HUNTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 July 1925, Page 8

HUNTING.

(By “Yoicks Over.”)

On Saturday, last hounds met at “Castle Hill,” Mr. G. V. Pearce’s property, Ball .Road. Rain fell practically the whole day with a wind from the sea, but the hospitality and the forethought for all by Mi's. Pearce and Mr. and Mrs. Richardson mitigated and subdued for the hunt the stormy antagonism of the weather. Therefore, despite the inclement conditions there was a large field of followers, and many onlookers, of which latter some braved the inclemency to the end of the hunt, but others fell early victims to the hearty warmth of the large fires and the cheery welcome within doors. Hounds first drew the home paddocks, but, drawing blank, the held crossed the double in front of the homestead and jumped into the woolshed paddock. The copse there was drawn but also drew blank. However, the rape paddock near-by had its hare, but she led the held to the railway line and soon passed . into the country where the held could not follow. Soon another hare had the lield running round the back of the homestead into the paddock across the Ball Road where the hounds had been first thrown in. That hare managed to escape in the gorse on Scown’s, from which a half dozen hares soon had hounds bewildered, until there were soon as many packs as hounds. fine hare crossed the creek back into our host’s property, and, she being hallooed, Pounds followed her line, but'after a short run hound s faulted, her foil having been crossed by sheep. Shortly afterwards another hare gave the run of the day, leading across the South Road into various neighbours’ properties almost to the sandhills at the bottom of the Ball Road, and there turning led back again to where she had been put up. A kill resulted in the angle of the boxtliorn hedges at the railway! station. This was’ a piping hot run. Desultory hares around the home paddocks kept the field busy timing the rest of the afternoon, and much good and well prepared country across the South Road liad perforce to be left for another time.

Despite the heavy going there were only three empty saddles seen during the afternoon, which speaks well for the horses, as some of the fences were mighty ones. Hounds during the afternoon hunted over the properties of Messrs Pearce, Hall. .MacDonald, Dwyer, Forbes, Fowler, Hamblyn, Chamberlain and others.

At the homestead, after refreshments had- (been heartily disposed of. the Master (Dr. Simmons) returned the thanks of t-be club to Mr. and Mrs. Pearce and Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, and to the neighbours for the use of their country that day. The master said that it had been a very enjoyable hunt and he hoped the interest in hunting of the folk in and around Bali Road would never die, and that the occupants of “Castle Hill” would continue to carry on as our hosts had done that day. The master’s words concluded in cheering. During the course of his remarks the master stated that the North Taranaki Club invited members and patrons of the sport to their annual point to point and hunt meet on Julv 16th.

Mr. G. V. Pearce was received with applause when lie responded to the master’s thanks. Mr. Pearce said that he was pleased to see again the Eg-mont-Wanganui field out hunting on his property and that of his neighbours, a sight he had missed last season. He stated that he had seen a great deal of sport abroad, from pony racing in Hongkoug with Russian ponies, to English shooting and the Ascot Gold Cup race. He regretted he had seen no hunting in England, but he s aw the fences in Herefordshire,, where the Princel of Wales had broken his collar-bone, in that since so much discussed point to point steeplechase of the Prince’s. Mr. Pearce stated that it would be a sad day. for horse-flesh and the art of equestrianism if riding to hounds should ever die out. He had at the request of the master tried to procure in England a dog-hound for the pack, hut the foot-and-mouth disease there had prevented export of animals'. He had, however, brought out something of interest to shootists, namely, some English wood pigeons, and he noticed with pleasure that five of those he had liberated on his farm had been flushed by the hunt during the afternoon. He hoped that in the years to come hunting folk at “Castle Hill” would be able to enjoy a good pigeon pie. He concluded his vPry interesting remarks by giving a hearty welcome to the club back to “Castle Hill” next season, anj to his new home at Waitotara as well..

Amongst those following were noticed the Master (Dr. Simmons) on Bahrain, deputy master D. Lupton on Frosty and H. I. Crocker on Projector, huntsman Mvle s on Waiteaka, Miss Gibson on Grey Dawn, Miss Alexander on Nefische, Messrs S. Mcßae on Quicksilver. T. E. Wilson on De Large, T. Lupton on Kafour, J. Sheahan on Wallace. W. Duncan on Overtax, J. Hawken on Opaku, Besley on a black, E. D 'avid son on Dot, N. Scown on Valeta, J. Shields on , Whenuakiira, Shepherd on Hindi and H. L. Spratt on Molly Paul. Many viewed the hunt from the hill and from cars, while some ladies were sufficiently intrepid to brave the elements on horse-back and follow the field. It wa s a most enjoyable hunt.