Win for Thomson’s stud

The advent of motor traction would not appear to have made much appreciable difference to horse-breeding if one may judge by the large entries received for the Otago Horse Parade and the highly satisfactory attendance of enthusiastic exhibitors, breeders and others at Tahuna Park yesterday. The parade, which is the forty-first annual exhibition held under the auspices of the Otago A and P Society, may be said to have almost attained the dignity of a horse show, and is doubtless the most pretentious and most successful exhibition of its kind held in the dominion. This is not to be wondered at when one realises that this part of the dominion is virtually the home of the Clydesdale, which by the way is the only breed catered for at the parade. 

Notwithstanding the fact that motor traction is making a bold bid for popularity among farmers the breeding of high-class draught stock cannot be said to be on the wane, more especially when it is realised that a large proportion of the animals on exhibition yesterday were imported from Scotland at considerable expense. On the whole the quality of the horses left little to be desired, and there were some animals forward which would have done credit to the ‘‘Royal’’ or ‘‘Highland’’ in Great Britain. In the class for four-year-olds or over, eight horses faced the judges, four of which were imported from Scotland. These were a ring of horses which were a sight to look upon, and presented a beautiful picture when they were ranged up in line for the preliminary inspection by the judges. The judges seemed to have no difficulty in placing Messrs Thomson’s Scotland’s Victor first. He was of outstanding merit. He has most of the good points of a typical Clydesdale, and is a beautifully-actioned horse.

Grousing about new species

The wisdom of allowing imported game into Tongariro Park and the general effect of stocking the New Zealand bush with living targets for gunmen was discussed by the Legislative Council yesterday on a motion by the Hon G.M. Thomson, reading as follows: ‘‘That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that the Tongariro National Park should be kept for all time as a preserve for native plants and birds, and as a recreation ground for the people of New Zealand; and that it should not be permitted to anyone to convert it into a preserve for imported game or plants.’’ Mr Thomson said that last week his attention had been drawn to a statement in the press that half a dozen grouse had arrived for Tongariro Park. He hoped the birds had not been liberated. New Zealand had most interesting native birds, and they needed every protection. The huia, he thought, had disappeared. The native quail disappeared long ago, and other birds were now extremely rare, and others again were much rarer than they were in the old days. That the sanctuaries served their purpose was shown by the recent increases of the native pigeon and the bell bird and tui. It was most undesirable that the gunmen should be permitted in any sanctuary, and in endeavouring to bring grouse into Tongariro Park some people seemed to forget that the place was a bird sanctuary. The nucleus of Tongariro Park was presented to New Zealand by the native owners, who doubtless would desire to see the native birds preserved. — ODT, 26.9.1924

Compiled by Peter Dowden