ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7873, 26 May 1891, Page 6

ASHBURTON.

Oar Ashburton correspondent mites : — : Yesterday was observed as a dose holiday in Ashburton, and the weather being simply perfect, most of the townspeople went for an outing, all the streets wearing a very deserted appearance after eleven o'clock m the morning. A goodly number took advantage of the excursion to Timaru, while others drove to the sea beach in picnic parties. A good number of the Aahburton Rifles paraded at nine o'clock in the morning,

under Captain W. E. Dolman, and after an hour's drill they fired a " feu de joie," and were dismissed in time to allow those who wished to do so to proceed to Timaru by the excursion train. •

The Birthday meet of the Ashburton hounds took place, as usual, at Tinwald, Mr Saunders arriving there with ten couple of hounds pretty punctually at noon, when were assembled a number of ladies on horseback, a very large number of horsemen, and many heavily laden vehicles. This particular meet has always been regarded as the holiday gathering of the hunting season in Ashburton, and every horse in the district that has got a sound l«g at all under him seems to get pressed into the service. The huntsman trotted his even and wellconditioned pack towards the Lagmhor road a few minutes after twelve, and as the long cavalcade came up in rear it presented a very imposing appearance. The weather was a bit too much like midsummer for hunting, bat, notwithstanding this, a good day's sport was enjoyed, and the spectators were enabled to see most of the fun. During the daythere were two capital runs and a kill. Hares were a little too plentiful for real tiptop sport, though when the hounds did single a hare out, puss led the field at a rattling pace across country awkward enough to try the mettle and jumping powers of the best of the horses. Mr Saunders has got the pack in rare good trim this season, and those who are fortunate enough to be well mounted at the meet at Mr R. W. Hart's homestead, Winchmore, on Saturday, may look forward to a clipping run over some really good hunting country. The Winchmore meets are* always popular and largely attended, and rarely have the hounds thrown off in any of the paddocks without giving such sport as the straightest rider to hounds loves.