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Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 16, 15 July 1893, Page 3

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MY FIRST HORSK (By a Hew Chum Hew Zealander;) Bill White and I (Jim Snobkihs) had been beach-combing together on the South coast of Hew Zealand for some time ; when, as the ground was getting very poor, it was agreed that I should accept a job road-making which had been offered me, and that Bill should continue to make what he could amongst the black sand till something better turned up. As the scene of my new employment lay some four miles from our hut, it was further agreed that if a chance presented itself, I should buy an old horse, which would carry me to and from my work, and which would also be useful in hauling driftwood for cooking, etc. Having spoken to several people with a view to procuring a steed, I was at length informed by a carter that he knew of one that could probably be bought very cheap. Shortly after this, I was just about “ knocking off ” work for the day, when I met a boy on horseback, who inquired “ if Mr Snobkins was about.” Having informed him that Mr Snobkins stood before him, the boy then said he’d “ brought the ’orse.” The thought instantly flashed across me that I was expected to critically examine the animal he was riding —to pose, as it were, as an amateur veterinary surgeon. How, I knew a horse from a cow, but that was about all. Any well, or ill-regulated horse could easily impose on my verdant ignorance. I had heard or read somewhere, that it was the proper thing to look inside a horse’s mouth to tell its age; so, having vainly endeavoured to accomplish this object, but only succeeding in having my fingers pretty severely nipped, I put on my wisest look and inquired the price. “ Ten shillings,” was the reply !! ! How, although unable to determine the charger’s age, I felt intuitively that it was not altogether young, and although it could switch its tail round in a playful manner, and break into a feeble, shambling sort of' gait, which was neither trot not canter, I felt instinctively that I was doing a foolish thing when I ultimately handed the boy his money, and walked off with the horse, which, by the way, was of the female persuasion. Having slunk home by a circuitous route, in order to avoid meeting and being chaffed by the men returning from their work, I tethered the animal, and having had tea, proudly invited White to come and inspect my purchase. William, although he didn’t say much, was evidently not altogether impressed with my bargain, but, pointing out that the animal was likely to, suiter from the exposure, as the night promised to be rough, he shifted it to another place amongst some tall flax bushes. As the sole owner of a whole horse, I now for the first time felt I had a real stake in Hew Zealand, and dreamt that night of flocks and herds and rapidly increasing wealth.

I was up and out betimes in the morning’ to view my noble steed, but alas! on reaching’ the spot where Eosinante had been tethered, I found her dead —yes, dead as the proverbial door nail. Amongst the flax was a wide drain about three feet deep, and into this the poor old thing had tumbled, and broken her neck- in struggling to get out. Having held council with my chum, it was arranged that the funeral should take place next day, which was Sunday. We accordingly went down on Sunday armed with picks and shovels, but to our horror and disgust, found that the circumference of the horse had increased to about three times its former dimensions. My mate, however, was a man of action, and calmly began digging the grave. Following his example, 1 also set to. After two or three hours hard work, we had a

hole sufficiently large to accommodate a four-roomed house. Into this my poor old charger was incontinently rolled, but not before I had dropped a furtive tear on the lifeless body of MY FIRST HORSE.' J. S.