HUNTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 17 August 1893, Page 31

HUNTING.

DUNEDIN HOUNDS.

LAST MEET OF THE SEASON.

Saturday's meet at the Halfway Bush was looked forward to with more than usual interest, as it was .known to be the finish of the present season, and a large attendance and good sport were anticipated, hopes rudely dispelled by the miserable weather which set in towards afternoon. Followeis of this sport are, ' however, not easily discouraged, and, despite the appearance of the elements, journeyed to

the meet in large numbers. Many, however, turned back for town at 3 p.m. The fog and mist was so dense that at 100 yds nothing could be discerned, and the whereabouts of hounds, horses, or fences was guess work. The run was over Mr Kedzli&'s farm. Frank Smith, who acted as huutsman, was on Potent ; R. Allen acted as whip on Trimolite ; Mr R. Driver rode Waitangi ; Mr James Gourley, Rattler; Mr S. Gourley, Black Jack; Mr Manders, Pasha; Mr Blenkinsbpp, Norma; Mr Fred. Smith, Polly ; Mr M'Ardle, Nelly ; Mr P. Toomey, Northern ; Mr Geo. Smith, Expectation; Mr Reid,' Te Kooti; Mr Thos. Cotton, Dun Joseph; Mr J. Young, Stonehenge; a stranger, Banker; Mr Wilson, Crinoline ; Mr Walcott, Star of the South ; Mr L. Wadie, Up to Data ; Miss Fortescue, Blue Bell ; Miss Reynolds, ,Fairy ; Mrs J. Cotton, Miss Rose ; Miss M. M'Ewen, Fancy : Miss Roberts, Madcap ; Miss Taylor, Romp. Driving were Mr and Mrs Taggart, Mrs Grey and daughters (in a phaeton), Mrs Ross, Mr Jas. Gourley and party (waggonette and pair), Mr Shrimpton (dog Cart), Mr Palmer and Mr Dallas (dog cart), Dr Closs and friends, Mrs Jowitt and Mrs Hales (carriage and pair), Misß Cunningham and Miss Reeves (on a pair of ponies). Owing to the heavy mist and fog spectators could see nothing of the proceedings, except they happened to be close to some of the jumps to be surmounted, so it would be impossible to give a detailed account of the run. At the finish of the first run, Mr Reid on Te Kooti and Mr Driver on WaitangiJ with Mr Jas. Gourley on Rattler, could be seen amongst the first in, as also Mr M'Ardle on Nellie and Mr P. Toomey, who went well on Northern. Mr T. Cotton had a narrow escape from a bad fall at the last fence, Dun Joseph getting fast in some wire and his rider falling underneath, but his nimbleness saved him from injury. In the return run, Stonehenge struck a stone wall and came down, but .was recovered in a clever manner by J. i'oung, who was in the saddle again without the loss of a minute and with the field again. The run finished without any further mishap, and as the rain by this time was coming down heavily an indiscriminate scamper was made for town. It is a matter for congratulation that the season has finished without any accidents of a serious nature ; in fact, less so than almost, any other sport, for although of falls and mishaps there have been plenty the result has been in most cases the cause of more merriment than grief. These hounds have been the means of turning out several good riders, and many a young fellow who has journeyed to other lands has found the lessons learned at the Dunedin hunt come in good stead, the cramped nature of the country making them skilful riders and giving them hands and nerve, altogether a very useful education. The young fellows who stepped in and took the management, and would not allow the best of all sports to die, are deserving of every credit. Its collapse would have been a disgrace to the city. During the past season they have had miny difficulties to contend with independent of the sinews of war, as Bone of them are millionaires, but several -landowners generously came forward and offered the use of ■their ground, showing that the new management have rendered the sport very popular. They have also shown any amount of sport, hunting twice a week. There are some matters of which it is not to pleasant to write. Some of the old supporters of the club held back their patronage for some inexplicable reason. It is said that it was due to reports circulated by some spiteful person as to the composition of the new management, which it was alleged partook too much of the bourgeous element. If such was really the case, such' a dog-in-the-manger proceeding was moßt contemptible, and the successful season just passed ha 3 shown how base and slanderous such assertions must have been. There were occasionally some rather too eager followers anxious to be ahead of the field and perhaps endangering the hounds, but the faulfr generally lay more in the head than in the heart and they generally were amenable to reaqpn. To quote the words of an old huntsman when excusing some undergraduates, "They fears nothing cos they knows nothing." The same class of transgressors would think nothing of losing their sport to atop a runaway horse and help his rider into the saddle. The master, Mr Taggart, has had every respect shown him in the field as a veteran sport. The deputy-master, Mr R. Driver, rendered valuable assistance in keeping such spirits in restraint, courteous and firm, always well-mounted, he was sure to show up in the right place. The chief charm of the hunting field is the, goodfollowship it engenders, and as a Uveller of social distinctions favours the true gentleman and discourages attempts to create a barrier of shoddy aristocracy. B jots and breeches must now be relegated to obscurity for some months, and the crack of the huntsman's whip and the cheerful Bound of the horn will not be heard. That old time and the various ills the flesh is heir to may deal lightly with all true lovers of the chase until the whirligig of time heralds the approach of another season is the sincere wish of Nimbod.