HUNTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 24

HUNTING.

THE OTAGO HOUNDS. Saturday afternoon was "cold and dry, bat good hunting weather, and a scene of unwonted animation might have been witnessed on the road to the Cliffs, the residence of Mr E. B. Cargill where, in response to an invitation of that gentleman, scores of persons — some in aristocratic drag and laudau, others on horseback, some even using that humble means of pro* gression known as Shanks' pony— were all intent upon the one laudable idea— namely, arriving as soon as possible at the imposing edifice which could be seen away in the distance 5 , but like many other good things could not be attained without a good deal of uphill work. Arrived at the tryst, the beautiful house, stable, and lawns were thrown open to the hunting publio with generous hospitality. The view of the sea, racecoarse, and numerous suburbs stretching out like a huge panorama iv the distance presented a scene of unexampled loveliness. It was a gratifying fact that the numerous horsemen recognised that the roads were for riding on, and did not trespass on soft borders or flower beds, and kept well off the tennis grounds and 'such other delicate spaces. Mr Cargill had a hearty welcome for his numerous visitors, and soon suoceeded in makiug everyone feel that they had come out to enjoy themselves. To give the names of half of those present, even did space 'permit, would be a task I am not at all equal to ; therefore I will give only a few as they occur to me:— Mr Boweu was on a grey cob; Mr W. H. Taggart, Hurkaway; Mr R. Taggart, Vera ; Mr Rankin, Road Metal ; Mr S. Gourley, Billy ; Mr G. Smith, Monteagle ; Mr Leadham, Bugler ; Mr Stronach, Auld Reekie ; Mr Hayes, Railway Lass; Mr Cronin, Barb Wire; Mr W. Macdonald, Maxwelton; Mr R. Allen, Vanguard ; Mr Hart, Rambler ; Mr Reynolds, a roan; Mr Driver, Consul ; Mr Christie, Linde n; aud an old follower, Mr Petre, whom every one was delighted to see, on his trusty old Turk. The ladies on horseback were :— Miss Stephenson, on 1 Fancy ; Miss I. Hutton, Minerva ; Miss Taggart, Robin Hood ; and Miss Fodor, on Derry Boy. I was nearly omitting the leading performer, the huntsman, Mr James Allen, who was on the clever Glen, and his second in command, Frank 1 Smith, on Potens. The line chosen was a very . stiff one, over some paddocks in the direction of Caversham; then a wheel to the left in the direction of Woodeaton ; then across a couple of doubles, finishing at the cliff, making in all 15 jumps. Candour compels me to state that of this formidable array of apparently well-mounted cavaliers, a very thin line of all colours filed into the paddock to follow the huntsman over the firab fence, a rasping three-railer, presenting a most forbidding appearance. Monteagle and Bugler negotiated this cleverly ; Turk struck bard, nearly unseating Mr Petre, who made a clever recovery, and. Billy hung for a minute or so with his hind legs on the fence. Various changes occurred as they crossed the fences in the bottom, and again as they emerged on the uplands, those who finished near the hounds being Monteagle, Bugler, and Me Petre on Turk, in spite of a fall at the last fense but one. After a sufficient respite had bean given to enable men and horses to recruit their energies, a second ran w.i 6 laid over the same line, with about the same number of followers. It is only due to Mr Hart, the hon. secretary, to mention that a good denl of the success attending the meet was duo to his untiring efforts ; in fact he was the presiding genius of the chase. Nimrod.