HANDLING HORSES

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21366, 10 March 1941, Page 4

HANDLING HORSES

EN ROUTE T 0 WAIOUEI SCENES AT CLAUDELANDS Members, of the Hamilton company of the National Military Reserve performed a useful voluntary and much—appreciated service at Claudelands during the night of Saturday and Sunday, when they carried out the detraming of 200 horses for the Auckland and East Coast Mounted Rifles Regiment encamped at Waiouru. 'L’ne horses had been collected at Taneatua, Edgecumbe and other East Coast centres by members of the regiment, and it was arranged to feed, water and rest the horses at the Claudelands Showgrounds before sending them on to Waiouru. The escort had a very strenuous day’s work and a tiring journey. When Claudelands was reached at 1.30 on Sunday the members were thoroughly exhausted and were not looking to the prospect of another two hours’ work in unloading the horses. To their agreeable surprise 50 members of the National Reserve were awaiting them. The members of the escort were served with quantities of hot tea and sandwiches and were told to rest on the beds awaiting them in the show pavilion. Within a few minutes they were sound asleep.

600 Horses at Claudelands The members of the Reserve de—trained the horses, watered and paddocked them. The animals were again placed on the train on Sunday aiternuon and continued their Journey to Waiouru. Further trainloads of horses arrived at Claudelands last night and members of the Reserve again assisted the territorials. The work was supervised by Captain S. E. McNamara, of the Mounted Rifles, and Sergeant-Major F. G. Watson, 01' the National Reserve. Today another special train from Taneatua with over 200 horses will be detrained at Claudelands and will proceed to Waiouru tomorrow. Over 1000 horses will be assembled at Waiouru altogether. this being the largest collection of horses for military purposes in the Auckland Province tor many _vcarsl Aitogether some 600 u! the heraes were handled at Claudelands.