OPENING OF THE SHOOTING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5759, 3 May 1880, Page 5

OPENING OF THE SHOOTING SEASON.

NEIGHBOURHOOD OF AUCKLAND. The sportsmen in " the neighbourhood of Auckland and aloog tho choice shooting places between hero and the Waikato River appear to have b§sn singularly unsuccessful in the raids on pheasants on the opening day of the season. It ha 3 been the rule to see large displays of birds at the business placcs of the traders who take out "licenses to sell game" on tho afternoon of thQ opening day. Saturday proved entirely exceptional. Instead of scores of bags, addressed to the different licensed traders, arriving by the train, there were only two—one for Hellaby Brothers, which contained pheasants, about a dozen brace ; and the other for Mr. Hulme. The former contained pheasants, which were duly exposed for sale; the latter, which the anxious recipient proudly hoped contained the coveted game, was filled with teal and ducks; and Fisher and Co., who had extensive orders to fulfil, received a single bird. Two reasons were assigned for this want of succes3. Either the birds bave been killed off before tho shooting season commenced, or the rangers have been too much on the alert to allow persons desiring to trade in pheasants from starting operations before the morning of the Ist of May, thus preventing their chance of having bags of game ready for transmission. Disgusted sportsmen have, however, returned to town, alleging that game was never so scarcebefore. Those who have gone farther a-field may have a different tale to disclose during, the next few days. £BY TELEGRAPH, JROM OWN CORRESPONDBNT.] Hamilton, Sunday. Pheasants are less plentiful than usual in all parts of th Q . district. Yesterday a party of seven gun 3 were shooting at Cambridge on Mr. Douglas's ground, consisting of Mr. Robert Fergusson, Captain Fergusson, Mr. Douglas, Colonel Lyon, Captain Dawson, Mr. Windsor, and Mr. Edgecumbe, and bagged only 7 brace of pheasants, 7 brace of quails, andaboat 4 brace of hares altogether, Captain Dawson making the top score. At Ohaupo, Mr. Kennedy Hill and Mr. Richard Gsvynno bagged 7 brace each, bub only S trace of pheasant*. At Hamilton, Mr. Henry Steele, who made the best bag of the previous year, killed $& brace, 7 brace being pheasants ; and Mr. James Wood an exactly similar bag. Mr. Robert Seddon had 7 brace, and Mr. McGregor Hay 3£ brace .of pheasants. Cambridge, Sunday. The Commodore and officers of the men-of-war in Auckland are expected at Gorton for a day's shooting on Tuesday.