A RUN OVER STRATHEARN BUSH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 22

A RUN OVER STRATHEARN BUSH.

A hunting season without a run over that nice little property, Flynn's Bush, or, more properly speaking, the Stratnearn part of it, would t eon* that had not been properly and successfully carried out. The, day turning out one of the best, a regu'ar Southlandcr, when dame Nature is in Rood spirits, coupled with the fact that the laird of Flynn's Bush is a most popular man, and his fences substantial and difficult to negotiate, induced a goodly crowd to turn up to witness the throw off, including a few Riverton resident?, amongst whom I noticed as spectators Mr and Mrs Hackworth. Banger having met with a slight accident necessitated Mr Hackworth't reluctant retirement from the van of the chase this afiernoon Mr J. W. Hamilton being unavoidably absent, wh : ca was regretted by all, his place was ably and efficiently filled by D. O. Hamilton, jun.— better knnwn as. the •• Gaffer,"— and a right good one he prove I himself as he laid off the Held and showed the dragsman where to go. The hour%pproaching, the Nimrod* began to assemble, near tbe &pot where tbe throw off took place, djecuwlng . the various

fences and difficulties that had to be surmonnUd before they could get to the end of this run, and cS{ their nag a hunter. "Whip's" omnipresent orh, were directed round about with a view to a ment3 inquiry as to who were there to measure thefr equine blood, bone, and beauty with Mr Hamilton', crop protectors. The result of the survey was th* master and hon. huntsman on the every -day Wry Pecker; Mr Hutchison, on Grey Friar; Mr Bride/ Rupert; Dr Nelson, Rake; Mr Deakan, Derby ; M Smerdon. Civis ; Mr W. Passtian, Rachael ■ .*r J B. Sutton, Her , Ladyshi p; Mr Hender! son, Toby ; Mr T. Johnston, Countess ; ths pro whip, Ginger ; and Mr W. Walker, on Mr Hamilton's buggy horee, whom he had left athome to reply in a demonstrative style to all those that complained the fences were too big. which he did loyally and well, for I was pleased to find him at the death. The drag having been entrusted to a swiffc athlete imported In m Riverton, .and the usual limitations as to time start allowed, the houndi were laid on and started in hot pursuit in full tongue over the first obstacle— a sod waU'with a trimmed hedge on top, with a nasty take off from the road which was successfully left behind by Ginger, Wry Pecker, Grey Fiiar, Civis, Rake, Rupert, and Countess, in the order named,— Her Ladyship Derby, Rnchael, ami loby failing to find terra firma after their aerial flight iv their usual manner. All remornted, however, and continued in the wake of the field, who now had by this time to faco advenitv agalc, whioh wae succensrully tided orer by little Ginger, Wry Pecker, Grey Friar, Clvls, and Counteoe ; Rupert iosding the next dlvlilou all safely. The next is a sneezing double; over Ginger, over Wry Pecker, ©ver again Ging«r and Wry Pecker, with Civis his nearest attendant. Grey Friar climbs It. Oounteis next, her rider oleverW recovering himself leaves the rest of the field cousiderably In the rear. Rupert. Toby, Derby are over • so it Mr Button and Dr Nelson, but Rachael can't or won't try it any more. The next is another iod bank, with an ugly thorn stump top, a bad ,ta*e off and 25ft of the globe to skip over before anything gord enough to reside on is met with, but the foremoit four are over, and Derby follows ; two baulks, and there is now a gap knocked in it by Her 1 adyship, the rest folio* easy. What about the next one P Ginger Is already oier, Wry Pecker says no, 01 vis leaves It be. hind, Grey Friar wants aiking agiia*; Derby.Rupert Rake, Countess, and Toby do Ft. Why, Ginger ii over the next— a mountain against the hillside* Civis, with a tremendous jump clears it, CountoeJ follows ; and Grey Friar comes down the boss fall of the season, and gets up terribly disconcerted and fancies something kuccked him down —it was the hedge, and a big one at that Toby, Derby, and Her Ladyship get ovej followed by Rupert, Rake, Raohael, one fenca m-re before the last, both easy ones, and the panting steeds after a smart and heavy run co« mingle with their little Geddy, the mottled mug', cians at the death or five minutes afterwards. Who was there, why all the straight 'uns of course. All present, concurring in the following lines to the " I aird of Flynn's Bush," departed thoroughly satii. tied and pleased with the afternoon's sport :— 1 ' Lang may he rin aboot ' And taddle again the wa' ; Lang may the hens lay And never lay awa. Riverton, August 7.