WILD HORSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21440, 14 March 1933, Page 6

WILD HORSES

QUEENSLAND MUSTERS

NUISANCE TO FARMERS

The muster of wild horses in the Beerfcurrum district of Queensland has been proceeding lately under Mr. J. P. Mc!Aully, the supervisor of the tobacco settlement. About 40 were captured on one dciy recently. The horses are descendants of those which got free when the soldier settlers abandoned their farms in this district and others which 4 escaped. At the beginning of this year there were 200 or more horses in the eastern part of the district. With the cultivation of the land thero for tobacco growing the horses have become a nuisance. In a recent muster 70 were captured. When the muster was resumed on February 24 a stockade h;id been built about eight miles from Becrburrum with long races leading to it.

The animals had been living in the marshy land and their capture provided a difficult task for the horsemen. In the afternoon toward dusk a large band of horses had been mustered, but on seeing the iitockade ahead they stampeded through the cordon of dogs and mounted men and galloped back to the coast. Many of the 40 animals captured were without brands. Those which had brands were, in most cases, claimed by their dwners on the payment of a fee of ss. Some of tho animals were good farm types and these were in demand. Some which were branded were sold for £3 each by their owners. Others without brands were sold for 10s each. Some of the horses were diseased and crippled and these were shot. There were several foals among those captured.