THE HOUNDS AT WAIKOUAITI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10422, 26 July 1895, Page 4

THE HOUNDS AT WAIKOUAITI.

On Wednesday morning the Dunedin hounds, accompanied by a few Dunedin followers,'in response to an invitation from a number of leading Waikouaiti residents, journeyed by the morning's express to' that 'township;' They were met on arrival by Messrs Allan Orbell, Bray, and others and comfortably installed at the Golden Fleece in order to fortify themselves sufficiently by the good things provided to enable riders and their steeds to successfully face the big country which it was said would have to be faced. To aujone who knows the largehearted host of the Fleece, it is needless to say that Mr P. Toonaay and Mrs Toomey did everything that was possible to make everyone welcame and comfortable, independent of which Mr Toomey was one of the leading spirits in the day s sport. After resting at the Pleecfr tiU halt-past 2 all were unanimous in declarins? they felt fit enough to face anything, aud a wove was made for the itrysting placo The report that the country was bijj and wpuid test; both the visitors and their horses proved to be correct. The start was from the farm of Mr' M'Gary, and as: that gentleman hails from a part of the Green Isle; where big " leps " arein: the ascendancy, he on this occasion followed his old lnstiuets and erected six tampers, mostly post and rails, all within a distance of. about lialt-a-oMJe, and, then complicently looked, oufr torthe fun; -There was also one water jump of sufficient depth to ensure a ducking to those who did not clear it. Strange to say in the uwo, rang I believe there was only one spill/ _ Your Own^'-wasat some disadvantage, being in a far-off district, but I believe tho6e who took principal parts were .:—Mr Frank Smith on Digby ;Mr J. Bamber, Toxa; Mr Allan Orbell (deputy-master), Councillor ; Mr Reid, Kelly • Mr Templtton, Molly; Mr F. P. Btrtmaeh, Mick Mr J. Stronach, Waitangi; Mr Daley, Prohibition ;Mr AitchisoQ, Royal Sovereign; Mr Apes, O'Hara; Mr WHrod, Shark; Mr O'Connor, Freemason ; Mr Orbell, Obeiou ; Mr O'Cennell, Dundonald;. Mr Infocmer; Mr Pratt M'Ginty; ;Mr. Munro, Belle; Mr ■ M'Kewen, Sancho; Mr William M'Kay, Medora; Mr Bray, Sportsman; Mr Toomey, Confi -cation ; Mr Mosley, Pathfinder. Every hill commanding a view of the proceedings I was occupied with spectators. At the first fence, a strong, high one,-Digby nearly came to grief, but very cleverly > extricated himself, making the a little easier for those in his wake Going through the farm-yard Toxa found the fences too big.for him and stuck up, and Molly, carrying Mr Templeton, came to grief, giving that gentleman a bruised hand and a shaking.;; The sixth fence brought the fiald into open country. Over this, next to the huntsman, who wax carried, capitally by the weight carrier Digby, were Messrs Aitehisou, Muuro, Stronach, and Eeid, a tail stringing out behind them; across a stream, succeeded by a water jump, two more -flights of posts and rails, a double across a, road, which was taken almost abreast by Digby, Mr Orbell on Councillor, and Mr Aitchison on Royal Sovereign ; a gallop then of about half-a-mile finished the run, followers coming in in much the same order as quoted above. The run had taken the steam out of both men and horses, and an extra spell. was allowed to recruit before commencing the second run, which was a very good one, the local people having some clever horses across country, and it was nothing uncommon to see eight or 10 horses jumping a fence without putting a toe qn it. Tae whip (Bambar) in this run rode Obsron. There were no spills, and everyone thoroughly enj'jyad the day's sport. The land owners to whom the hunt were under obligation for the day's sport were Messrs M'Qary, P. Duncan, Maxwell. Fletcher, and Townsend. TheDuriedia contingent returned to town by evening train, well satiafied with their trip to Waikouaiti. • ■'■'• •■-' '■' :■. , NIMBOD.