TEE PAKURANGA HOUNDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11371, 14 May 1900, Page 6

TEE PAKURANGA HOUNDS.

FIRST MEET OF THE SEASON. '

BRILLIANT GATHERING AT SYLVIA .••/'••;-''; •■;■•,. -park.; yyr

On Saturday last the Pakuranga Hunt Club held its opening meet of the season, at the residorico of the new master, Mr. J. G. Ralph, at Sylvia Park, and the gathering proved ono of tho most brilliant and successful within tho annals of the club. By midday the constant stream of arrivals from all parts of tho surrounding districts, and from town, who camo on horseback, in buggies, traps, and equipages of all descriptions, formed an animated scone, whilst the handsome gowns of tho ladies, and the hunting costumes of the men, blended well with tho picturesque surroundings of tho lovely garden, bright with colour and replqto with blooms. Tho ladies wero received by Mrs. J. G. Ralph, tho host himself doing tho honours for tho gentlemen, and with true hospitality tho wholo of tho beautifully-laid-out grounds, and the house itself, were thrown open to the guests. Not tho least pleasurable of the early part of the day's proceedings was the opportunity afforded of visiting the stables, tho quondam home of Carbine. Nordenfeldt, and other great ornaments of the turf. Here everything was in admirable keeping, and many were the expressions of approval passed upon tho appointments by the visitors. At about halfpast twelve, by which hour most of thoso expected had arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph ushered their guests into a large marquee, erected on the lawn adjacent to the house, where two long tables wero set out, laden with a delectable collation, to which full justice was done. Tho lunch was truly a masterpiece of private catering, the hostess being responsible for tho thousand and ono delicious dainties offered for discussion, and Mrs. Ralph is to be highly complimented for her successful efforts in so lavishly regaling the 140 guests who partook of her hospitality. Misses Muir, Stowart, and Percival, Colonel Dawson, Messrs. Purchas and Wynne Gray were indefatigable in their kindly attentions to the needs of tho lunchers. Amongst thoso who sat down to luncheon, or arrived later, were: Mesdames Raich, sen., Morrin, Tonks, Gorrio, Dr. Lewis, Markha'm, Hamlyn, White, Kinder, Kelly, Black, Yongo, Walker. Forbes, Scott, G. Bloomfield, H. Nolan, Bodlo, Uowo, Moody, Colonel Dawson, and Bondwick, Misses Martin, Percival (2), Muir, Stewart, Stribley, Dunnett, Buckland (2), Gorrie, Kerr-Taylor, A. Taylor, Way (Christehuroh), Tucker (England) Taylor, Gray, and Gould, Messrs. F. Yon'ge, C. Bell, Laxon, Wynne Gray, W. Frater, Matthews, G. Dunnett, 0. McGce, Rabh, sen., Crowe, Purcha.i, Creagh, Dan. McLeod, Evan Seagcr Bucklaud, Kelly, Wilson, J. Chaafe, J. Trimble, J. H. Dalton, C. W. Roberts,'G. Bailey, A. Harris, V. Kerr-Taylor, 'T. Morrin, Neil, Dobson, E. Ellett, C. Gordon, W. Abbott, P. Goldsbro, H. Tonks, T Wylie, Christie, Somers, E. Elliot, Carmina, Laycock, A. Board, J. C. Booth, T. Brown (huntsman for 11 years), W. McLaughlin (oldest ex-master of the hounds), W. Percival (ex-master), Colonel Dawson (ex-roaster), H. 1. Gorrio (ex-master, past season), Dr. Be'wc= and Master Ralph. At the conclusion of luncheon an adjournment was made to the lawn in front of the house, where the ladies and gentlemen who proposed to follow the hounds were grouped on their mounts, and were photographed. Here, too, the pack, consisting of 15 couplo of young hounds, were collected under the keen hand and watchful eye of Mr. Selby, the club's well-known and popular huntsman, who was mounted on Mountain. His sons. Jack (on Ballymena) and Fred. Selbv (on Dureen), assisted him as whips, the latter making Ins debut in that capacity, and proving himself, later on, to be a worthy son of a worthy sire, and a real chin of the old block to boot. THE HUNT. About two o'clock the pack was put on thi ; move, and the procession passed down tin I front drive, and out at the ate, forming, a: , they wont, an effective picture. The hunts man and -whips" then led the way, with tin hounds m check, to the rendezvous chosci for tho throw-off, a number of pedestrians, ii the meantime, mounting a conveni'eni kopje overlooking the scene of the hunt Hie first 'try' was made at a point on tin eastern side of the Sylvia Park estate, in ; ■ pat clock of rushy ground just at the bene iol the iamaki River. Here the hounds were , put into cover, and, after a splendid "seek ' , lasting some fifteen minutes, the scent was found, and a fi;. e strong hare was put up | who first of all struck off in an easterly direc--1 tion with, the hounds in full cry. Doubling jat the water, the hare made northwards j through one rail-andpost fence, and across 1 he paddock to a stone wall, the leading do being at close quarters. At the wall the fugitive turned, , and made a dash tor tho kopje on the west, where the pedestrian, onlookers were assembled. Scaling Hie.luff of "the kopje, the hare had gained a big lead, the hounds being temporarily at fault at the stone wall, and, making the best of its chance, took off the hill on coming to close quarters with the crowd of onlookers, and gained a ploughed paddock I of turnips in the Camp farm property to the : south. In the meantime the hounds, who . were getting beautifully warmed up to their I work and performing well, regained the I scent, and a rapid run ensued to the turnip | patch. Here the hare once more eluded I and, still running south, made through the j ncx paddock of oats. Tho hounds were ; by this time three paddocks away, but hot ion the scent, and with a good following, ho hunters keeping well up and negotiating ; the fences in groat style. Mrs. Kelly, on Playboy, and the Misses Buckland, Dunnett, ami laylor were conspicuous amongst the i y l dor , As the hounds mnele through the oats, the hare was seen to take over the stone wall dividing the paddock on the west fromi the Panmuro Road, and make straight lor the swamp on the opposite side. Tho pursuit now became intensely hot, and in a twinkling the hounds wore in full cry across the road In the swamp the hare performed a marvellous double, and, making back in an easterly direction, was soon amuck once moro • j amongst the spectators on the kopje, and, [ | threading a bewildered course through these [ j took round the base of the hill, and struck ' the same trail for homo that ho had used on he outward run. The hounds in the meantime temporarily lost the scent in the swamp, and the hare made good its advantage. In the road a largo number of equipages wore standing and the hare's course was pointed out to the huntsman and whips, who quickly rounded up the hounds and set them going J*"": . On the kopje, notwithstanding the fact that tho presence of the crowd materially spoilt the scent, as the hare had passed right amongst them the hounds did splendid work and just as the hare gained cover at it original starting-point, they wore in full cry a paddock length behind. Gaining the rushy paddock still on the scent, the hounds were at fault for a few minutes, but it was. evident (lie haro was in the neighbourhood. In the meantime the short delay brought the field together again, and now the hounds cast on ■ore and the hare, incautiously advancing oer* W S °, hoppod iust »<K cover. The hounds were then "blooded" bus ending the first run over a distance of Hy two m. Os, tho course taken bei g fr om the Tamaki River to the Panmuro KB nv elifi T 1 hvo rtono ™"s each £'"ftMßti^SW »»«mpy nit of ground r t; ho norlh-nw orner, on the bank of the river For neS w stir th ° ( r ™ awarded, and it i fin fe- three when tho hounds signalled a find by (hoi, quickened action and deep bay' >ig., rho scent was picked up in Mr. Morrion s paddock, north of the kopje, where there vorr 1 ent CoV °. r Th ° "» were ,„ ly at work, and keeping splendidly together „ 5iWl C °? n ? due north and back oral & i looked « though the hare was to 'and, but, as events turned out, several crosswonts wore struck, which spoilt the effectof 1 Fullv fiv„ k m " K p,,t in h * tho hounds |!"„ five scents were owed, and tiro hares started, the properties of hre" land °™ traversed in the run. F ra Z, ho following was good, as the sport was tensely oxc.t.ng, but towards evening some of the riders straggled home in groups. At one time Mr. Sdhy a „d the , « um s ' were que alone ,n the swampy ground. At about unit past our it «as considered that, as , splendid ,ay sport had been enjoyed, the hunt should be closed, and the bugle wsc cord.ngly sounded. The hounds were brought in none the worse for their three hours' run • indeed they looked as fit as fiddles, a fact winch bespoke for Mr. Selby no end of credit Indeed it may be said hero that the condition ol the dogs was mo3t noticeable, and consider- I ■ing the crowd of psople present and the crossscents struck, it was a wonder that, « OUQK ' hounds as they were, they were not upset the conditions were otherwise in their favour' as the scent laid well, and got bettor towards the evening. It ,s anticipated that the hares will run hotter on tho next occasion, though

