AIKA TO HUNT CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12268, 12 May 1903, Page 3

AIKA TO HUNT CLUB.

[from our own correspondent.l THE above club opened its season on Saturday last, the rendezvous being the Fencourt railway station, near - Cambridge. . Among those present were: Airs Dodd, on Briton; Miss Banks, on Pandora; Miss Hunt, on Reality; Miss Hicks; Miss P. Hunt, on Fairy; Miss Pickering, on Yorkie; Miss E. Pickering, on Goldfish; the master (Mr. Norman Banks), 011 To Urukehu; the huntsman (Mr. 0. Selby), on Joker; the whip (Mr. Walsh), on Tiger Bill; Mr. J. Major, on "A.8.;" Mr. C. Ashwin, on Black Bust; Mr. 0. Lake, on Hon; Mr. J. Banks, on Kaffir; Mr. E. Hannon, on Fencer; Mr. S. Richardson, on Maori Girl; Mr. 11. Wyatt, on Captain; Masters Farrer (2); Mr. 11. Windsor, on Virgin: Mr. C. Dunn, on Bally Hooley; Mr. J. McVitie, on Heather Bell; Mr. A, Ramsay, on Correction; Mr. o. Shaw, on Miss Birdie; Mr. J. Richardson, on Hector; Mr. M. H. Pickering, on Cingalee; Mr. R. Meredith, on Day Dawn; Mr. D. Ross, on Hillflower; Mr. M. H. Quick; Mr. W. Knock; Mr. J. Shaw, on a black colt; Mr. 0. Buckland, on Pilot; Mr. C. Peakc, on Svengali; Mr. W. Paul, on Castor. Driving: Mrs. A. R. Bine and Miss Williams, Mrs. Banks. Mr». Marty Miss Garroway, and Mr. fcefton Banks, Mr. and Mrs. Mason and friend, Mr. and Mrs. Boston Couper, Mr. Jos. Graham and friend. The weather was exceptionally fine, but the ground was rather ' parched to allow of the scent lying well. Nevertheless, a couple of good runs were obtained. Many of the horses were new, but the manner in which they jumped stamped nam .as of the right material, and consequently likely good hunters. Messrs. Ashwin and Shaw came to grief over the second hurdle in the first run, but met with no serious injury. Mrs Dodd's horse jumped beautifully until the last run of the day. when it failed to clear the Hobartown rails near the windmill, and, falling heavily, precipitated the rider to the ground, which she struck heavily with the point of her shoulder. Fortunately no bones were broken, and although severely shaken Mrs. Dodd was able to ride home. The pack behaved splendidly, and ran exceedingly well. The plantation at Brnntwood was first tried, and a hare put up almost immediately, It ran from the homestead, across the gnl'J • over to Pickering's Koad, doubling back through, the-turnips, and met its ao£)m at, the gully. A move was then made across the road, where the pine plantation was skirted without success. t The road was ™ cv ° s -™' and a hare unearthed in the gully. Puss followed up the gully for some considerable distance, when she made a bee-line for wba.t is known as the Maori country, a lalgß lW l ' clock of fern and Kor~e, and thus secured ner e«cane. After a twenty minutes' search the pack retired to the sully again, where a Vigilant search was made, and after al f-an-no« r had el:n>: j ed two hares were started, each taß* ing a different direction. The one pursuea eluded the pack a.lmost immediately, so a move was made across country in the direction taken by tlie other hare. The music of the hounds soon disclosed its whereabouts, and a sharp run followed to the Maori country, where, as was expected, a block occurred. After more searching a haro was put up at the end of the Bruntwood estate. She raced along between Ross' and bwen 3 properties, and then right across the latter to Allwill's, but being intercepted by a big ditch sho doubled back over tlio same course, and was killed finite close to where she was first put up, about a dozen of the hard riders being in .-it the death. This was the best run of the day. I beard quite a number of huntsmen deploring the absence of two well-known figures, Messrs. lock-Webster_ and W. M. Douglas, who have left the district.