaigning and the 1 deadly sickness-" es peculiar to South Africa. During MW campaigning he treked through the Portuguese territory from Beira to Ifhodesia, urn] Kimberley, Orange Ifiver Colony, TrausvaaY Natal, Zululand, and Cape Colony, (luring which he was twice wounded,once in the knee and once in the shoulder, but otherwise was never once on the sick lines. The wound m the knee nearly caused his being destroyed, as being on trek, all disabled lu>rses : had to be shot rather than be left to the enemy, l^ the evening the Veterinary officer reported he" must be shot, but "kajor" was given until the morning by which time the bullet, which had lodged in the joint, worked out and so saved his life. The wound in the chest was from a long range, and the bullel did not penetrate beyond the bone, from whence it was cut out ;.so he escaped again. 00-anoth-er -jccasion, during an engagement against General, Botha, the : brderlv in charge, after Colonel Porter had dismounted -with his men, left "jr - a>r in an «%osed position for several hours, duririf which he i-eceivbd several bullet scratches. When Colom«n?Or^ r le^ S ° Uth Africa to coniK #h Coron * tion Contingent. • K ' tchen e r - who had much ad- ""*** **? horse, gave instructions to' send him by a troopship to E c! ll°wL th< i' CaPO for Porter Landed at Southampton he was sent by mistake to Colonel Porter's couwn at Tremerttm Castle Corn, don ' *"? afterward » cached London and was ridden by Colonel J'orter during the Coronation celebra«k^ . Zealand by a New Zealand! Shipping . Company's stentner; H "d Jot qUa fr tiDed three won th S on\ Somes Island, thence h*.in.r ♦ . >orne Herald. .-G, s . trial " Double {