51
Garhmuktesar
Horse Show.
244. This Show commenced on 4th and terminated on 9th November 1897.
Owing to the fact that this Show as well as the Batesar Fair are held in connection
with religious festivals, they always clash, which is to be regretted.
245. Garhmuktesar must, as stated last year, only be considered a Mule Fair
at which a local gathering of young stock takes place.
246. Owing to the fact that the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
had to be present at Batesar, he was unable to remain long at Garhmuktesar. still
he brings to notice the fact that there were many young stock under 2 years of age,
the produce of Government stallions, of excellent stamp.
247. This Show is yearly becoming more popular as a centre at which brood
mares and young stock are collected. On this occasion 308 attended against 240
last year.
248. The number of mules attending showed a decided falling off, viz., 779
against 1,063 in 1896. This was to be expected, as large numbers had already
been purchased for the Tirah Expeditionary Force, and I regret to say that the
zemindars, who are so very credulous, believed wild rumours that if they brought
their stock in, it would be seized for a nominal price. This is mentioned as a cause
for the small number of mules attending this Show, but it does not apply only to
this one in particular but to many others at which I was present ; still, however
notwithstanding the small attendance, the Commissariat Officer who attended was
able to purchase 162 at an average price of Rs. 137-8-0; this is nearly double
the number purchased by the Commissariat Department in 1896. On the question
of the number of mules purchased, the Commissariat Officer states:—
The Tehsildar should be made to supply attendants for animals purchased. Had he supplied even a few
during the first few days of purchasing, double the number actually purchased would have been bought. There
was great difficulty in rationing the animals purchased during the first few days, and as no attendants were
forthcoming to march them, purchasing had to cease.
249. Every mule purchased was 4 years of age or over, and on this point
the Superintendent Civil Veterinary Department, states:—
Most of the mules above the age of 2 years were brought from Kurnal, Delhi, and Gurgaon districts by
Punjabi dealers who are in the habit of purchasing yearling mules from the breeders of the N.-W. P. districts.
They rear them and bring them for sale to Garhmuktesar.
250. I think that the fact is now clearly proved that the zemindars of the
North-Western Provinces will not , as a rule, keep their mule stock much over 6
months of age, and the fact that Punjabi dealers rear it and sell it at 4 years of
age goes far to prove that it must be a remunerative speculation.
251. The Bhurtpur State and Errinpura Irregular Force purchased 17.
252. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, brings to notice the
fact that whilst the Imperial Funds contributed Rs. 700 to be awarded in prizes to
mares covered by Imperial stallions and to their young stock, the District Funds
contributed nothing to the encouragement of produce by provincial stallions. This
is to be regretted as the mares covered by these stallions are generally the property
of poor zemindars who need encouragement. I have brought this fact to the notice
of Government, and trust that in future years this will be attended to.
Makanpur
Horse Fair.
253. This Fair has suffered much in popularity and points to the fact how
very quickly a Fair can suffer in this way. Only 3 years ago a large number of
remounts was purchased here, but gradually, owing to unsatisfactory arrangements,
Officers did not attend it in any numbers and consequently dealers also fell off.
The result is now that this year only one Native Officer, of the 7th Bengal Cavalry,
was present. He purchased 4 remounts at an average cost of Rs. 274.
254. The fact that this Fair has fallen off so greatly is to be regretted as it is a
most convenient centre for the purchase of remounts stationed at Lucknow, Bareilly,
Allahabad and Fyzabad.
255. The main causes which led to the unpopularity of this Fair were:—
(a).—The fact that the road from Araul station was unmetalled.
(b).—The want of a Sub-Treasury.
(c).—The difficulty of obtaining supplies.
All these have to be attended to and our best thanks are due to Mr. Trethewy,
the Collector, for all he has done to add to the popularity of this Fair
during the past year, and I trust that Native Cavalry in the neighbourhood will
again, in their own interests, do their utmost to re-establish a horse market at
Makanpur. If they would communicate with the Collector notifying that they