A DEAR DEER HUNT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4140, 27 June 1874, Page 3

A DEAR DEER HUNT.

Some deer, which had been kept in durance in the Christchurch Domain, were lately the objects of a chase, not for the purpose of slaughtering them, but with the apparent object of removing them to another locality. It appears to have been egregiously mismanaged, and resulted in the killing of half the number of deer enclosed. The ill-considered and illfated chase is thus described by the Press : The Domain Board having ajjpressed a wish that the deer so long occupants of the large enclosure should be removed, to permit of that portion of the gardens being laid out and planted, measures were taken some short time since to capture these animals by erecting wire races, surmounted with wood, in an angle of the enclosure. One or two attempts were then made to capture the deer, the result, however, being unsatisfactory, as only one of the animals was driven in, and it succeeded in breaking its neck. It was decided to defer the next attempt until the assistance of a lassoer could be obtained ; but the only person in the Province known to excel in that art was a native of South America, who is an invalid at the Hospital. Some few days ago it was represented to the Curator of the Acclimatisation Grounds that a man called Antonius, also a native of South America, and in the employ of Mr. Nicholson, of Woodend, was an expert at using the lasso, and yesterday was the day appointed for catching the deer. About two o'clock, over fifty persons collected in the Domain, consisting of some of the members of the Council of the society, a number of other gentlemen, the college boys, and the laborers employed in the garden. The lassoer, who stationed himself at one side of the fence, while the deer were encircled and driven past him, made throw after throw of the line, without, however, arresting the speed of a single animal. He changed his position several times, but always with like unsuccess; some of the onlookers contending that the man was used to throwing from off horseback, while others strongly asserted that his evident unsteadiness was to be attributed to another cause. An hour having been wasted in these unsuccessful attempts, a determination was come to, to take advantage of the number of willing assistants present, to run the deer down. And now commenced a deer hunt in earnest, in which the college boys joined most heartily. Tho scene at this moment was most exciting, the boys and men running and excitedly shouting, while the terrified animals were indulging in terrific leaps, in some instances jumping clean over their pursuers' heads, only to be again driven into the centre by those who were stationed along the fence. The boys made the first capture, and the old buck and two young ones were driven into tho smaller enclosures by another contingent. The old buck when caged attacked the younger animals in a furious manner, inflicting a severe wound on the side of one of the does. After making frantic efforts, he broke the wire netting of the enclosure, and when trying to force his way through the outward fence, his head and antlers got fastened in the wire. Somo of the men ran up, but before they could exextricate him, he had strangled himself. Tho logs of the deer caught by the boys, were tied by the South American, after which he carried it to the fence and coolly dropped it over; the fall, added to its exhausted state, killing it. A second one was now captured by the College boys, its legs being also tied, when it was conveyed to tho Curator's house, but died when reaching there, no doubt from exhaustion and fright. A fourth ono waa pursued until completely prostrated, when it fell down and died immediately; and a fifth jumped tho fence and escaped. Darkness now closed in, and the ono deer remaining in tho enclosure received a respite. Tho eight deer with which the "hunt" started, are thus accounted for:— Four killed, two captured (ono of these badly wounded and not likely to live), ono escaped, and one remaining in the enclosure. The first four when found to be hopolessly gone, were bled for venison. Very justifiably the Timet makes the following comments upon the incidents thus related : The public will read, with pain and regret the report about tho so-called capture of the deer placed under tho care of the AcclimatißaI tion Society. They will be of opinion that the

"hunt" of yesterday was conducted in a barbarous manner, and that the Province has thereby suffered a grievous loss and injury. If it was necessary to remove these noble creatures from the Domain, and if repeated attempts to "catch" them had resulted in failure—as they were sure to do—they ought to have been turned loose and allowed to wander whithersoever their instincts led them. But why should they have been disturbed at all ? They formed the nucleus of a herd from which, in course of time, the Province, perhaps the whole of the Middle Island, might have been stocked, and the planting of a few trees—which it was supposed they might nibble—was as nothing compared to the advantages that would most certainly have accrued from their careful conservation. It is not the serious loss inflicted upon the Province by yesterday's work that we regret. The friends and warm supporters of acclimatisation in every part of the world, when they read the report, will with ono accord say that we are barbarians,