BIRCHWOOD HOUNDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 22

BIRCHWOOD HOUNDS.

These hounds having become the property of the master of the defunct Wallace Hunt Club, that gentleman, with commendable pluck, haa decided that the sport should not fall through, even should he hunt them at his own e-xpeuse. With that end iv view he sent invitations to nearly all the leading sportsmen of Southland to join him iv a run over his own estate, and I am sure he must have been highly gratified to find that so many had responded to his kind request when he scanned the field that greeted him on his appenrauce with his spotted beauties, whipped by another jovial fellow sportsman, Mr A. It. Hare, on Waiau. Amongst those present prepared to try their steods over the fences I noticed Mr Gardner, hou. huntsman and master, on Ginger, Mr Hare, bon. whip, on Waiau, Mi>s Mary Gardner on Honest Peter, Mr Ritch'e <n Ryii Picker, Mr Tenant on Sandy, Mr W. Audry on Sailor Boy, Mr Groves ou Tl c Orphan, Mr Guiar on Donovan, Mr A. Audiy, on Colin, Mr Belder on Cocoanut, Mr Smerdon on Civis, Mr Simpson on Weka, and a number of others on use-ful looking' nags unknown to fame and " whip." Aft*r the usua.l preliminaries of the hunting fieldthe drag, having been intrusted to an upstanding biped descendant of Nimrod's, who, following the colonial style, had removed his plates to make the pace a cracker ; and, having got the limit of a start, the dogs were laid on, and immediately followed in hob pursuit in full tongue, with Ginger, Waiau, and Mischief in olose attendance, and Honest Peter with his fair burden, Rye Pecker, Civis, Sailor Boy, and The Orphan in the van for the firefc fence — five wire with a rail on top ; Sandy, leading the next division. All went over successfully. Crossing the racecourse another ordinary fence was well negotiated. A ditch and a creek were then left behind, when something presented itself that tended to make the field more select — a rasping gorge hedge with a ditch on the landing side, where Wcka softly fell fair into the receptacle for his sort ; GiDger, Waiau, Oivip, Honest Peter, Rye Pecker, Sailor Boy and Sandy negotiated it at the first request in the order named. A steep bill with a hurdle jump on the top had then to be discounted, and tins was done in a businesslike manner by all those who got over the hedge, with little alteration in position. The rausioians, hunter, and whip took full advantage of the steep decline thab was then met with to leave a gap between them and the fi- Id. On the flat again, a fence with a ditch on the take-off side caused Ginger to turn his head, whers Waiau with his 16st freight showed the way without a quiver. Ginger, on the question being pub again, answered gamely with a splendid jump. This obstacle would be a credit to a Grand National course and made all the rebt except Sailor Boy tnrn their heads once or twice. The Orphan, a useful-looking mare, here came into prominence and solved the riddle, closely followed by Honeat Peter, Eye Pecker, and Sandy. The others, preferring to leave that fence for another time, took a short cat and evaded' another big fence. The fences after that appeared frequently through hill and

-dale, but were not very serious obstacles to those 'that were still in the running, on whom all attention was now centred. The last fence was a very ugly one, however. It took a lot of doing, -and completely stuck up Civis and Cocoanut. Those who got to the end of this fast run were >now greeted by the genial manager, Mr Morrah, 'who requested them to try what I think must tnavo been some " old, old vatted," straight from the land of cakes without haviug come in contact with the elements of our creeks and rivers, accidentally or otherwise. The panting steeds breathing more easily and the criticising concluded the barefooted nag " Shanks " was again despatched with the drag and bounded along like a " red shank " for about 25 minutes, when the musicians were again laid on for the run home, which was apparently a pleasant one judging by the way all the field took their fences without a swerve. Those at the death were Ginger, Sandy, Sailor Boy, Waiau, Honest Peter, Rye Pecker, Civis, and The Orphan ; Colin growing obstinate at the last obstruction. Among the spectators were a considerable sprinkling of ladies ; the occupants of Birchwood and visitors commanding a good view of the whole run from the vantage ground known as ifche natural grand stand to the course. Among '•them I was glad to see Mrs Gardner, looking, "very well, while Miss Bella was flitting about on "her pony, only on this occasion she had not her own pack of beauties out as usual. After the inevitable refreshments those for home wished the master many more pleasant runs and fine days such as the 29 th had been, and departed in ©very instance highly pleased with their day's enjoyment. Whip. Wairio, June 30.

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