Home for Tired Horses

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 661, 13 May 1929, Page 8

Home for Tired Horses

City to Sell Harkin’s Point Farm HARKIN’S POINT FARM is to be sold by the City Council for dairy farms and the proceeds used to purchase enough land for a home for road-weary and disabled horses. For some years this area of nearly 500 acres at Riverhead has been used by the city for sheep-raising and cattlegrazing, and for raising draught horses in the council’s service.

rpHE disposal of Harkins Point Farm in lots will cut another niche into Auckland’s axe-handle of progress, because it will mark the comparative passing from use of the once popular draught horse. The farm of 47SJ acres was purchased In 1908 as a refuse dump, hut the steady improvement in city services nullified its use to a great extent, and a few years later it was cleared and improved and turned Into a working farm. The increasing difficulty in securing the correct type of horse for the work required in city development led to the establishment of a stud farm for draught horses, and a home for road-weary horses which had served the council wejl. At that time the area was wholly unimproved and covered with scrub; today it is almost completely cropped and grassed. ASSETS WORTH £13,800

While the farm was being improved it was possible to employ the brood mares and convalescent horses in ploughing and other agricultural work, but now that the area is grassed there is not the same opportunity of using the horses upon it. Cattle and sheep-raising has been taken up Instead. and during the past few years this has been almost the sole use of the property. Harkin’s Point farm cost the city under £3,000. The price paid was £6 4s an acre. Its valuation is now set down in the city accounts as £13,806 —land and buildings £11,744, and plant and live stock £2,062. Although up to the present there is an accumulated loss on the working of £662 11s 9d, the farm showed a profit of £2OS during last year, and the Works Committee of the council claims that the policy of general improvement and management has been financially successful up to the present time. The farm, if sold today, it is pointed out, would show a substan-

tial credit balance after paying interest on capital and expenses incurred in development. The question has now arisen, how ever, as to whether there is purpose or profit in running the farm in future. If the grazing fees, supervision and attendance to horses charged to the town stables were deducted, the committee informed the council on Thursday evening, there would be no profit whatever in running the concern. SMALL DAIRY FARMS “It is evident that the charge of £SBO is too great for services given to the town stables,’ the committee stated. “On an average we do not produce more than eight young horses a year fit for town work at, say, £45 each—£360 —leaving the balance of £220 as grazing fees for tired horses. This amount is too costly, and would be sufficient to buy five extra horses.” Now that there appears to be a demand for small dairy farms, the council has decided to subdivide Harkin’s Point farm and place it into the hands of the agents for disposal. If purchasers are found for the plots, the money will be used to acquire a piece of ground suitable for the disposal and treatment of refuse and enough paddocks for turning out road-weary and disabled horses. Already the rumble of carts and the plod of horses’ feet are heard less and less frequently through the streets of Auckland. The motor-lorry snorts its way about new road-works and the tractor does the work of several horses. Even on the farm, machinery is replacing the faithful draughthorse which made possible the success of the early pioneers.

This decision of the city to look after the old horses which helped the city development is a touch of sentiment in an era of progress, as well as an essential provision for the animals which, having done their duty, are falling by the wayside along the road of advancement.