213 



horses that would not exceed 15-2 in height. My experience is that 

 large horses cannot stand our hill work, the weight is too great foi- the 

 fore legs to stand the goingdown hill with the present class of drivers 

 procurable, and even apart from that forni}^ own work I prefer ahorse 

 not to exceed 15 hands. 



In replying to this question I have more in view the type of hor^e 

 we require for our own use here, at the same time I think also for re- 

 mounts they should not exceed 15*2. 



R. A. Walcott, Esq.: Encourage them to feed and take care of 

 their young stock, not to work them until they are four years old; not 

 to breed only from old mares that have been worked off their legs and 

 are going down the hill. 



C. L. Walker, Esq. : Let the Grovernment get out stallions and 

 mares under contract with a company who will land them cheap in the 

 island, the animals to be engaged by breeders, before ordered. 



Hon. W. Watson : To import up-size stallions freely. 



K. L. Young, Esq. : We want to improve chiefly the size and girth 

 of our present stock the great fault being their flat ribs. Hence the 

 reason for selecting our sires and not taking them at random on the 

 strength of their pedigrees. 



We want 16 hand studs, well ribbed up, good strong limbs, and we 

 can look for like to beget like if we take ordinary precautio .s to select 

 our mares. 



This class of horse is generally found amongst our first-class hunt- 

 ing sires, and they would in this country produce fine serviceable stock 

 ranging from 14.2 to 15.2 hands, and woull be about the class of 

 animal that would be required for Army remounts. 



Summary by H. H. Cousins. 



1. Before any action can be taken by the Government we must 



ascertain from the War Office their requirements in light, 

 horses for tropical and sub-tropical conditions. 



If they could offer us £20 to £30 for a 3 year old or £>^o to 

 £35 for a 4 years old, it would pay brteders to ^^o in for it. 

 It should be explained that our horses are highly bred, inured 

 to tropical sun and capable of prolonged work ; but are nut 

 large showy animals. 



The machinery for producing a regulated supply of the re- 

 quired horses could then be established. 



2. Purses should be re- established for 3 year olds. 



3. Castration should be made compulsory or a heavy tax placed 



on entries not approved by a Government inspector. 



4. A Government or subsidised sire should be made available to 



the peasantry in all districts producing horses at the usual 

 fee for a runted stallion (6s. for service and 43. for a foal). 



5. What conclusions can be drawn from the results of the sires im- 

 ported by the Agricultural Society ? 



S. C. Burke, Esq. : The conclusions which can be drawn from the 

 results of the sires imported by the Society (which results are chiefly 



