152
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
induced to take very small sums in preference to
having their stock driven home again. The fact of
800 horses having been embarked at Melbourne
and intended for Calcutta by the 14th August,
would indicate no diminution in the supply. The
present system of purchasing by shippers in the
Melbourne market is not conducive to improving
the class of horses presented to the Government of
India, as many breeders object to the uncertainty
attending public sales. But were shippers to pur-
chase more generally on the stations, breeders would
more readily endeavour to meet the demand; and
though the average prices might be higher, horses of
a better and more uniform class would be obtained.

13. With reference to the future prospects, I
    anticipate increased advantages, since no decrease in
    numbers has taken place in the Colonies of Victoria
    and New South Wales; and much greater attention
    being generally paid to the selection of mares, the
    result must be the product of a better description of
    animal. And with the prospect of a market in India,
    still greater attention will be given to producing
    horses adapted for that market. The mode adopted
    by the State of remounting the Army by purchases
    in India, doubtless has many advantages, nor would
    reverting to the appointment of a Government Agent
    in the colonies secure horses at a less average cost
    than is paid under the present system; but a superior
    description would be obtained. Nevertheless, to
    carry out this, the agent must be experienced, pos-
    sessed of robust health and active habits, and also
    have an extensive knowledge of shipping horses.
    Purchases should be made direct from the breeders,
    and on the stations where horses rising four years old,
    fitted for any branch of the Indian service, might be
    procured for fifteen pounds each.

14. In drawing attention to the comparative ad-
    vantages offered by the colonies, I will state in a
    tabular form the number of horses in each, and the
    opportunities offered of shipment,-
    In Victoria, 180,342 horses exist; and by the
    last return, 2,104 ships, with an aggregate
    tonnage of 666,336, entered the port during
    the year,
    In New South Wales, 328,408 horses were
    returned by the last census, and 2,011 ships,
    with 744,290 tonnage, entered inward.
    In South Australia, 82,215 horses were accounted
    for in the year 1872, and during the same year
    513 ships, of 171,484 tonnage, entered the
    ports.
    In Western Australia, in the year 1873, 26,290
    horses existed, and ships of the tonnage 69,699
    entered.
    In New Zealand, 80,447 were returned in 1871,
    and in 1872 the number of ships entered was
    743, with 285,366 tonnage.
    In Queensland, 92,798 horses were shown as
    existing in 1872, being an increase of 888 on
    the previous year.
    In Tasmania, 24,244 horses were returned in

New South Wales and Victoria offer, numerically,
the greatest advantages of a supply of remounts; but
it is presumed that the exportation from the ports of
the first-named colony is not so favourable with
shippers as the port of Melbourne, since very few
shipments have left New South Wales of late years.
This is attributed to the opportunities of obtaining
coal as cargo, with which to proceed to Singapore
and China; and ships used for the conveyance of
horses are considered objectionable for the China
trade. Still, I am assured by shipping agents that
were ships demanded they would be obtained.
Queensland, from its proximity to Newcastle, would
meet with the same competition in the obtainment of
ships to convey horses as New South Wales; it is
practicable to overland horses from Queensland to
Port Darwin, but the distance would be great, and
from South Australia horses may be overlanded to
the northern ports of that colony. The advantage
offered by embarkation from Western Australia and
the northern ports of South Australia are undoubted,
as smooth water and fair winds are almost always
met with, but whether at a reduced or equal freight
is perhaps questionable; a knowledge of this, how-
ever, may be obtained.

15. I will endeavour to deal with the questions
    contained in your letter verbatim, and as far as
    practicable.

A. The names of all the principal breeders. The
district in which their runs are situated. Their ex-
tent, elevation, and the brands by which their horses
are known. I have partially complied with this in
my monthly reports furnished for the information
of Government, and may further inform you that
horse-breeding is never carried on as an exclusive
pursuit except by those who breed thorough-bred
stock only, but every squatter and freeholder breeds
horses to some extent.

B. The class of horses bred by them and the source
from which they spring. This question I have also
dealt with in my periodical reports, but to reply in a
general way, I may state that Australian horses
derive their origin from imported English stock, and
the occasional introduction of Arab blood. A few
Valparasian and Cape horses were imported many
years ago, but this source can no longer be traced.
Breeders rarely confine themselves to any distinct
class.

C. Is fresh blood introduced, and if so, what blood?
Are Arab stallions being used, or have they been
used, and with what results?-Fresh blood is being
introduced by importation from England and by
selection. The use of Arab sires was a favourite cross
with many some years ago, and an animal extremely
serviceable was the result. A further introduction is
still popular with a few, and where proper selection
of mares is made, must be attended with favourable
results in producing horses for general purposes.

D. The prices at which horses are purchased by
dealers at the runs. - Great latitude must be allowed
in replying to this question, for in so large a country
as Australia, innumerable circumstances influence
the prices given, but sound useful horses may be
purchased at stations at sums varying from ten to
twenty pounds. The price paid in some parts of the
colonies for colts (not fillies) four years' old, broken
and quiet, and fitted for police duty, is sixteen
pounds; and these may be considered such as would
be suitable for the service in India.

E. The estimated cost of taking them to the port
of embarkation. This would be governed by the
number of horses and miles driven, but an average
of five shillings per head may be estimated for 100
horses, a distance of 100 miles; a propor-
tionate increase being allowed for a less number of
horses or a shorter distance, and proportionate re-
duction for greater number of horses or miles.

F. The average annual cost of freight and expenses
from each port to the several ports of India by sail-
ing vessels during the past ten years.--Ships are
frequently chartered at aggregate sums, when the
shippers can put any reasonable number of horses on
board, and also merchandise, therefore the cost per
horse cannot be easily obtained. A few years ago
the freight did not exceed seven pounds per head;
but for the last six years it may be fairly computed
at the following:-