THE INDIAN HORSE TRADE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 296, 5 September 1888, Page 3

THE INDIAN HORSE TRA DE.

Mil JoiiiN Stia l\s, of Wanganui, who iccently took a shipment ot hottes to Indui 01 disposal, wiilc& fiom Calcutta under date 14th July, as follows • — 1 arrived here on the 12th instant, attor a line but lather unfortunate passage, having lo&t 35 hordes out of the whole cargo ot 254. The cause of death was chiefly insufficient air in the 'tween decks and lower hold. Those landed arrived in good condition, but require some rest and lots of attention before they lecover their New Zealand biightness with which they wcie shipped. The weather heioUvoiy depressing, both for man and beast. Three weeks ago there were numbers of people, both Euiopean>s and natues, who dropped dead in the .streets trom heat apoplexy. The thermometer ranges from 90 to 115 in the shade, but the rainy season has now set in, and will somewhat lessen the effects of fche sun. I am at a great disadvantage in the matter of obtaining much information on the subject of the horso supply to the Government This being the hot season, the Governor and the heads of all departments have gone to Himla, a distance of about 1,500 miles, wheic they will remain until the fist of October. There is a regular exodus from Calcutta each year; about fourfifths of the white population lca\e, and cake the whole of their ollico appurtenances with} them. 1 shall not succeed in disposing o f my horses as quickly as I anticipated, unless 1 take them a distance of 600 or 1,500 miles by rail, and unless one were as rich as some of the Rajahs, who have five, ten, or bwenty lacs of rupees (a lac is 100,000), there would be little prospect of heing able to pay the railway freight on a cargo of horses. Although Ido not oxpoct to make any money out oi my venture, 1. hope befoie I roturn to New Zealand to be in possession of .such information as will enable me on my return to give a true and accurate opinion on the subject of breeding horses for this market, and so far as I am at present able to judge, 1 believe there will be a good future lor New Zealand in the matter of exporting horses both for military and private use in this vast country. The country breeds hore are small and plain, and in no way suited for heavy cavalry or gentlemen's hacks or carriage horses. The I Government of New Zealand gave me a letter of introduction to "The Seeretai'y for the Government of India Finance and Commerce Department," from whom I shall be able, I hbpe, to obtain some accurate information, should 1 be able to go as far as Simla or remain here until his return. In the meantime, I am making many private inquirios.