HUNTING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9356, 27 April 1893, Page 3

HUNTING.

(By "Duncan Puhple.") Mr R. H. Mason's hounds met at Ashcott on Saturday last. They came over from Taheke on Friday, and were pat In the wool shed at Ashcott, where a night pen had been made secure with wire netting. The battens which formed the floor bad spaces between them, and ao they were covered with straw to keep the inmatea warm. They had no food or water until about 6 o'clock next day. Saturday dawned cheerless and raining, but a glorious hunting morn. About 10 o'clock it cleared np, and soon a field of abont 30 were collected, and breakfast was over by noon. The field then numbered 38. With the master and whips leading the way, the hounds were cast off, and proceeded to quest what used to be called in coursing times the "big cocksfoot," where there is manuka in the bed of the Tukl Tuki river ; here a hare was found, but chopped before it had gone very far, as it tried to rnn up a bank and fell back into the middle of the hungry pack below, which consisted of eight and a half conple. Pass was pricked by the foot, and the pads (as also of hares killed later) were distributed by the master amongst the ladies. The next hare took up the river bed and then doubled In the cocksfoot piddock, and after two or three faults was killed in the open on the river bed. No sooner was this over than another bare was hullo'd, only a short distance away. The hounds were cast off, and we had another splendid run of six or seven miles. The hounds after this were cast off in the trig, paddock, and in a few minutes they told us they had found, taking us over a grand line of country to the bottom of the cocksfoot paddock, where they were at tanlt and not enabled to pick up the ecent again. Back we went to the trig, paddock, the scent and track of puss being again found, off all went once more in pursuit, bnt with generally frequent doubts of the result. " See," says G., in his enthusiastic style, " where the houads trend towards yonder fence ! I wish he may have stopped there Mind that old hound ; how be dashes o'er the fence ! I think he winds him I Hark ! they haloo ! Ay, there he goes ! It is nearly over with him ! Had the hounds caught view he must have died ! He will hardly reach the cover. See how they gain upon him at every stroke ! " It is a splendid race, yet the cover may save him, and it did, and as the days are short now and the scent was getting cold it was thought time to take the hounds home. The jumps are arranged by lowering the top wire of the fence every ten chains or so, and lashing on a stout pole to give the horses something to see. Some horses have a faint idea of jumping wire, and probably in a few months many will be expert at It. Mr Steward Bridge, followed by Miss Miller and Mr Bobison, jumped one six-wire fence. The pluck and skilful horsemanship of Miss Miller must certainly be admired, for she knew not whether her horse eonld jump wire or not. The music of the hounds fetched people immensely, as it) was new to many. In hunting a drag the scent is so strong that the hounds ran breast high and do not give tongue, Among the lady riders we must note a very juvenile daughter of Mr J. Rhodes, who managed all her jumps well, in some cases giving the lead. As she is not yet eleven years old, people noticed her and her clever pony. Perhaps in tjme she may enjoy a taste for hunting in England. Here are some of the ilders and their horses :— Mrs Giblin on Barbarian, Mrs J. Rhodes on Fonlham, Mies Madge Rhodes on Poeraogi, Miss Miller on Desmond, Miss Groome on Moa, the master on Wi Parata, Messrs Jackson and Harsell, whips, on horses whose 1 names I do not know, and in fact 1 think the names of the gentlemen riders will be sufficient, without their mounts; the list gets lodr. Messrs H. H. Bridge, S. Bridge. D. Puckle, G. Johnston, O. Johnston, F. White, M. Mason, A. Gilbin, J. Chambers, A. X, Howard, W. Robison, H. Carlyon, Berney, Groome, Butler, and Dr. Godfrey. Others were present who did not follow, and among these were several Maoris. The hounds went home on Snnday morning; after the hunt they had two sheep, which had been boiled for them. The day was considered the greatest possible success, as the "soft" weather made the scent as good as could have been wished.