COLONIALS AND THEIR HORSES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 24 July 1901, Page 4

COLONIALS AND THEIR HORSES.

That veteran campaigner and corros pondent, Rennet Burleigh, who has been accompanying Plumer’s column up north, finds a word of fault with tho Queenslanders and Now Zealanders and New Zealanders in that column. “Horses,’’ ho said being cheap and readily procurable in the colonies, they as a rule are careless masters. Whilst the troopers have since we came hero, from 15 to 20 per cent of their horses, the batteries have not lost an animal. Oat of 500 mounts Colonel Jeffries lias less than 350 left, so that many of his men must march afoot unless fresh horses are brought into camp. It is much the same with Colonel Colvin’s command. The New Zealanders’ horses were but new anacclimatiscd arrivals, brought over with the la-t contingent. Still, 1 have seen the Antipodeans neglect ail that experiences teaches for the care of horses -in this region. They should not be allowed to drink or graze before 9 a.m. when the sun is well up, and never after sunset or when the dew lies upon the graSs. It is better also when camping out that their nose-bags be left on all night. But though our colonial brothers are a free-and-easy crowd about camp, they are ardent fighters. And they are respectful without being subservient, alert and obedient in the performance of their military duties. If the day ever was when officers hob-nobbed and drank with their men, that time has quite gone by, nor left any trace of a practice which to British ideas, is so subversive of all discipline.” Mr Burleigh’s testimony does not seem at all in accordance with what we have hitherto heard as to the treatment ot their horses by colonials. So far all the evidence rather went to show that while th, colonials nursed and spared their horses in everyway, often getting off and walking to give their beasts a rest, seeing that their saddles fitted, and so on, it was the regular cavalryman -who was careless of his steed. What Mr Burleigh means is probably that the colonials do not takethe precautions which the peculiarities of tho South African climate render essential.