72
During the year under review it was decided to abolish the post of
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Central Provinces and Berar,
in order to furnish another European Officer for the Bombay Veterinary College
without adding to the cadre of the Department. At the same time it was
stated in a Despatch to the Secretary of State for India, dated 31st July 1894,
that it would not be necessary to deprive the Central Provinces and Hyderabad
of their Veterinary Officer, so long as only one civil Veterinary Officer was on
furlough, in view of the fact that two furlough appointments have been
provided for the Department. It was further stated " At present there is no
probability that more than one officer will be on furlough during the next 12
months".
Veterinary Captain Short, who held the appointment, having proceeded
on leave, was appointed as one of the furlough officers, and on return from leave,
resumed the appointment in Central Provinces and Berar. From one cause or
another this dual appointment has not proved a success, and Veterinary Captain
Short having been invalided to England, these provinces are now without their
Veterinary Officer.
I regret that the second furlough appointment alluded to in above quoted
Despatch has not been filled up, but it is to be hoped that on the conclusion
of the operations in Chitral, this officer, who is now supernumerary to the
Army Veterinary Department, will be appointed. This will enable the work
to be carried on in Central Provinces and Berar.
General Remarks.
Remounts for
Native Cava-
lry.
262. During the year under review, an attempt was made to give effect to
the proposal put forward in last year's Annual Administration Report that stock
likely to prove fit for Native Cavalry remounts should be collected at different
centres at other times than when shows or fairs are held.
With this view, a circular was issued by the Adjutant General in India to
all General Officers Commanding, for the information of all Bengal and Pun-
jab Cavalry regiments. This circular contained paragraphs 325 and 326 of last
year's Annual Administration Report, and the officers commanding these regi-
ments were asked to state what districts and what time of the year would be
most suitable for them to visit the different centres at which stock would be
collected.
It is to be regretted that this important step was not more warmly
responded to by the Native Cavalry, as it would, in all probability, have done
much to check the dealer class. Replies have only been received from 6 regi-
ments, and of these 6, only two from the Bengal Cavalry, the remaining 4
having been received from the Punjab Cavalry and Queen's Own Corps
of Guides.
In order to meet the wishes of these officers who have expressed their
readiness to give the scheme a fair trial, arrangements are being made to
collect stock in the districts of Meerut and Dera Ghazi Khan, and it is also
hoped that the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana will also assist in the
matter.
263. During the year under review, a letter bearing on the subject of the
purchase of grey horses for Native Cavalry, which was written by my pre-
decessor shortly before his retirement, was issued by the Adjutant General in
India with a circular memorandum in which His Excellency the Commander-
in-Chief expressed his opinion that horses otherwise suitable should not be
rejected merely for color.
I doubt from what I have observed whether any appreciably greater
number of grey horses has been bought this year.
The Government of India further decided that first class grey stallions
should not be rejected, but in view of the objections felt against grey remounts
by some Commanding Officers, they did not consider it advisable to pur-
chase any large number of stallions of this color.
During 1894-95, no grey stallions were brought for Imperial or District
Board purposes.