502 Report of the Senior Steward of Live Stock at Newcastle. 
earnest. Other reports will deal more closely with details ; and 
in this brief notice of the stock it will be well to begin with 
horses. These were regarded with unusual attention this year: 
partly because Northumberland has always been a horse-breed- 
ing and a horse-loving country, and partly because an addi- 
tional attraction was found in the programme, which included 
a daily parade of the " Premium " horses " Gumbo," " Knight 
Templar," " Storm Signal," " Moss Hawk," and " Prescription." 
These horses had been awarded five equal prizes of 200/. each 
at the Spring Show held at Newcastle, given on the condition 
that their services should be available in the district at a low 
fee. The inauguration of the scheme which had been recom- 
mended by a committee, appointed by the Council and presided 
over by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, was a marked 
success ; for not only were a great many useful horses exhibited, 
but the large and enthusiastic crowd which was assembled to 
witness the judging, bore ample testimony to the interest which 
was felt in a movement calculated to give such a lasting 
impetus to the breeding of horses in the district. 
The results of the experiment were carefully watched, for 
the question of our horse supply has taken a large hold upon 
the public mind. It was gratifying to find that the Society had 
accepted the responsibility cast upon them, of suggesting a 
scheme having for its object the revival of the practice of 
breeding useful horses, which had been well-nigh abandoned in 
many parts of England. In time of war it is absolutely neces- 
sary that the means of rapid communication should be at least 
as effective and trustworthy as formerly ; and it will be a serious 
blow, alike for the service and the country, if we cannot depend 
upon our home supply to afford the requisite material for cavalry 
remounts in time of need. This, no doubt, is a material ques- 
tion of the first importance, and the exigencies of the situation 
are recognized by our Government, who are giving substantial 
assistance to the movement by grants of money in this^ country 
and in Ireland. There would appear to be no opposition in 
the racing world to the decision to apply the money now 
added to Queen's plates in the direction of promoting the 
breed of useful horses. It is felt that Queen's plates have 
accomplished the purposes for which they were given, and that 
they now merely remain as superfluous additions to the over- 
whelming attractions set forth in the programmes of our large 
race meetings. 
But there is also another side to the question, which has 
been fully examined and which has had due weight with the 
Society. It must be considered whether the breeding of useful 
horses, under a proper system of management, is or is not a 
