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Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 15, 3 August 1848, Page 2

The law favoureth things for the good of the Common wealth: as killing of foxes, and pulling down a house of necessity to stay fire,—Noy's maxims The Auckland hounds have had splendid sport this season, and lately had a run, equal to, if not surpassing any thing upon record. The following description of it has been already sent home to Maga, to let the Meltonians know how we do the thing at the Antipodes. The meeting was tixed at the court house

spinny, the property of the high sheriff of the county ; that gentleman's bailiff ha\ing called j at the kennel to inform us that Reynard had been seen more than once prowling about the neighbourhood. Found, and had a sharp scurry for a few fields ; but the strut was dull, we came to a fault, and Pug shook his brush at us in derision. Crossed over to Pensioner's scrubs; drew Oneunga, and Paparoa gorse, both blank ;—the latter, by the way, had always been considered as a sure find, and may still afford a good run on a future day. Tried Panmure, but all iu vaiu ; not a whimper ; and we were all beginning to look as blank as the day : a few of the field indeed actually turned back for home, one gentleman growling out that it was unprofitable work —that "it was only time lost hunting an animal that a man could not eat when he was caught." There were few of his mind, nevertheless; sport for sport's sake was enough for most of us, and we were not sorry to be rid of the lukewarm ones, who were always in the way, crowding at gaps, and generally contriving to ride over any one that got a fall. We were well rewarded for our perseverance at last. A messenger from a Rev. Gentleman *ho lived a few miles away, and amougst whose geese and turkeys great depredations had been committed, came trotting up on a wall eyed pony, to inform us that the Mission covert was a sure find. No time was lost; we made away for it at once ; and sure enough, we found directly, a fine dogfox, with a head like a wolf. The hounds opened beautifully, and rung him up and down the wood in a style that he must have found particularly unpleasant; the scent was evidently mending, and we made up our minds for a brilliant day. But we weie doomed for disappointment still; nothing could drive the varmint out; he had evidently made up his mind not to face the open, but kept runniug fore and back, foil over foil, till hounds, huntsman, whips and all, were completely bothered. " He's as clever as a Christian," cries one of the Field. " Two clever by half," says a second ; " he will never break, depend upon it." " I wish he would break his neck," shouts a third," keeping us pottering up and down here all day." " Who's afraid," sings out an inveterate Shakspearian ; "we shall be too many for him now, with all his tricks: * the policy of that stale old mouse eaten dry cheese, Nestor, and that same dog-fox, Ulysses is proved not worth a blackberry.' " We were in better luck than we had supposed, for he did break cover at last, and was viewed away over the very finest part of the country. And now an incident occurred almost unparalled in the anuals of fox-hunting. A couple of greyhounds, who seemed perfectly to understand what was going on, were hanging most judgmatically about the skirts of the covert *, making believe to take no interest about what was going on inside, yet keeping a sly look out for Pugs exit into the open. Scrupulously observant of the rules of fair sport - manship, they gave him plenty of law, —pro- ' bably lest they should be mistaken fur lurchers; and then, away they went, down the wind, in chase. It was one of the sharpest things we ever saw; Pug being absolutely coursed a quarter of a mile a head ; the pack following their best, head upandsterns straight; you might have covered the whole with a table cloth. The pace was killing ; some could not live with it at all; no time for the hounds to indulge in music, or for riders to crane—it was neck or nothing with every one. A few pepper and salt cut-aways and clerical broad brims were out, who did themsehes infiuite credit: nay, so keen were they, that they even shewed some inclination to over-ride the hounds, and were with difficulty called to order. One of them was very rudely asked what business he had there at all, so far from his parish, and engaged in such unclerical pastime ; he answered with great good humour, that he had little to do at home, and that the Bishop had no objection to his clergy hunting provided they did not tally-ho. But the pace was too good for asking questions ; the long dogs were gaining on Reynard eveiy stride, close at his brush in fact *, another hundred yards and he must have been pulled down ; when, by a last desperate effort he succeeded in reaching a strong head of earths in Lord Grey's country, into which he bolted, thus gaining a short respite from his foes, after one of the fastest and straightest things ever seen. One of the Whips was immediately despatched to Exeter Hall, the residence of that true sportsman, the Karl of Chichester, for the necessary implements to dig him out. On account of the distance few of the Field had time to wait for the final issue of the days sport; but the whereabouts of Reynard was made sure of by a staunch terrier, of the right black and tan breed, who can be backed to lay at him underground for any length of time, iu spite of his teeth. Who is to get the brush, where all rode alike so well? Detur fortiori.