"COURSIN'."

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14406, 13 July 1912, Page 8

"COURSIN'."

THE STORY OP A DAY OTJT.

(SPECIALLT WRITTEN Foil "THE I'KESS.")It was certainly only a country club j but what we lack*! in "style" wo made Jup for in keenness. StarclsCd collars and balloon riding breeches -were a minus quantity; ivu woro not "doggy," ' but —we had tho dogs. Betiveon forty ' and fifty of vii turned up at the pad- ' dock gate and the inevitable weather ; prophet caused general dissatisfaction by snuffing the breese in a professienn! style, and remarking that it would bo ■ a find day. It was fine, but wo felt I that a few more prophocics of this nature won (1 result in a four-inch rain- , fall. «> the prophet was snppr<Bf.ed. Tho majority of us were mounted on hors<» of more or less demerit, but the competitors were mostly in traps and.their i attention was very fully occupied in managing their horee.s and coercing their loads of whining and ttrusgling greyhounds, who, shivering in their overcoats, did thoir level bet to hang theinse.ves by leaping out of the trap. When everyone had satisfied himself, by personal examination, that tho lunch was really in the buckboard, and the corkscrew had not- boon forgotten, a move was made for tho couming grounds. The rather dreary looking fiats would not exactly gladden a farmers eyo but they gave promise of a grand gal- | loping ground.—with some glorious uncerta:nt:es in the form of rabbit burrotts —and those who knew said the piaco was '"crawling with hares." On the rignt hand lay the placid expanse of Lake Waihora, to the left the level horizon was broken by the billowy outlino of fern-cove r ed sand dimes, between which the blue Pacific could be seen, while straight .ahead, like- a milewide khaki ribbon, the tussocky plain stretched, apparently to the edge of the world.

To start with, everyone wants to keep as near to the slipper as possible, but after some energetic persuasion on the part_of the members of the committee, the followers ■ arc spread out into a wido fan-like formation, and all being ready, the cavalcade sweeps forward. A hundred yards or so ahead of the centre of the line walks the slipper, with the first pair l of hounds tugging at the leather slips and quivering with excitement. Behind him rides the judge, with the corners of his red and white signalling flags sticking out of his coat pockets. Far to the left a hare springs from her form and is greeted with a wild yell, but pusa is cunning and refuses to be turned. She breaks through the line of horsemen and disappears over the sand hills. A moment after another hare is started, but too far ahead to give the diogs a chance. They have viewed, however, and their excitement reaches a frenzied pitch; they -are pulling strongly and keep the slipper on the trot. Then from the right comes their, chance. A strong hare,quarters across the ground, making for the sandhills and safety with the speed of an aeroplane. The slipper dashes forwards, slips the straining greyhounds with a sharp pull of tho cord, and the course_is on. A wave of excitement sweeps over everyone, hats are jammed on, spurs rammed homeland the men far put on the wings of the line gallop in towards', the centre. It is a good course; the black and the brindle are up against, each other. The latter forgee ahead, but the turn of the quarry favours the black dog. He overruns puss and becomes unsighted for an instant, owing to.a too enthusiastic horseman, who nearly rides him down. "Keep back! Keep back!" yells the judge; "give the dogs a chance." Everyone is yellmg now, It is infectious, and there is a broad grin on nearly every face. We pound along, forgetting all about.the.rabbit burrows, while the keen wind whistloe past our. ears, and our eyes water. A lady in a pony cart is well to the front; she half risee from the seat and hammers the pony with the slack of the reins, while the trap bumps and sways over the tuseoclw and MatagoH'rio scrub. The brindle dog is putting" in some good work now, and is piling up tho points. Wrench and turn, and again, wrench and turn go to her, and the black is tiring or else is "running cunning." Wo notice, out of the corner of our eyo, a horse pitch forward; its rider describes a graceful circle and alights in a sitting posture. The rabbit burrowu have got in their fine work at last. Wo hear a crash behind us, and a second later a horse with trap harness on careers past.' That probably means the swingle-tree has come adrift or broken. The end comes suddenly. The black has crept up on the inside, and with a last turn the hare drives straight into the waiting jaws. A quick snap, and the course is ended. Up goes tho white flag, tho dojrs , owners run forward and clap on thoir covers. Drinks out of mysterious black bottles are administered to the panting eompetitorn, and much brisk muscle rubbing takes place. Tho field soon closes up, everyone talks and laughs, and the buzz of conversation drowns the < laboured breathing of tho blown horses. We listen while the owner of the winner tells how he won. but when tlu> uoser stars to explain how ho lost, we ride back to our place in the lino to await the next course.