WALERS TO NEW CALEDONIA
Our charming French speaking neighbours. The nearby islands are the Loyalty Islands. We had a long, regular trade to and from New Caledonia - despite traditional French-British enmity we - Australia - were a long way from the colonial masters and on good friendly terms. Australians went there for work, many stayed permanently; the French came here for holidays.
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In the 1840's and 50's the trade was brisk to and from Sydney, it took longer for the Melbourne trade to kick in. Passengers went to and fro. French mail and supply ships came here for decades, and war sloops and frigates. All reports by travelers to New Caledonia praised it to the skies.
Horses went over in varying numbers with other cargo including livestock. Reports said all horses there were Australian, and there were a lot, native people found them useful too. In 1859 the frigate Thisbe took horses from Sydney over to Port de France (Noumea), a new wharf was being built there and a road to unite that port with St Vincent. Later that year the captain of the Brilliant reported cattle, sheep and horses imported to New Caledonia from Sydney were thriving.
This wild horse on New Caledonia looks like a Waler!
Mounted police (gendarmes) needed horses too, they had 20 mounted police on NC as early as 1846 - probably the year horses first arrived on the island. French man-o-war ships kept pirates at bay as French traders and Australian traders worked about the islands. Australian ships traded regularly about the islands, by the 1840's it was a regular run - sandalwood, copra and beche-de-mer being commodities. There were usually half a dozen of our ships working around the island at any one time. At times we rescued Frenchmen when their ships hit reefs and were wrecked, usually they requested to be brought to Australia, arranged officially through their Consul.
Captains found the native people of New Caledonia were excellent seamen and employed many. Most skippers were on good terms with the native people, as they were traders, not American slavers. Those employed were treated and paid the same as anyone else. Mostly things went ok but some Australians working at the sandalwood trade were murdered and eaten by the natives at times, probably as slavers were illegally raiding there in those times.
Yet to discover whether the first horses on New Caledonia were Australian. It's likely. There were 27 mounted police in 1857. Foot police were added, the mounted unit remained much the same numbers through to 1860.
In 1858 a group of Australians petitioned Napoleon III who allowed them a land grant of 200,000 acres to grow coffee and sugar on New Caledonia - with certain conditions (they had to get many other settlers and also labourers, to be given land grants after 12 years). There were French, German and English settlers; convicts were given land grants once qualified, and those in forced labour after a certain term - everyone wanted horses. People on NC began breeding horses in a big way. The French kept an army there, as uprisings from the original inhabitants occurred - it was after all a colony. They sought Lancers from Tahiti, stipulating each recruit provided his own horse. Tahiti was a French colony, and we also took horses there.
As convicts started arriving in 1863, police horse numbers increased. Needless to say, as with most colonies, some people selected for 'peace-keeping' forces were often brutal. Escaped French convicts sailed to Australia in small stolen boats, just as earlier, Australian convicts had sailed to New Caledonia.
1859 the French government bought the Australian schooner Lady Grey in Sydney, for surveying the coast of New Caledonia and nearby islands. They took her over with a full load of horses; it was mentioned several other shiploads of livestock including horses had already gone over.
In 1862 the Bengal took over cattle, sheep and 30 horses from Sydney. In 1864 the barque Margaret Eliza, Capt. Smith, went over from Sydney with a full load of cattle and horses, she left on Christmas Day and got there in a speedy 14 days, no horses lost and all arrived 'in splendid condition.' She sailed back to Brisbane in a super fast 4 days.
The first race meeting was held in 1865, most horses had English names - probably from Australia - there were gallops, jumps, trots and pony races. It was supported by the Governor of NC and nuns took their charges from school along; a social event and a lot of fun. The gallops race was won by Coquet, second Kuoeta, third Fanny, fourth Jane. The trot race was won by Coco, second Belle, third Captain, fourth Peggy. Five ponies ran in their race, won by Folichene.
1867 load per Sophie.
1869 horses racing had an equal mix of French and English names (one called El Barbe).
