A "PAPER HUNT."

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 892, 12 November 1867, Page 3

A "PAPER HUNT."

' (Fromthe "Nelson Colonist") ' - Yesterday afternoon there was " mount- ! ing in hot haste," in Nelson, and nearly f everything with four legs and hoofs found 5 itself backed by a good, bad, or indifferent L rider (the writer of these " graphic lines " t declines to make affidavit as to which • order he belongs to), and brought to the neighbourhood of Stoke. On the hill near Mr. H. Stafford's property, and the low L ground in the same vicinity, were assem- ; bled fully a hundred horsemen, besidessome half-dozen graceful lady riders, and L a few vehicles that helped togive a charming variety to the cavalcade. These had assembled to witness the first, and we ' hope not the last, mock fox-hunt in this ' Province. It is what was termed a paper- • hunt, the " scent " being maintaineef by means of pieces of paper previously laid ' out on the line to be followed. About a score of horses started from - ■ the low ground near to'the stable of Mi*. 1 H. Stafford', shortly after three. o'clock. ' Among those present were Capt. Spiller, the leader, on the gallant grey Harkaway, Mr. R. Richardson on Suppleton, Mr. ' Arthur Collins on Hauhau, Mr. W. Robinson on Gamester, Mr. Gabb on Moro, Mr. Kingham on Templar, Mr. ' Knyvett on his chestnut gelding, Mr. Paul on Flying Buck, and Mr. Pratt, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Trask, on their respective smart horses ; there were others whose names we could not obtain. They all started well, Captain Spiller leading. On the low ground were three good fences, which were well taken ; at one of these. Mr. Gabb's cream-coloured horse Moro, whose performances were admired all throughout the thirty minutes' run, took what was allowed to be the most graceful leap of the day. At one of them, Mr. Kynvett came down, and got himself slightly cut, but his horse was quickly caught, and he was speedily again on the saddle, and made good work all the remainder of the run. After taking these fences, some ten or so of the riders kept well together ; a small " ruck" following ; and, crossing the Waimea-road, took a fence in capital style, leading into high ground, which was tough work for the horses. They then branched across a few paddocks, and here the view of the field from the road was excellent, and was a pleasant spectacle, especially when they made a break and went down hill towards a " nasty" fence, at which Captain Spiller gallantly led over, followed closely by Mr. Gabb on his irrepressible cream ; the rest ofthe field in close order. When at one of the three succeeding fences, several were stuck up, their horses refusing the leap in spite of the gallant lead of Mr. Kynvett. Here was a country, the nature of which would not admit of pace, but the fences, some of them stiff ones, were taken by many in first-rate style. Crossing a small creek, they disappeared behind the willows at Mr. Marsden's residence, took some slip-bars, and soon re-appeared at a sporting pace in the paddocks leading towards the main road. Here, Captain Spiller lifted " Harkaway" beautifully over the two gorse hedges that skirted the roadway, and was followed by a numerous field, one or two coming to grief, but re-mounting and jumping another hedge, passed into the race-course behind the Turf Hotel, and making the final of over twenty good leaps by taking the fence into the road, and thence winding-up at the Turf. At the last leap, " the cream" dislodged his rider, but like sundry others, he was soon in his seat again. The affair was very pleasant, and Captain Spiller acted the leader well; courteously pulling up occasionally and allowing a spell until the stragglers came up. Of the "hairbreadth 'scapes" by fence and rail, little need be said — for everybody, rides and lookers-on, enjoyed the brief run, which only wanted the fox to show whether or not he could have been caught !