there was little to complain about in this respect either. The horses out were, considering that this was the first day of the season, in excellent condition, the jumping was undoubtedly the' best : seen ■ for ■ years. There were one or two trifling spills at the fences, but; nothing, in the nature 'of : an accident. Amongst tho most noticeablo mounts were Colonel Dawson's Ike, Sir. Purchas' Ncck-or-nothing,,Mr. Evans' Fraud,' Mr. 0. Solby's Albion, Mr. Ralph's j Zulu , (ridden by Mr. F. Yonge), Mrs. Kelly's Playboy, Miss Duntictt's Gamecock, etc. ' The country whore ihe hunt was held was splendidly adapted for the sport, so far as foncing, jumping, and running ground were concerned, though it was not too prolific of hares on Saturday. Tho hill at the western Bide of tho ground afforded an excellent panoramic view of the wholo of the hunt, and the numerous onlookors who made of it a point of vantage lost nothing of tho day's sport. On the party's return to the house, at about five o'clock, tho health cf the host and hostess was honoured by a largo crowd of enthusiasts, and tho first "meet of the season came to an end amidst the utmost harmony, and was voted to be tho most brilliant of successes from every point of view. Tho popularity of this season's' master has been undoubtedly enhanced by his hospitable and sportsmanlike treatment of the members and (heir friends, and if this, tho first, meet may be taken as any criterion of what is to fellow, the Pakiiranga Hunt Club is in for a most prosperous season. The next meet will tako placo at Mount Albert on Wednesday first. '