RICCARTON'S ONLY HORSE.
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COUNCILLORS CRITICAL.
The one and only horse in the possession of the Riecarton Borough Council has from time to time been a bone of contention over the council table, and last evening the animal's merits' and demerits were once again fully discussed, when a suggestion was received from a committee that the animal should be put up for sale at a reserve of £45.
For the guidance of councillors, a report had been obtained from a veterinary surgeon regarding the animal generally, and this was considered first.
The surgeon reported exhaustively, stating that he had examined the council's chestnut gelding, finding him to be rising five years old, and in good health and condition. He was just cutting his five-year-old teeth, and was consequently a little dainty in his feeding, and not looking quite so well i% his coat as he would subsequently; Th#? animal had been put in harness, when he showed signs of learning bad habitshe jibbed instead of pulling his ' load*' straight away. This was attributable, however, to the animal having out?: grown his collar, which was in a bad condition generally, the lining being; completely worn off on the off-side and: partly on the near-side, thus causing the horse discomfort , v/hen he was asked to pull a load. A new collar was recommended for purchase, and it was stated that the horse should not be worked in his present collar again, and given only light loads in the new one until he had forgotten the prickly sensation which it was stated he at present objected to. The horse considered a useful and good animat/; one which should make up in activity? what it lacked' in weight. "%j. The councillors then proceeded' ' tc&l: criticise the animal in a shamelessA fashion. - . "
The first speaker wished to state that a collar pinching him wouldn't make' the beast particularly at enmity, with'' trams and similar vehicle's. He personally considered the animal was not worth having. The next suggestion.'was that the animal required more work, but this remained unsupported. ' \
Another councillor .volunteered that the animal was. a /useless big Jump,which he wouldn't have on his mind."
The next speaker sought to locate the trouble away from the animal itself by saying, that.the horse needed to be pjity in the hands of someone who knew how%£, to drive 'him. -' .•'."-."."f* This suggestion, was. not only ported but vigorously anA, after the Mayor had been invited . .te ' purchase the animal himself and ha<l ; not taken. kindly***© the suggestion; the "council decided to purchase a new*c6l : - : l'ar, arid also to endeavour to sell : their beast at not less than-£45.
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Bibliographic details
Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 118, 24 June 1914, Page 3
Word Count
439RICCARTON'S ONLY HORSE. Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 118, 24 June 1914, Page 3
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