Yass, Horses for India

The Sydney Morning Herald

News From The Interior. (From our Correspondent.)

26 March 1845

Captains Apperley and Dallas arrived here a few days ago, for the purpose of purchasing horses for the troops in India, but having been delayed on their journey some days beyond the day on which they were expected to arrive by the mail, the impression went abroad that they had given up the intention of coming, and persons who had waited their arrival returned home,- whilst their published notice was of too short a date to afford persons at a distance time to collect and bring in their horses.

Those persons only who resided close at hand and on the spot, and whose horses were convenient to the township, could avail themselves of the opportunity afforded to sell, - and horses suited to the wants of the purchasers sold at fair though moderate prices.

The straightforward and liberal manner in which persons offering their horses for sale were met by the worthy captains have gained for those gentlemen the esteem and confidence of the public in this quarter, - and many, no doubt, will join their horses, to save individual expense, and follow on with them from time to time to Bungarrabbee.

An objection was made to horses with short tails, although in all other respects unobjectionable.

But that objection it is expected will soon be cast aside, as the Bengal Government have been written to by their officers here on the subject.

The prices given for selections ranged from sixteen to twenty pounds, which, although very low, were considered commensurate with the times, and were therefore freely taken by the sellers.

Captain Apperley and his companion had not left Yass many hours on their homeward route, before persons arrived here with horses - Captain Whitty from the Tumut River, a distance of about seventy miles, arrived late in the evening after a forced march of two days, and having ascertained that the parties had started for Goulburn Plains according to their arrangement with persons there, he left here this morning to overtake them-he had with him a splendid lot of colts.

The sooner the Pastoral Association, now being formed here, commences its operations the better. Now is the time to meet and to bring forward all horses suited to the India market. They should be collected forthwith from all quarters, and sent on to Bungarrabee.

The officers, by their purchases here, have made known the class of horse which they require, and they have publicly expressed their intention to receive, at Bungarrabee, such horses as they have purchased from us, and to give similar prices to those given on delivery there.

The owners of horse stock may now, if they will, establish a profitable market with India for their horses, and it is to be hoped that they will do so. It is only required that colts shall be made quiet to lead in a halter; the ages to be from three to six years; the height 14-2 to 15 and upwards; the breed free from the heavy cart-horse kind, having strength of bone below the knee, and shewing blood, although crosses from cross-bred blood mares, by Cleveland or Suffolk punch horses. The Clydesdale was invariably objected to when offered for sale here, during the officers stay, as too heavy and wanting spirit.

The flocks and herds of these districts are doing well; they are in fine health and condition. The plough is at work on several farms, and wheat sewing will soon commence. Stockmen are preparing to increase their flocks, trusting that the representations of Sir George Gipps will induce the Home Government to send out a fresh supply of labour of some sort emigrant or exile.

You have served your adopted country well, for years past, by stirring on to exertion the lazy and croaking portion of its inhabitants. Do so again now, or the opportunity of establishing a market for horses in India, will, in all probability, be lost.

Mind not the taunts of those who speak and write of wool, tallow, hides, bone-dust, oil, and other such productions of the colony, as things nauseous even in sound.

Continue your admonitions, and the continued wide circulation of the Herald will prove that the colonists forget not your exertions in the past to benefit them.