1870 the highest prize money (first race) at the races at Paita in December, was for horses foaled in NC, thus encouraging breeding; won by the horse Captain Rock. In that year an Australian stallion, Tumblebee, won everything else. A reporter at the races was keen to describe the meeting and wondered where a badly conformed horse came from (patently not Australia!)
1872 84 sent over on the Leonidas but only 36 arrived alive.
1873 20 horses went over + several per Sarcony.
1874 a news report there praised a new arrival, young Leamington - a 3 year old filly from Australia.
1875 on the steamer Lord Ashley, 15 large horses sent for gendarmes were set loose to jump overboard in a big storm, one lost its footing and crushed the ships carpenter to death. The rest swam after the ship "shrieking dreadfully". The ship did not sink.
A lengthy report from a correspondent there was published in October 1878 in the Sydney Morning Herald which said gendarmes (police) caused the uprising, there were several Australian stockmen ready to ride with the French to help put the uprising down, and the Arabs mounted as guards were not horsemen before being assigned this job, thus no good with horses in the bush - being promised freedom if they served well, they were hardly going to say they'd never been near a horse before in their lives - and the excuse of being no good at riding in the bush meant they did not have to hunt down and kill the locals, many of whom had been kind to them.
The French used revolvers against the natives as they forced their way through Boulouparie; Australians fought their way through that area with stockwhips. Atrocites by the French were reported. There were good NZ horsemen also with the Australians, praised for their cool heads and horsemanship. After the uprising, mounted gendarme numbers rose to 63. They sent to Australia for more police horses.
Captains found the native people of New Caledonia were excellent seamen and employed many. Most skippers were on good terms with the native people, as they were traders, not American slavers. Those employed were treated and paid the same as anyone else. Mostly things went ok but some Australians working at the sandalwood trade were murdered and eaten by the natives at times, probably as slavers were illegally raiding there in those times.
Yet to discover whether the first horses on New Caledonia were Australian. It's likely. There were 27 mounted police in 1857. Foot police were added, the mounted unit remained much the same numbers through to 1860.
In 1858 a group of Australians petitioned Napoleon III who allowed them a land grant of 200,000 acres to grow coffee and sugar on New Caledonia - with certain conditions (they had to get many other settlers and also labourers, to be given land grants after 12 years). There were French, German and English settlers; convicts were given land grants once qualified, and those in forced labour after a certain term - everyone wanted horses. People on NC began breeding horses in a big way. The French kept an army there, as uprisings from the original inhabitants occurred - it was after all a colony. They sought Lancers from Tahiti, stipulating each recruit provided his own horse. Tahiti was a French colony, and we also took horses there.
As convicts started arriving in 1863, police horse numbers increased. Needless to say, as with most colonies, some people selected for 'peace-keeping' forces were often brutal. Escaped French convicts sailed to Australia in small stolen boats, just as earlier, Australian convicts had sailed to New Caledonia.
1859 the French government bought the Australian schooner Lady Grey in Sydney, for surveying the coast of New Caledonia and nearby islands. They took her over with a full load of horses; it was mentioned several other shiploads of livestock including horses had already gone over.
In 1862 the Bengal took over cattle, sheep and 30 horses from Sydney. In 1864 the barque Margaret Eliza, Capt. Smith, went over from Sydney with a full load of cattle and horses, she left on Christmas Day and got there in a speedy 14 days, no horses lost and all arrived 'in splendid condition.' She sailed back to Brisbane in a super fast 4 days.
The first race meeting was held in 1865, most horses had English names - probably from Australia - there were gallops, jumps, trots and pony races. It was supported by the Governor of NC and nuns took their charges from school along; a social event and a lot of fun. The gallops race was won by Coquet, second Kuoeta, third Fanny, fourth Jane. The trot race was won by Coco, second Belle, third Captain, fourth Peggy. Five ponies ran in their race, won by Folichene.
1867 load per Sophie.
1869 horses racing had an equal mix of French and English names (one called El Barbe).
1870 the highest prize money (first race) at the races at Paita in December, was for horses foaled in NC, thus encouraging breeding; won by the horse Captain Rock. In that year an Australian stallion, Tumblebee, won everything else. A reporter at the races was keen to describe the meeting and wondered where a badly conformed horse came from (patently not Australia!)
