HUNTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1956, 20 August 1891, Page 27

HUNTING.

THREE DAYS WITH THE BIRCHWOOD HOUNDS* The Birohwood Hounds met at Wantwood on the 7th August, when Mr and Mrs G. M, Ball had a large house party, including Mr and Mrs Mason (Dalvey), Mr and Mrs J. I). Thomson, Mr and Mrs Montgomerie Spencer, Mies Stephenson and Mis? Rattray (Dunedin), Miss Watson, Misß Gardner, Mr 0 Gardner, Messrs Bunn, Strettell, Spence, Hare| Awdry, Tennant, J. B. Button, and Hassall. The first run had been a fixture for the 8 th, but it was agreed to postpone it, as all the hunting men had not arrived and the weather was not sufficiently tempting to turn out. Soft, Bhowery weather prevailed for the first two days, and the country was in a sloppy condition, sheets of water lying and the Waimea a " banker." But this did not prevent our having a very jolly run on Saturday. At 2.30 M'Kay, the huntsman, on the master's handsome chestnut Patchwork, trotted off with nine couple of hounds. M. M'Kay whipping in on Blush Rose. Mr Bell was riding his honest hunter Tarquin ; Mr 0. Bell, Random ; Miss Bell, Robin Hood; Mr 0. Gardner, Maxwelton; Mies Gardner, Peter; Mr Spencer, Bluelight; Mrs Spencer, Kitty; Mr Mason, The Joker ; Mr Thomson, Pearl ; Mr Bunn, Jerry; Mr Hare, Wasp; Mr A. Awdry, Horatius. Besides these I noticed Mr Kelly on Volunteer and Mr Mason's groon on Ben H. The hounds threw off in a paddock across the road to the left of the house, and our first jumps were over gorse and then over some heavy going to the awkward one with a ditch in front, and then a short run to gorse made up with timber. Here Mrs Spencer came down with Kitty, a little bit of clumsy hand' ling bringing that good mare to the ground, her rider escaping with a bruise on the shoulder, which, however, was painful enough to make further following undeeirablo. Miss Bell, too, was in difficulties with Robin Hood, who baulked repeatedly at the same fence ; so the ladies exchanged mounts, and Kitty carried Mis 3 Bell safely through the next run. The I ground was rather greasy, and it was exciting to watch the field taking the big double by the woolshed,' some flying it in excellent style, others coming 'at it in a slow, easy stride, and olearing it without a rap. After the double there was a check, and after a mile's ride down the road the hounds were again laid on, on the other side of the Mandeville racecourse. Soon one bears the faint music of the i hounds ; scarlet dots are moving towards us ; nearer and nearer they come, breasting the I hill, and while the whole hunt sweeps by, with the mellow cry of the hounds, the thunder of the horses' hoofs on the turf, and the gleam of the scarlet near, who can wonder if we all long to be with them 1 They are soon away down the Blopa and steadying for the muddy gaps, which will pull them up if they are not oareful —a little too deep for the Joker in one place, I see, for he gives his rider a roll over ; but it is soft falling now, and they are none the worse. At the last fence Bluelight, who had been fencing capitally throughout, gave Mr Spencer a spill, the landing being very deep. On Monday the 10th the hounds were out with the same followers, with the exception of Mrs Spencer, and some of the bast goors from the other side of Winton— notably, Mr J. B. Sutton on Nancy, and Mr Tennant on Sandy. Mr Strettell on Kitty, Mr Hassall on Bnnyip, Mr Spenco en Scamp, and Mr Christie on Shaughraun were also out. The rain, which had been dropping softly all morning, now oame down in torrents, making the reina vary Blippery. The horses seemed to know they had to depend on thei^selveß, for at the double, in spite of the greasy take-off, they wero jumping very cleverly. Miss Bell had some trouble with Victor hero, but after a few baulks she got him over, and was soon making up for lost time across the flat.

On Tuesday the 12th the weather had changed ; the sun ebone brightly, and the sky was blue and cloudless, and all felt in better form, and thoroughly enjoyed a short run over part of the usual course, only on this occasion we took our biggeßt jumps up hill instead of down. Mr Hasaall aad Bunyip had a spill at a fence on the flat, to their mutual astonishment, but no harm was done. Mrs Spencer was in the saddle again. Mr Strettell waß riding Bluelight, acd Mr Spencer bis favourite Norah. The mornings pass pleasantly at Wantwood ;

horses require exercising, and this, with a due amount of larking 'over hurdles on the racecourse (in whiob the youngest son of the house specially distinguishes himself) makes the moments fly till it is time for habits and pink to be donned, and then round come the huritorti and away we go for our last Wantwood run this season. There are 28 out, all told, 10 in pink, so the field presentß a very sporting appearance as it streams over the grass paddocks, and one hears on all Bides " Houp la, up, up, and over," from the different riders as their horses take off ; and they need encouragement and lifting, for the ground is deep. We notice that old Robin Hood is out, ridden by Mr Taggart, and going well. Our minds are ocoupied with the thought of a big fence we are to have for the first time to-day, and after jumping in and out of the racecourse we turn to tbe left and find a big 4ft 6in post-andrail with a long take-off. Over ! most of the first flight, and then Bluelight, being crossed and getting rather too short a run at it, chests tbe fence and turns completely over, falling on his rider, MrStret* tell, breaking a rib and collar bone, and giving him a severe crush. It was an ugly fall. Some of his friends pull out of the run, and be is driven to tbe house, stopping, however, to watch Miss Bell as she clears the doable, for Victor is in a better temper today and is jump ing like a deer, This unfortunate accident to one of tbe most popular members of the hunt waa rather a damper to tbe high spirits one is generally in after a' good run ; but the plucky invalid did his best to cheer us by pretending it did not hurt, and getting up next mourning as if a broken collar bone was a trifle.

Yes ; the Wantwood season with all its good sport and fun is over, but the recollection of it in the minds of the hunting community will be a most pleasant one for many a day to come. Wasp.