22
REMARKS.
1. This being the last annual report which I shall have the honor to
submit to the Imperial Government, I beg to record my opinion that as the
Indian bred horse can work and thrive in any country and climate, and that
the British troop horse cannot stand hard work in a tropical climate, it is
obvious that horse-breeding in India should be so fostered and supported by
the authorities as to allow of all the troop horses required being bred and
reared in India. Moreover, that there should be available a large number of
horse stock outside the army, so that additional cavalry and artillery, if on
an emergency sent out from England, could be mounted on Indian horses.
2. It is true that hitherto Australia and the Cape have supplied, and are
still supplying, horses for India; but it is a well-known fact that they do
not possess the hardiness and powers of endurance, nor can they bear the
hardships and privations incident on war service, so well as the breeds of
Arabia, Persia, and India. The advantage of having hardy Indian bred horses
to meet the requirements for remounts to replace casualties on service in place
of young and perhaps unacclimatised Australians must be evident. Surely,
therefore, it is desirable that Government should adopt steadily and persist-
ently measures by which India may in time yield not only all the horses
required in time of peace, but also be prepared with a reserve in the breed-
ing districts which would be available in case of war.
3. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, states
that "the stallions inspected at Sibi were in faultless condition." It is
evident that the greatest care and attention has been paid to the welfare of
these animals, and the best thanks of this department are tendered to the local
officers for their cordial co-operation.
4. My best thanks have to be most gratefully recorded to those Veteri-
nary officers who were my coadjutors in the Horse Breeding Department from
1876 to 1892, and to those officers of the Civil Veterinary Department since
April 1892; and I would especially name Messrs. E. J. Batt, W. Lamb, and J. J.
Meyrick; Veterinary Majors B. L. Glover, J. C. Dwyer, and G. J. R. Rayment;
Veterinary Captain J. W. A. Morgan; and Veterinary Lieutenants H. T.
Pease, F. B. Drage, and R. L. Cranford.
Also I record my thanks to the Veterinary Overseers Messrs. J. Burke, E.
Burke, and H. C. D'Silva, who have performed their duties in a most willing
and satisfactory manner.
As this is my last report, I deem it my duty to record my opinion on the
Superintendent and several clerks of the Office of Inspector General, Civil
Veterinary Department.
Mr. J. B. D'Silva was Head Clerk of the Office of the General Superin-
tendent, Horse Breeding Operations, and on that Department merging into
the Civil Veterinary Department, he became Superintendent of the Office. He
has always conducted his duties in an earnest and most satisfactory manner,
and I have to record my best thanks to him for the good work he has done
during the last 18 years.
Mr. E. B. Roderick has been 12 years in the Office of Inspector General,
Civil Veterinary Department, and General Superintendent, Horse Breeding
Operations, and has worked willingly and well, and is fit for promotion.
Mr. A. R. D'Silva has likewise during the last 5 years served under me,
and shown himself an able clerk and likely to prove worthy of promotion.
Messrs. E. T. D'Silva and Joseph DeSilva are promising clerks.
Rughbeer Singh. Munshi, performed his work satisfactorily, and has
lately been transferred on promotion to the Office of Assistant to Inspector
General, Civil Veterinary Department.
My best thanks are also due to all District Officers of the horse-breeding
districts of the North-Western Provinces and the Punjab who, with their