MR GILRUTH IN LONDON

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4366, 25 May 1901, Page 3

MR GILRUTH IN LONDON

LONDON", April 12. Sinco my last letter (writes a correspondent of the I’asforalists’ Review), 3d r Gilmlh. M.R.C.V.S.. Chief Vcton. uarian to tho Ne.w Zealand Govei,)menl , Has dcspat.died some of the stud shorthorns which he has purchased on behalf of his Government to the colony. Seven hulls ami one cow comprised the lot. ami they were shipped by the s.s. Matatua direct to Lyttelton. -Mr Gilruth tells me that he has experienced a great deal of trouble m finding suitable animals to purchase, lie found one great obstacle hi the terrible prevalence of tuberculosis ill English herds, and he speaks very strongly against the laxity of the authorities in not taking vigorous measures to stamp out the disease. All the animals which ho has actually purchased havf undergone the tuberculin tost .successfully, though it may he added that many others which had been bougnt conditionally, on passing the test, ’■reacted,” anil were, of course, rejected. Mr Gilruth tells me that several of these animals were the finest looking boasts lie had over seen, and some of them belonged to really noted breeders, though I am not at liberty to mention their names. Mr Gilruth holds very strong views on this subject of tuberculosis, and, as an old Pastcurian student he has studied the matter very fully, and is quito competent to discuss it. For this reason, J think it a great, pity that ho will net ho able to stay in England for the sittings of the groat veterinary congress, which has been postponed until July. His experience would have been of value to his follow-practitioners in the profession. Mr Gilruth has been the means of ms colony coming by A VERY VALUABLE TM!ESENT. This takes the form of a couple of iShire horscis—donor as well as the breeder is Lord Rothschild. One is a two-year-old colt, “.Hertfordshire Roy,” a very promising looking youngster; the other. “ Danger Signal,” is an aged horse, a tall, upstanding animal, with all tho good characteristics of his breed. "In fact,” said Mr vnlruth, “ a typical Shire, and one calculated in ho of good sertico to tho colony.” These animals were offered to Mr Gilruth by Lord Rothschild personally when they mot at, the Shire horse show a few weeks ago. i’art of Mr Gilruth’s commission hi this country was also to purchase a few .sires suitable for getting army remount horses when mated with native mares. Ho visited many of the groat stud farms, and also the limiters’ improvement Society’s Show, and had considerable trouble in finding just what he wanted. At tho Hunters’ Improvement Show, lie found that tho exhibits were, as a rule, too big, and more suitable for getting hunters suitable for an English hunting field than horses for army purposes. Ho hijs, however, purchased three thoroughbreds—•" Singlestick,” a fine young horse bred by tho Langton Hal) Stud Farm ; " Sernpion,” a goodlooking gix-ycar-nld, .small but strong, with good hone, fine legs, and a weightcarrier : ho has clone a bit over the sticks in this country. The third is an aged horse, " Tyranny,” who is calculated to leave his mark in the colonv. I may add that Mr Gilruth purchased a fourth at the hunters’ show before referred to. of course subject to examination. He hail, however, to cast it, as it proved unsound. Mr Gilruth is also sending out an Arab, bred by Mr Wilfrid Blunt, who has made a specialty of Arabs for some years past, and whoso annual sale of young atock is one of the fixtures and events of the London season. All these horses were shipped yesterday on the s.s. Gothic, in Koval Albert Docks, where .1 had tho pleasure of seeing all of them except the t'vo Shires. THE CATTLE SHIPPED. The following aro brief particulars of tho cattle already shipped, and may prove interesting;—“Captain Middleton.” a fourtcen-nironths-old bull, broil by Lord Henry -Bentinck ; ho is from a pood milking strain, and his dam gave ~i/Uolh of milk between Kith January and 3rd November, 1899. The strain goes back as noted milkers to 186-1. Price, 60 guineas. “ Imperial Yeomanrv.” a two-year-old bull, bred bv Mr E. Potter, of Lowfield, Kirkby, Loasdale. Ho is from a pure ‘ Bates” cow, and his only fault is his colour —roan, which is a somewhat common colour in the North of England. Price,. 70 guineas. “ Plato,” an eighteen-months-old bull, bred by Mr Joseph Harris, of Carlisle. He is a tine rod in colour, and is one of twins, both of which were reared by tho mother without any artificial feeding or the addition of any milk. Price. 35 guineas. “ Salisbury,” bred by Lord Rothschild, .of Tring Park. Price, 50 guineas. ’ Tugcla” i.s a good dark, roancoloured bull, not yet a year old. He was bred near Northampton by Mr Arthur '.Britten, and both his dam and granddarn were noted milkers. Price, 100 guineas. “ Clarence Duke ” was purchased at tho Birmingham Shorthorn Show, where ho took third prize in his class. He was bred by -Mr Naylor, of Welshpool, and cost 41 guineas, lb may be mentioned that tho fourth prize beast in tho same class was sold later in tho day for 110 guineas. “Red Lord XXVII.” was bred by Mr J. T. Hobbs, of Fa inroad, and cost 90 guineas. “Musical CL” is a handsome cow. calved in January. 1897. She was bred by the same breeder as the preceding animal, and should ealve about September. Air Gilruth told me that in his travels ho had been very much indebted for advice a.ud assistance to Mr Webb, estate manager to Air Cooper, of the celebrated “Dip,” at Shenstono Court. This gentleman had put him on the trail of many likely boasts, and had also given him information as to markets, etc.