1872 84 sent over on the Leonidas but only 36 arrived alive.
1873 20 horses went over + several per Sarcony.
1874 a news report there praised a new arrival, young Leamington - a 3 year old filly from Australia.
1875 on the steamer Lord Ashley, 15 large horses sent for gendarmes were set loose to jump overboard in a big storm, one lost its footing and crushed the ships carpenter to death. The rest swam after the ship "shrieking dreadfully". The ship did not sink.
1876 20 went over.
1877 26 horses per the Donald McLean.
1878 was the big uprising - a lot of killing by both sides; the French hurriedly raised a mounted troop from convict Arabs (political prisoners from Algiers and Paris), as their expertise with horses was legendary.1877 26 horses per the Donald McLean.
A lengthy report from a correspondent there was published in October 1878 in the Sydney Morning Herald which said gendarmes (police) caused the uprising, there were several Australian stockmen ready to ride with the French to help put the uprising down, and the Arabs mounted as guards were not horsemen before being assigned this job, thus no good with horses in the bush - being promised freedom if they served well, they were hardly going to say they'd never been near a horse before in their lives - and the excuse of being no good at riding in the bush meant they did not have to hunt down and kill the locals, many of whom had been kind to them.
The French used revolvers against the natives as they forced their way through Boulouparie; Australians fought their way through that area with stockwhips. Atrocites by the French were reported. There were good NZ horsemen also with the Australians, praised for their cool heads and horsemanship. After the uprising, mounted gendarme numbers rose to 63. They sent to Australia for more police horses.
Mounted police 1920, New Caledonia.
1879 load per Marion from Norfolk Island, September.
1880 2 per City of Melbourne + load on the Marion from Norfolk Island caught in hurricane, 26 died.
1881 George Kiss sent a shipload over, on an order + a load in April per the Policeman + load on the Marion in April, both last loads from Norfolk Island.
1883 several per the Orpheus.
1885 Mr Jones moved over from Australia taking racehorses including Whisper Low.
1886. The Allier, man-o-war, took a load over from Sydney.
1888 several on the Christine from NI + several including 2 racehorses per Tanais.
1889 several loads of several horses (with other cargo) on the Christine from Norfolk Island. Load of draughts (some for Fiji) on the Birksgate including black Clydesdale stallion Charmer II.
1890, 22 horses per the Darcy Pratt + 22 in January on the Christine from NI, she also did other trips with horses that year.
1891 the steamer Victoria lost a load of horses washed overboard, steaming to Noumea in a big storm. In 1891 they halted imports for a time due to an outbreak of pink-eye in horses around Sydney.
1893 12 horses per Rockton.
1894 3 per Tanais for McNamara.
1895 1 per steamer Victoria + 6 per Tanais, July
1898 shipload from Newcastle.
1880 2 per City of Melbourne + load on the Marion from Norfolk Island caught in hurricane, 26 died.
1881 George Kiss sent a shipload over, on an order + a load in April per the Policeman + load on the Marion in April, both last loads from Norfolk Island.
1883 several per the Orpheus.
1885 Mr Jones moved over from Australia taking racehorses including Whisper Low.
1886. The Allier, man-o-war, took a load over from Sydney.
1888 several on the Christine from NI + several including 2 racehorses per Tanais.
1889 several loads of several horses (with other cargo) on the Christine from Norfolk Island. Load of draughts (some for Fiji) on the Birksgate including black Clydesdale stallion Charmer II.
1890, 22 horses per the Darcy Pratt + 22 in January on the Christine from NI, she also did other trips with horses that year.
1891 the steamer Victoria lost a load of horses washed overboard, steaming to Noumea in a big storm. In 1891 they halted imports for a time due to an outbreak of pink-eye in horses around Sydney.
1893 12 horses per Rockton.
1894 3 per Tanais for McNamara.
1895 1 per steamer Victoria + 6 per Tanais, July
1898 shipload from Newcastle.
