WILD HORSES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1933, Page 3

WILD HORSES

QUEENSLAND MUSTERS

NUISANCE' TO FARMERS

The muster of wild horses in th e Beer, burrum district of Queans!.; nd has been proceeding lately under Mr <J. P. McAully, .the supervisor of the tobacco settlement. About 40 .'.were captured on opo day recently. Tlie horses ar e de--scendantg of these which-got free when the soldier settlers abandoned their farms in this district "and others which escaped. •• ' •'' . At -tlie 'beginning of thus year there, were 200-or more-horses in the eastern part of-the district. ‘With tire cultivation’of the'land there'-for tobacco growing thd : horses have become a'nuisance. Jn- a -reseh't muster 70 were' captured. When the muster was resumed on February 24 a' stockade had been built about eight illiIe« from Beerburruni' w'ifh long rates, leading to it.The animals had beeri-.'living in the marshy land: and their capture provided a difficult task for the horseman. In the aftei'iicon- toward dusk a ilai'ge band of 'horses had been •mustered/.but on " seeing the stockade ahead they swmipeded .through the cordon- of -clog, 3 aim mounted men and galloped back to the coast. ■ :

' Many of the 40 animals captured were - without brands. These which had brands were, in most; cases, >c- rrtiett by,.-their .owners on the.,-payment of a fee of £s.„ : -Some of -‘the - animals were good. farm, types and those- were m demand. Soma which.- were .. Branded were, sold for £3 each by their owners. Others without brands were .sold -for 10s each... Some, of -the homos wore d''se..sed and crippled and .those' were shot,. - There .were s evei;al foals among those captured.