PAKURANGA HOUNDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 154, 1 July 1901, Page 8

PAKURANGA HOUNDS.

Saturday, Juiie 29th, will nog be remembered by members oil the Pakuranga Hunt Club. The meet was fixed for Pukekohe, and most of the members took train from Remuera, picking up the master (Mr ,7. G. Kalph), Huntsman Mr Selby and hounds at Otahuhu, and it was evident from the animated scene on the train that a favourite huntiug tryst I was about to be visited. On arrival j at Pukekohe the members were met by Messrs Eoulston, Johns, and Douglas, and at their kind invitation partook of luncheon. After doing full justice to the. good things provided, the horn of the huntsman was heard, horses were mounted, and all were eager for the chase. The local horsemen turned out in godly numbers, and quite a calvacade of horses escorted the visitors up the main street leading up to Mr Catheart's property, and the visitors could thus early realise that it was indeed a royal reception. The hounds were' laid on in Mr Carthcart's property netx the road, and passed into MeAnally's searching for a hare was far more interesting than is usually the ease, as the Huntsman led the way over a post and rail, and then a rail fence with line into Brownlec's pro^ perty. causing pleasure to lookers on at the jumping powers of visiting horses. At last music of the hounds was heard, and they were soon in full cry across IJosking's farm. Up to the boundary fences adjoining Mr Douglas's puss turned, and owing to the crowd of followers on the road she doubled and a kill resulted in Mr Leech's paddock. Drawing on through 15. Toy and McGouh's sheep cleaning without result, but endless amusement was caused by the local tontingent of budding sports negotiating the various logs. We took the road and went at a brisk pace to Mr AVildblood's. Drawing near to Mr Gallagher the hounds soon gave tongue, and all were in hot pursuit through Gallagher's, but here we crossed a wire fence (and unfortunately no saplings) into Wildblood's through to the Main Road to Waiuku. Here puss was closely pressed, and ran for cover, taking the road in the direction of Watson's bush, but the hounds full of running and having tasted the quality of Pukekohe hares were working keenly, and killed just on the vergoe of the bush. After a brief respite all were anxious to get going, as days are short, and the train waits for no one. Watson's bush was drawn and soon puss was seen clearing out across the main road into Somerville's, across various paddocks into Steenson's, and here a formidable post arid rail had to be negotiated, causing many empty saddles, but nothing daunted, remounting we find that puss has run a big circle, taking the field through a good post and rail country and wire fences back to Watson busht At ihe kind invitation of Mr Roulston, to try his farm. The Huntsman soon is heard, and we are working back to the home of the noted equine, Record Reign, and is not to-day a record day? Hardly had the hounds got within the luxurious pastures than puss was astir viein£ with the stable for fleetnees of foot* $he was determined that what was the last run of the day should not be the least. She worked through Mr Roulston's, round to Mr Walsh's swamp, through Messrs Hbey an« Regans, and the post and rail country of Mr Bowe's, on though to Mr Browns, with the hounds still in strong pursuit back to swamp. Here a check results. The Huntsman, desirous of inviting his hounds to supper, cheerthem on and eventually puss was killed in the swamp. Th<? shades of night were falling and our watches remind us that it was time to return to Pukekohe. The members who went from Remuera were :— Mesdames Crowe and Moody, Messrs Crowe, Walter, Purchas, Rae (2), H. Kinloch, Clark, Pittar. From Otahuhu: The Master (J. G. Ralph), Master Willie Ralph, Mr and Miss Abbott, Mr Wallace, Mr Kelly, Huntsman (Mr Selby), and first and second whip, both Mr Sellers' sons. Mr McLaughlin came by road, also Mr Bent from Waiuku. Ths day was thoroughly enjoyed, and spills were numerous, and some were severe. The Huntsman met with a severe spill off Albion, negotiating a seven wire fence at dusk in the last run, but to ride with the same pluck and fearless determination to be with the pack he has not his equal. Arriving at he station the work of reloading our horses is accomplished, and congratulation is offered that there is time ior refreshments. At last the hour of departure is at hand. Assembled on the platform, at the Master's call three hearty cheers were o-iven for the Pukekohe friends. At the call of rM Roulston three hearty calls were given to the Pakuranga members; and as the train steamed away the sound of "For they are jolly good fellows" was heard in the distance. '

Three Russian officers have been sentenced, in default, to six months imprisonment on a charge of drawing plans of Nagasaki harbour, Japan, adjacent to the fortifications. Mr. Charles Hemus has just introduced into his popular portrait gallery a charming variety of artistic tints in monochrome, which will be sure to attract and please his numerous patrons. The new tints range from a delicate sepia, or olive green, through the beautiful warm tones of seinna carbon, to a rich Bartalozza red—almost any desired shade of colouring being produced at will. In the United States these novelties in tints have quite usurped the original photographic brown, or the later orey, and Mr. Hemus has determined to give to his customers the fullest advantage of all the latest, improvements in photography.

At a meeting of Waikato and Rotorua rimu sawmillers, when Messrs Ellis and Burnand, Bailey and P>ollard, 11. C. Wick,' of the Mountain Eimu Timber Co.. and others were present, it was decided to raise the price of rlruti timber f"'d per hundred feet from the Ist of July.

The man Liddiard, who sustained a fracture of the skull on Friday, through his horse bolting in Symondsstreet, remains in a dangerous state at the hospital, though there was a slight improvement in his condition today.