HUNTING MAORI HORSES IN MANAWATU

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3478, 14 October 1926, Page 10

HUNTING MAORI HORSES IN MANAWATU

One of the pioneers of the Mana walu district writes: ”Ro To Renvoi, block near Ka.kar.iki mentioned b> you yesterday, there arc many olu settlers here who remember thi; block as tlic favourite Sabbath hunting ground for Maori horses. A large body of men were engaged oi railway construction in this vicinity, and on building the bridge over tin Rangitikci river there. An im ported thoroughbred sire had cs caped from a breeder’s stud farm three years previously, and made his homo i’fi that country then known only to thc Maoris. - The Maori mares were descended from a most useful class of light harness hors, imported for military transport in the Maori war, and subsequent I; sold to the settlers at a time when 90 per cent, of the horses in tin, district bore a two-inch brand— C.T.C. (Commissariat Transpor Corps). Their progeny, aristocrats colts and fillies, two and three-year olds, bred in the bush and neve yet yarded or handled, were kcom, sought for sport, cavalry, or catth bunting. The solo recreation of Hi railway gang was horse hunting o Sundays, when from twenty to Of!: of them well mounted and antic with lassoos, would pay tho Maori: ft entrance fee each to “catch om if you can.” Many succeeded an'.’ others ff&frd, but a fair catch when taught to load, was worth flO by tho following Sunday.”