Wild Horses in New Zealand.

Hastings Standard, Issue 11, 8 May 1896, Page 4

Wild Horses in New Zealand.

Few people arc aware that there are wild horses iu 2s\vv Zi-aland. A writer in Chambers's Journal says:—in the centre of the north inland ther-j are large areas of poor volcanic country of 110 value to the agriculturi-st. and of .siua.ll use to the squats r. Here are to be found herds of wild hor-.vs, the progeny of animals winch have escaped from stations and homesteads. As a rule the herds number from 10 to 12, made up of mares and one stallion. No stallion will allow another stallion into his herd, and stubborn rights frequently occur between ho- - - owing to this. The beaten ui.' .t\ r being expelled, join herds e>cl.w\ 1; of stallions. On any herd being sighted by the hunters a good idea can generally be formed by an experienced man as to which route the animals will take in their way to the rugged hills, for which they invariablv make when disturbed. A scheme is mapped out to cut them off if possible, and the partyscatter each to take up his allotted position. Of course, while doing this every advantage is taken of the natural inequalities of the ground so as to escape observation. When the alar:a is given, however, all need for caution is at an end, and each hunter puts his steed to full gallop. The stallion, the head of the herd, comes boldly out to meet him, and endeavours to distract attention from the rest. In some rare instances he is lassoed and captured at once, but he generally manages to rejoin his mates, which by this time have trooped into single file with his favourite mare in the lead. Should the herd be turned and get into difficulties, the stallion takes up his position in the van, and the great object is to cut him off from the rest. Should this be accomplished, both he and the mares become confused, and the lassoers often manage to take two or three per man.