HUNTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 7

HUNTING.

To-day the hunt, sports take place at Alexandra Park, and with the interesting items offered ami the number of entries received, a large attendance and a. most enjoyable afternoon's sport may be anticipated. So much lias already been said about the point-to-point steeplechase that. I need not dwell at length upon it. It was unfortunate that, owing to the committee who selected tho course not having taken Mr. J. B. Williamson into their confidence, he had to prohibit the finish taking- place over his paddocks. His mares in foal were running there, and the risk would have been too great. The position was an ideal one both for riders, and spectators for a final dash, and there is no better sport than J. 8., or one who relishes » "lepping" race more. Miss Stribley's performance on Saturday last was a most meritorious one, and I was sorry to see an attempt to detract from it by reference to her light weight, as there is little difference in this respect between her and any of the other ladies who had a chancewith her. Apart, from this, her mount is only a little chap. She has the honour of having won tho point-to-point tor ladies on three occasions. I think this is a sufficient answer to criticism of this description. Miss Ethel Abbott's performance was a truly remarkable one. To finish second after covering such country mounted bareback is hart' to beat, and 1 should like to hear of anything more sensational from any source. Mrs. Kelly, who manages a horse better than most, was handicapped by her horse being off colour through influenza. Two of our best lady riders were unable to com pete owing to their horses having been hurt whilst hunting.

As an entrance fee was taken for the point-to-point races, and trophies were given for each event, 1 think the committee might well apportion the entrance money in giving a trophy to Mr. Willie Ralph, who finished second in the light-weights, for the very fine raeo he rode. He was well in the front all the way, and was leading towards the finish. but, like some others, did not know exactly where the winning post was. He, however, was just behind Mr. Pit tar, who finished first. The balance might he spent, in a cup or some such trophy for Miss Abbott, for her unique performance. It wan really a. very pretty sight from the hillock in Austin's paddock to see. the horses racing up the hill, and again racing down on their return journey They came with the rush of the. Southern surf On the bar of the storm-girt bay: And like muffled drams on the sounding turf Their hoot-strokes cello away. Lindsay Cordon again, and who better? And as I watched them Hinging the huge walls behind them I thought with him— No slave. but a, comrade, staunch, in this, is the horse, lor he takes his share. Not in peril alone, but in feverish bliss, And in longing to do and dare. 1 have received the following: -"Dear 'Lynx': I regularly attend the hunts. What pack, you say! Well! the Pack-o-rangis. And I think your accounts av the sport, is too tame. There's no music and guns, and blood-an'-thuuder with thim. 1 don't think you follow, for you don't, seem to know the dangers we run. If you like nixt season 1 will write ter you, and to show that you will do well if you got mo. I'll just give you a taste of my style. Well, it was a fine balmy day, and we met at the Harp of Krin. There's music at. once fer you. There was the master, an Irishman, of course. Did you' ever see sieh a sate on a horse'.' He sat like a curtain, and .be was jist the man to scent a. hare. That's a joke, and there'll be lots of them. Well. ho was whistlin' one of Hunter's light piece*, and that was quite kiroet, cause that was our business. 'Throw off in the goss cover.' says he, and our fine old huntsman did. Soon the little spotted darlinls were- runnin' in an out of the goss, featheringthat means, shaking their tails. What's that I hear? Parks';' No: the deep-toned notes of the dog-, dearer to the heart of the followers than a Beethoven's sonata. Now you'll see the point here, because when they give thim sonata notes that means they're soon afther the hare. Away we race at a rlivil av a pace, jumpin' them big walls. Not a bit frightened, because we'd called at the Hum, and it was the same, spirit which charged the Muscovite guns. Note, this is good; for you sec the Muscovites, were- Russians, and we were rnsiiin' for all we knew. After a. while the hounds stopped— they call it— the huntsman cast them, whistlin' a few strains from Offenbach, because—you'll see the point —its often back we has to go when the hare doubles. Ah, hah, they've got it: their silvery notes, like Handel's -Hallelujah Chorus,' proclaim our huntsman has handled them well. .See it again'.' On we dash like a battalion of cavalry, some fallen, some stayin" up; the survival av the fittest, in fact. It requires all the courage yer bar, and that Harp spirit, to jump some av the walls that come bump up against yer.' Now for some sportin' language. At wall after wall followers had downers and crowners and thumpers and bumpers, and crushers and busters, until it looked more like Rorke's Drift than a hunt. The park now changed their music to somethin' like one of Buck's symphonies. Most appropriate! for jist then a young lady seized her horse by the head and' made him jump a big wall on his tail, like a kangaroo; and it did jist seem funny tho way he bucked over it. That'.- another joke! Anyhow 1 must cut it .short, fer we soon ran inter the hare, and the dogs, with thftir heads in the air, threw off a few liars of Chopin while they were ehopin' her tip. The hunt was over after this, the hounds strikin' up a few joyful notes while they were waggin' their tails, after their feed, which were more musical and satisfyin' to thorn than any of Wagner's best. We jist went back to the Harp and had a tonic and sol la chorus tor wind up this groat day'.-, huntin'. This is only a hasty -ample av me style, Mr. Lynx. I can do better.''

I fancy my readers will think this is a little too graphic for u*, and we must pursue our ordinary wrj.