My New Zealand Garden 81 



averted the ill-treatment of many poor creatures. 

 As usual, the love of money is exemplified in this 

 use, or rather abuse, of horses ; for there must be 

 gross covetousness and greed to sit with whip 

 and reins and add to the torture that those useful, 

 patient, hard-working, noble slaves endure at the 

 hands of their cruel drivers. If people when 

 hiring vehicles would, when possible, select them 

 according to the condition of the horse, much 

 would be done towards the amelioration of their 

 sufferings. 



Animals repay one for kindness, and unless pets 

 are well treated I do not think that much pleasure 

 is to be derived from them, for their many curious 

 and intelligent ways are checked, and you never 

 see them. Indeed, to bring out their character 

 properly, and to gain their confidence, they should 

 be rather spoilt. I don't think chastisement is of 

 any use when the pet is sly and deep. Cats will 

 watch their opportunity, and so will collie dogs, 

 as I know to my cost ; and since my acquaintance 

 with them, it is easy to believe that, after killing 

 sheep, they have been known to wash themselves 

 in a pond before going home. We parted with 

 ours for a far less heinous crime in the eyes of 

 the world, though I pronounced it an unpardonable 

 offence, and deserving of transportation at least. 

 We saw in the garden, in the centre of a large 

 mixed border, one of the biggest holes that could 



