San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-09
IN FAR-oFF NEW ZEALAND.

An Antipodean Sheep Grower Prais-
es That Country's wild Horses
From the Chicago News
"Aboard the ship that carried me
from New Zealand to San Francisco
were six thorough bred New Zealand
horses" remarked T. Harding NC
Laurin, q wealthy sheep grower OF
that British possession, soon after ne
arrived at the Grand Pacific hotel.
"Aud the. owner expects to accom-
plish wonders with those animals.
It is a strange thing to many that
DooI horaes should be bred in New
Zealand. dare say that when L get
To England, and when relate various
matters nv friends will answer with
a stare OF Incredibly. AS point of
fact. the vast plains to the north OF
NV place-Otago-are the homes OF
great herds of wild horses that roam
about as fearlessly as did the mus
tangs or broncOs of your western
plains.
"Are they better horses than the
mustangs? Well, they are as far
hove the American article as the
pure bIoOded Ara bian Is above an Or
binary draft horse. They are large
and well built and there Is no uni
tormi " of color. They live upon the
rich tassocks and peele grass that
abound on their once volcanic fields.
The New Zealand wild horse is a
hard one to break, but once brought
under control, he makes magnificent
driving or carriage animal. Cheap,
too. l have seen beautiful '4-hand
horses sold for ELS, to be used for
coaches. Breeding with imported
stock, produces variety such as
would be we'll adapted to America.
Just now sheep raising is the great
industry of the island, but 1 predict q
great future for the horse trade"
Mr.. McLaurin has made q fortune
in the sheep business since his stay
in Otago. "Were the poor people OF
England to have confidence in New
Zealand as q living place." said he.
"what q terrific exodus from the
island to the south seas would take
place. Wages are high and we can
live for almost nothing In New
Zealand. Everything that man needs
is to be had without much effort or
cost. One can wear the same kind Of
clothes all the year round. 1t is true
that there have been strikes and
labor troubles, but hoodlums have
caused them"
GLOW was that?"
"Well, in the first place, saloons are
as thick in the settlements as they
are in your large American cities.
No laws governing their closing ex-
ist, hence there is no cessation of
their business. Bricklayers who earn
81 Cd per day, and laborers who re-
ceive correspondipgly high wages,
DON'T want to work more than ONT or
two days In every week. Money
comes easily and they want to spend
it. In that matter they partake to
large degree of the natural traits Of
the natives. Hence great cry from
the employers for steady labor. The
sight Of a lot of steady men doing
their best infuristes these halt-drunk-
en- men, and clashes very often ensue.
That Is why there have been labor
troubles in prosperous New Zealand
What they need there is better sys-
tenn of laws. The colony has out
grown it's swaddling clothes, and
England must look after it's moral and
political condition. Just before / left
an election for members of parliament
was held. The honOrs In this unusu-
ally quiet affair were about equally
divided between the liberals and con-
servatives."
you think, then, that the colony
would be boon to England were
many of the poor to colonize there p
"Undou btedly. The place needs
sturdy Englisbmen. London should
take some steps in the matter. Many
of her laborers would find an Utopia
in New Zealand. Our fresh meat
trade with England is growing be-
yond even the expectations Of the
most sanguine. Other industries are
also growing. Why, like the place
80 we'll that after paying short visit
to England I shall return to make
Otago my permanent home"