A DEER CHASE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1179, 4 July 1874, Page 3

A DEER CHASE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

We take the following account of an attempt to capture some deer in the Acclimatisation Society's Domain, Christchurch, from the Lyttelton Times. We agree with our contemporary that the exhibition was a barbarous one, and that it would have been much better if the deer had been liberated from the Domain, and allowed to seek suitaI ble quarters elsewhere :— An exciting deer chase occurred in the Domain enclosure yesterday, and unfortunately _ resulted in the death of three of the animals. Several attempts had previously been made to effect a capture, but without success, and it had become a moot point whether anything except shooting would secure the desired clearance cf the enclosure. Being anxious to avoid this, if possible, Mr Johnson, curator of the Society, obtained the services of a South American, named Antonio, who had the reputation of being well skilled in the use of

the lasso, and it was with the view to trying this method that yesterday's chase was ar» ranged. A large number of spectators assembled, and these, reinforced by the gardeners at work in the Domain, acted in the capacity of hounds for driving the deer to and fro as required by Antonio. They were very indefatigable in this work, but it Boon became evident that the deer would not be caught by lassoing. Antonio made repeated casts with no effect, and it is only fair to say that, besides the disadvantage of being on foot, he had a new rope of tne ordinary kind to work with. It was too stiff and hard for the purpose. The number of persons within the enclosure being upwards of 60, the deer had "a very hot time of it," more especially when several attempts at lassoing had failed, the opinion was generally expressed thab nothing but keeping the deer on the move, so as to run them to a standstill, would secure their capture. They were repeatedly "cornered," but no sooner did they see this than, led on by "the buck," they cut through the lines of their would-be captors with irresistible speed. Several amusing incidents occurred during the hunt, which, there could be no doubt, was hard work, both to man and deer. After about three-quarters of an hour had been expended in running to and fro, "the buck" and two of the young does ran into a small trap enclosure made some time back, and the gate being closed upon them, it was thought a safe capture would ensue. The result was, however, quite the reverse. No sooner did "the buck" see that he was trapped than he commenced to rush furiously against the wire fence in an endeavour te break through. Finding this of no avail, he next essayed to jump out, and though he had but little space to move in, while the fence was nearly six feet high, he succeeded at the third attempt in getting on the top of the wire. In falling over, his antlers became entangled among the wires, and before he could get free, several persons caught hold to detain him. A rope was obtained, and fastened with a slip-knot round his antlers ; but by this time he had become strangely quiet, and an examination showed that his captor had, in the exciting haste of the moment, unthinkingly held him with his neck across one of the wires, his whole weight hanging by it on the other side of the fence. Immediately on this becoming known, he was lowered on to the ground, but he was then quite dead. Efforts were next made to secure the two does in the small enclorsure, but this was also very difficult work. Mr W. H. Burton and Antonio entered the enclosure, upon which the deer rushed madly abo it, trying all they could to break through the fence. Antonio caught one in his arms, and a hot scuffle ensued before it was tied. Antonio's apparel bore strong testimony to the fierceness of the struggle. After about ten minutes' work, both the doe 3 were caught and placed in a strong cage, one of them bleeding very much. Attention was next turned to the deer Btill remaining at large, and these had " a very hot time of it" for about a quarter of an hour, when one, completely worn out, lay down and permitted itself to be captured. Soon after this, one of the remaining two was run down and caught by a number of boys, but it died in about a quarter of an hour afterwards. The last was driven into the small enclosure with the old tame doe, but when efforts were made to secure them, the former ran furiously against the fence several times, and soon afterwards died. It will thus be seen that three, exclusive ot' the tame one, were caught, and that three were killed. One, it should be said, escaped into the gardens early in the afternoon by jumping the fence, which is nearly 6ft. high.