HORSE-BREEDING IN AUSTRALASIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8273, 4 June 1890, Page 6

HORSE-BREEDING IN AUSTRALASIA.

Liectknant-Colonel G. T. Carre, R.A., who recently commanded one of the European Mountain Batteries at Jtog paid a visit to Australasia during the summer months of 1889, and interested himself in procuring information regarding the supply of remounts for the army in India. The following notes (published in the Pioneer Mail of India) show the result of his inquiries : — Nkw South Waxjss.—On the invitation of the principal squatters in the Hunter and Inverell districts of New South Wales, I inspected a large number of horses bred in that part of Australia. I saw groat numbers of animals passed through the stockyards or horded in paddocks, and indeed throughout my tour every facility was o-iven me for making myself acquainted with the quality of the horses and tho systems of breeding. The questions I considered were : — 1,.H0w many horses were suitable (a) for gun teams; (6) for heavy or light cavalry ? II. —How many would fetch remunerative prices in India as carriage horses, chargers, or hacks My answers were to this effect: — I.—l have seen very few horses that would be purchased by the remount officers in India, for either wheelers or leaders in a gun, but for heavy cavalry I could pick about 1 in 20. Many are fitted for light cavalry work, but the price given by Government for this class would not pay for tho cost of shipping. ll.—The sale of horses in India is difficult, aud except they were thoroughly good they would remain on the hands of the importer. It is therefore important that the animals offered to the public as carriage horses, chargers or hacks should be carefully selected in order to make the speculation remunerative. Breeders throughout New South Wales, though apparently anxious to compete in the Indian market, seem to be ignorant how to produce the horse required. To assist them 1 showed photographs of specimens selected from the Brisbane Artillery as examples of what horses should be. The large lauded proprietors possess runs where the jwsturage is plentiful in what are termed good seasons; but in the dry portion of the year, or after continued droughts, the mares and their produce are obliged to roam over vast tracts, seeking a precarious existence on the dried up roots of grass that remain above soil. Although the colonial returns of stock show that there are about a million and a-half of horses in Australia, the percentage suitable for light draught Is remarkably small ; they are either too heavy or too light for military purposes. The reason for this is, I consider, due to the small demand there is for this class, and it is a notable fact that it is easier to buy them in Calcutta than in the land where they are bred. The colonial force in Sydney has a small depot of artillery and cavalry horses, but they are not. good s{>ecimens of remounts. At the Easter camps-of-exercise 1 noticed some good horses amongst the ranks of tho cavalry. I, however, found t hat they were specially bred, and were not available in any large numbers. Victoria. —Melbourne is the port from which India receives its supply of horses. The trade, is in the hands of a syndicate who have exported horses for some years and know the business thoroughly. These gentlemen purchase mostly from the farmers in Gippsland, Albury, and western districts. Their agents also penetrate into Southern Australia and the borders of New South Wales. Horses are besides sold at Kirk's Bazaar, Melbourne, as animals suite ! for the Indian market, aud the best fall into the hands of tho same syndicate. The four batteries of Victorian artillery are horsed from the Van companies of Melbourne by hire. The horses are of the cart breeds, and are not fitted for the work.

Qckknsland. —In Queensland horses are extensively bred on the Darling Plains, especially about Toowoomba, whence the best cart and riding horses come. In the interior and northwards large numbers of a small kind of bush horse arc bred on the arid plains that constitute so considerable a portion of the colony. Tho Government retain 40 horses at their depot at Brisbane, out of which 1 selected the best to be photographed, as noticed above. Tasmania.—ln Tasmania horses are bred by farmers for agricultural work. In that class they are excellent. Unlike the Australian horses, they are fed on oats, which raises their prices m the local sales from £25 to £00. A few breeders, however, send tlveir produce to the saleyard? at Melbourne, whence doubtless some find their way to India. New Zjjjj^nd.—The northern island of Now Zealand is the best adapted for horsej breeding amongst our colonial possessions. The Auckland Stud Company exports thoroughbred stock in large numbers. Many of the principal intercolonial winners on the turf come from that stable. In the Waikato country, further south, farmers are commencing to breed horses, whilst Wanganui on the coast is celebrated for its hacks. Unfortunately New Zealand bred horses have not fetched remunerative prices in India, bat I am of opinion that with a better knowledge of the requirements of the market, tho colony will successfully compete in the supply of remount#* for the army. The farmer in New Zealand has the advantage over the squatter in Australia in being able to fatten his young stock almost as cheaply on turnips as the latter feeds his on grass. Neither has ho to fear the bad seasons and droughts which are so detrimental to breeding in Australia. I trust the Indian Government may bo persuaded to send officers to New South Wales, Queensland; Tasmania, aud New Zealand to assist these colonies in the breeding of suitable horses as remounts, and so place thorn in a position to compete with Victoria, which at present holds tbe monopoly. The extension of the field of purchase is most important, in order to enable India to increase her army in case of such a sudden emergency as war, when ib would be necessary to horse the ammunition train, requiring 2000 horses fit for immediate work. My visit to the colonies was for pleasure only, and not in any way official, but the above remarks may perhaps serve to bring this important matter untiir notice.