The island was used as a penal colony - a lot of interesting mostly political prisoners sent there, including many Berbers. Their convict era started in 1863 - a decade after ours ended.
1901 report said racehorses and racing people went over, mostly for the three months of July-September when racing took place, the rest of the time it being too hot. They usually went to the capital of Noumea. There was also unregistered racing (for horses not in the Thoroughbred studbook).
1902 horses went over per Marion.
1903 3 horses & 2 ponies per Ville de la Clotat + 4 per Saint Louis.
1904 3 per Dumbea + 2 per Rockton July + 11 per steamer Moresby from Norfolk Island.
1908 two from Sydney per French ship Pacifique.
1911 two horses went over on the Suva, July.
1912 some New Caledonian horses came over here to race at Randwick; the news report said the population there was very multicultural and the French kept up with Australia's cricket scores (they supported us wholeheartedly against England!), Australian stockmen moved there, veterinarians, and over 2,000 Japanese had settled there looking for work after the Russo-Japanese war; and all horses were of a fine stamp and plenty of them.
1923 a report said that all horses on New Caledonia were descended from Australian horses.
1903 3 horses & 2 ponies per Ville de la Clotat + 4 per Saint Louis.
1904 3 per Dumbea + 2 per Rockton July + 11 per steamer Moresby from Norfolk Island.
1908 two from Sydney per French ship Pacifique.
1911 two horses went over on the Suva, July.
1912 some New Caledonian horses came over here to race at Randwick; the news report said the population there was very multicultural and the French kept up with Australia's cricket scores (they supported us wholeheartedly against England!), Australian stockmen moved there, veterinarians, and over 2,000 Japanese had settled there looking for work after the Russo-Japanese war; and all horses were of a fine stamp and plenty of them.
1923 a report said that all horses on New Caledonia were descended from Australian horses.
There were ongoing sales for racehorses, Australians also moved there. Good consistent trade. Hacks, carriage horses, police horses, work horses and ponies were sent over.
New Caledonia from the Entire Travel Group website
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Tick and other pests: Australia helped New Caledonia become an Allied base in WW2 - North America had as many troops there as the population, being the main Pacific navy base for them. Tough time for the people and animals there. We sent over 2,000 horses for their army. The North Americans selected these horses - not paid for as they stole whatever they wanted from us in WW2 as an occupying power - took them straight to Pinkenba, the Brisbane shipping yards, and refused to dip or spray them as normal quarantine practise and as requested. They refused to obey our law in our country - an occupation, not an ally. The American occupation of parts of Australia in WW2 was horrendous. Countless rapes hence suicides, bashings, murders; unspeakable crimes. New cemeteries had to be built for their victims. Constant theft including thousands of entire homes. Every pushbike, motorbike, car, boat and truck they saw. Women and children forced to work in brothels (illegal in Australia) - most never seen again. Fresh food and milk stolen - no baby, mother or child in Brisbane for example ever got milk during the years the American army was here, etc etc. Most of the horses they stole (Lendlease - they gave them back when dead and in foreign countries) had been sourced in Queensland from cattle tick areas. There have been no apologies. Their occupation of New Caledonia was every bit as violent. Due to the Americans refusing to let us dip the horses, the horses took this tick pest to New Caledonia which created havoc and a lot of trouble to control it - over 160 dips for cattle had to be made and a lot of dip bought. The people there tried to sue the North American government. We'd always been careful with quarantine procedures largely because of tick, and had never taken this pest or any pest or disease anywhere in over a century - and live horses were a major export. Some tick areas dipped horses three times on their travels. Likewise we were careful about horses coming in, to keep our disease free status.
Noumea is the capital.
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New Caledonia is a beautiful place with a strong horse culture. Riding is popular, horse sport, work horses for cattle. Indigenous people use horses for transport and to pack goods into terrain too difficult for vehicles at times, such as when re-vegetating eroded areas. Wild horses roam about New Caledonia. Great place for a holiday and for riding - fabulous horse treks on beaches, through mountain forests, swimming in rivers etc.
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New Caledonia, Wikipedia Commons
