SOUTHLAND NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 28

SOUTHLAND NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The Southland Amateur Turf Club held a meetng to-day and agreed upon a draft programme for their annual race meeting, which is to be held this year in September instead of February, as heretofoie There will be seven events, including Consolation, as follows :— Open Hurdle Race, of 20->ovs ; Tiial Stakes (open), of losovs ; Visitors' Stakes (open), of '.50ao\s; the Birchwood Steeplechase, of 25sovs, for hoi.ies the bona Jide property of members of the club ; the Bracelet, same conditions as for Birehwood Steeplechase, and to be ridden by members of the club only; Hunt Club Cup(open), of 40sovn, for duly qualified hunteis; ami Consolation, of lOsovs. As soon as the programme has been passed by the D.J.O. it will be advcitUcd, announcing date for ireeiving nomin itions and other conditions.

I had another look at Anonyma to-dsi3', ami am of opinion now that she will not .stand another preparation such as will bring her to the post in the condition that Telford generally has his horses when seen there.

I hear that Dialetera (by Hornby), who performed so creditably at the Winton races on the Queen's Birthday, has changed ownership and is to go into Telford's stable to receive her preparation for the Amateur Turf Club's September meeting and other engagements. Patchwork, who carried Miss M. Gardner so gamely and safely last week with the Birchwood hounds, is to go up to Poole's stable to finish preparations for the Otago Hunt Club and the Southland Amateur Turf Club's meetings. T. Cotton was a passenger to Dunedin by the s.s. Te Anau, which arrived at BlulF from Melbourne to-day.

Last week was quite a gala week for Kivorton people and the few enthusiastic sports who regularly follow and keep the Birchwood hounds going 'Ihis little pack held four meets last week near to Rivertou, returning to the kennels at Danieltuwn aftei each run, while the visitors who were encamped at the various hostleries with their n.igs save the little tow n quite a gay appearance.

6a Tuesday the hounds were trotted out to Mr J. B. Button's, at F«iirv iow, and from there with Mr Bun, acting master, on iShaughiaun, hunted over the properties of Messrs Ollicer, Brown, M'F.irln'ie, Miller, Sheriden, and Keadie, where they came to a check. After a half-hour's spell here they took for their .second run a line of country acrossMessis Miller's, Calder's, Playfair's, and Hoperoft's properties, right back to the kennels at Danieltown. There were only about a dozen besides the huntsman and whip well enough mounted to keep up with the little pack

over this long stretch of country and numerous and varied fences. These few, including Mrs Spencer on Kitty, Miss M. Gardner on Patchwork, Miss Bell on Bob, Mr C. Bell on Random, Mr J. B. Sutton on a black mare by Butterfly, Mr Spencer on Nap, Mr J. M'Kay on Goldfinch, Mr W. Walker on Rock, Mr Hopcroft, jun., on Longwood, and one or two others say it was oue of the best (certainly one of the longest) runs they have had this se*son.

On Wednesday the same party, with a few additions, met at Mr Hare's, Fairfax, and had a, capital run over the ridges down to Mr M'lntyre's homestead, where they received a hearty welcome and refreshments from Mrs M'lntyre and family. After bidding adieu to these kind people they took a line for Mr Hare's, up the valley, over rich fields and a capital piece of hunting country. The country gone over this day had been selected by Mr Hare, who is a keen lover of the sport, and pleased everybody who wanted to follow and not merely look on at the sport. On Thursday horses, men, and hounds were willing to have an off day, but on Friday again the weather, being almost perfect for hunting, they met and threw off in Mr Malloy's paddock at Gummie's Bush, then ovor the properties of Messrs Baird and Hopcroft, jun., coming to a check in a paddock of Mr Ilopcroft, sen.'s, known as the " Rough paddock." It was here, after a little beating about, that a real live hare was started, which the hounds hunted for fully three quarters of an hour over country which the real straight-goers who were out that day were able to follow. It was then getting late, and the horses were fagged, and very leluctantly the hounds had to be whipped off and tracks made back to Riverton, where a most enjoyable dance took place in the Drillshed, which was most artistically decorated in honour of the visitors to the town. About 40 couples were present, and could not fail to thoroughly enjoy the dancing, music, supper, and company, which everybody said was Al.

Another hunt on Saturday in the vicinity of Groper's Bush and another dance in Rivorton on Saturday evening finished up a week which will long be pleasantly remembered by llivertonians, and, we hope, their visitors. To-day (Monday) the huntsman and whip with three Butterfly horses and eight couples of hounds went by train to Tapanui, in which district I understand there is to be a few days' hunting.