PAKURANGA HUNT CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12909, 4 July 1905, Page 7

PAKURANGA HUNT CLUB.

THE fine weather of Saturday attracted a largo number of riders and spectators to the meet of fch Paknranga hounds. Those followers who hied them to the famous meeting place at Pakuraiiga of many ah enjoyawe and exciting run, were wall rewarded. Punctually at midday Mr.'Selby threw the hounds off on Pigeon Mountain. They worked round- the vicinity for some time without meeting with any success, the sun tein&vso warm that the scent would not now. In consequence it was not until about a couple ° hours after midday that a nne strong hare was started [close to Pigeon Mountain, the hounds followng well on the 'lniov,n' d pm * , onfi of N best «""! most enjoy ae runs of the season. Post and ails, gorse and barbed wire fences hud to and plentifully .distributed Puss came back to the starting poinfr on the side of the Mountain several times before she was oventually killed. On 0 „ of the cross roads, about a mile behind Mr. Fitzpatrick's farm, the bare made the paoo pretty lively from the start, and followers wore nothing loth [or a respite after a hard run of over an, Hour. Some came to grief at the barb-wire fences. Mr. Selby, the huntsman, had a very ugly spill off his horse Barrister, which might have ended seriously. Fortunately both rider and horse managed to got off but little the worse for a trying experience. Wounds were thrown off again, mid worked back in the direction of Fit? Patrick's, but were shortly afterwards called off prior to making the homeward journey, and members wended their way home satisfied with the good day's sport. The hounds worked splendidly, and their condition reflected great credit upon Mr. Selby, the huntsman. Among those following were: The deputymaster, Mr. Bullock Webster, on Liberty; Mr. A. Selby, the huntsman, on Barrister; Mr. F. Selby, the whip, on /Esop; Miss N. G-crrie, on Aroha; Mrs. Orowe, on Dick; Mrs. Bloomfield, on M'Liss; Mr. Blopmfield, on a brown; Mr. Adams, on Skipper; Mr. Hattaway, on Radical; Mr. Meredith, on Banker; Mr. Ben. Myers, on Nansen; Miss Gorrie, jun., on a bay; Miss Roberts, on Mollyhawk; Miss Lloyd, on Vagabond; Miss Buokland, on Popgun; Sir Robert Lookhart, on a bay; Mr. Casey, on Polo; Miss Abbott, on Morehu; Mr. Mu'ir Douglas, on Waiuku; Mr, Tonks, on ;' a brown; and Mr. R. Kinlooh on Spec?. *.

Mr. H. Bullock Webster writes:— all due credit and thanks to those who send you accounts of the sport, shown by these bounds, wish'to draw their attention to sprue grievous mistakes in the account written of the meet at Greenmount on. June 24-. Your correspondent writes a fairly good account of the last run of' the day, which was probably the only one he saw, and he goes on to mention the various properties the hounds ran over, and makes kindly references to the 'owners. But most unfortunately, and t cannot think he did it with malicious intent, ho fails to note, the fact that the hounds met at Mr. Thompson's house at Greenmount, and that that gentleman and his wife most .hospitably entertained all comers, and-found us a stout hare on his property, which gave its a gobd run for over an hour and a-half, during which time I do not think wo were ever off Ins land. Again, in the account of the meet at, Sylvia ~ Park on 'Saturday last, \ it. was stated that the hounds ran over the properties of . Messrs, Nathan '■ and Dibble, whereas our presence (here with the hounds is .duo, to the. kindness of Messrs. Nathan, Disoombe and Wallace. On Wednesday last the hounds met at the monument, Otaliuhu. Mr. Selby had the bitch pack out,a nice level lot in first-rate condition, and although it was a most, unpromising day for. scent, with a cold south-east wind blowing, the little ladies- soon found their hare near the Grange, and bustled her merrily round co the railway line near the Papatoetoe railway station and back.again. They showed much patience, hunting steadily and carefully, and showing, I think, far more of the characteristics of the true harrier than their bigger and more dashing brothers in the dog pack. Later in the day we got on terms with a strong-hare—very.possible our friend of' the morning— ran her > from the Grange to the railway station again, ; and across to Mr. Wylie's. Leaving this to the right, she ran a big ring'round to Mr. McLaughlin's bouse, ■ where fresh hares getting tip in every direction and evening drawing in, hounds had to be ■'called' off. This was a 'clipping good ran. I do not know the names of all, the farms we' traversed, but our thanks are : due to the owners of them; all .the • same, and the distance from where wefound to where "we left off as the hounds went must, be fully five miles. Some.of us cut off 1 corners, but those who did not had. jumping galore and saw some of the prettiest hound, work ofthe season. There is a matter I-should like to draw attention to, which was in evidence at this meet, and one or two -previous ones, and), that is that no followers are allowed out with these hounds uuless they are members or subscribers to the hunt, or farmers or their- sons, over whose land- the hounds have permission to hunt; and by followers I mean men and youths who ride at the.tail of the hunt and' make gaps and leave gates open.. Of course, those who;drive or. look on from the roads are excepted.; I should also like :to see young fellows take their jumping powder, and more shame to them for needing it, before they start, and not disfigure clean grass paddocks with empty glass whisky flasks.,,» If ~ this hint is not sufficient to stop the trouble I refer to, then those in' authority will have to take other steps to, stop those who neither subscribe to the hunt funds nor provide land for the bounds to hunt over, from causing annoyance to our best friends, the farmers, ,and putting the hunt to the extra expense anil trouble of mending innumerable gaps.