IMPORTERS STOCK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1725, 6 September 1873, Page 3

IMPORTERS STOCK.

A very notable instaaoo of enterprise in the importation of draught* stock to this province, has been made apparent, by the arrival of the s.s. Albion, which brought no less than £1500 worth of entire horsea-from Melbourne. They are owned by Messus P; M'Kellar and Dewer, and have been landed in fair condition, a result which did not abbond upon the efforts of an Otago importer, who had also draught stock on board the vessel. One of his horses died on the voyage,.and the others — four in number — were so knocked about, that one had to be left at the Bluff, and the others were landed at Port Chalmers in anything but a satisfactory state* Messrs M'Kellar and Dewer aretherefore to be congratulated on their good fortune, though it must be said that the cap,, tain of the steamer, who paid, every possible attention to the stock, was equally careful f or the Otago lot aa those for this province. The horses are four in number, and were purchased in Melbourne by Mr M'Kellar, who paid a special visit for this purpose. On arriving in Melbourne he was disappointed at the scarcity of horses in the market as compared with what there used to be, and this was due to two causes — first to a large demand for the Adelaide market, and secondly to importation being prohibited for two years. Of course, under these circumstances, owners of stock were not very eager to sell, and he had a difficulty in obtaining the four he brought with him. The moat notable of these is Red Prince, a bright brown horse, standing 17 hands, bred by Mr Alexanders, of Auchenmaid, Kilwinning, Ayrshire. The Glasgow Herald, in speaking of the 1872 show of horses in that city, speaks very highly of Red Prince. It states that he has a Bweet head, grand barrel, good foroarm, is strong in the bone, with capital hind quarters, and a good style of hair. There were seven judges at the show, and three of these were for giving the first prize to Red Prince, but the other four being the majority awarded it to a horse named Premier, Red Prince taking second honours, consisting of £60 and a medal. The Herald report of the show goes on to say : " Red Prince was the general favourite, and it was the opinion of many well-known 'and experienced agriculturists that he should have taken first prize." Red Prince took first prize at Paisley and Glasgow, as a three-year-old ; fourth at the Highland Society's show at Perth ; and firat at Ayrshire as a yearling and a twp-year-old successively. He is five years old, and had only been five months in Australia when Mr McKellar purchased him. He took the second prize in Melbourne the week before he was shipped for here. The Australasian of the 22nd of July, 1873, speaks highly of Red Prince, and it may be said that the price paid for him by Mr McKellar was £650. When brought through to Christchurch, yesterday, he looked very well, though the voyage necessarily prevented him showing to advantage, and therefore we defer our own remarks upon him and his companions on the voyage, until such time as they can be fairly judged. The second of the importations is Glenroy, a bright bay, 4-year old, standing Id hands 3 incheß. He is by Prince of Wales, and colonial bred. He has taken nine first prizes and one aecond prize in Australia, the latter being against imported horses. The third of the string is Young Scotchman, a dark bay, rising 3 years, and standing 16 hands 1 inch. He is colonial bred, and took the first prize at the Melbourne National Show in 1872 ; also, the first prize of a gold medal at the show held last month. The last to be noticed is Lord Haddo, a dark-brown colt, 3 years old, and 16V hands high, which has never been 9hown, but is a very good horse. On the whole, therefore, it may be said that, so far as foreign report goes, the present importation. I is a valuable one for the province.