HUNTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2259, 17 June 1897, Page 30

HUNTING.

DUNEDIN HOUNDS. Pine Hill on Saturday .wfti eagerly looked forward to by followers of this pmck, as several of the local residents, at the head of whom was Mr T. Godfrey, had been at some considerable trouble in laying out a good run, over entirely new country, consisting of good grass paddocks enclosed by stone walls, posts and rails, and log fences, which without being dangerous or impracticable were sufficient to try the merits and jumping capabilities of any hunter and the nerve and skill of the riders. Tna afternoon, however, turned oat miserable. It rained and hailed and snow fell. Consequently the attendance was numerically small, although there was a fair field of straight goers whom it would be very hard to deter from having a galop after the spotted beauties. The run was over the properties of Me«rs Richards. Godfrey, Meredith and Bunbury. Mr B. R^idjp mount was Comeaway, Mr J. G. Reid's Kelly, Me T. Godfrey's Ladybird, Mr M'Keich's Mick, Mr J. Orbell's Oberon, Mr Flockton's Rosslyn. A few local' sports were well mounted. The Huntsman rode Bugler and the Whip (J. Bamber) Freemason. The weather was too unpleasant for delay, consequently the drag was soon laid, aad the pack quickly in full cry on a burning scent. The field crossed two or three paddocks pretty well bunched together till a bit of good going was reached, when jealoußy for pride of place caused a lively contest between the leaders, several fences being taken abreast. A stone wall double across a district road made the experienced riders take a grip and steady their nags. It was crossed, however, without a mistake, and in spite of some ominous rattling of rails, suggestive of hard rapj, the field finished well together ; nor did I see an empty saddle. In the second run there was one mishap, the truaty Freemaeon coming a cropper in j ampin? down hill over a flight of rails — a nasty fall. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Bamber wai seen to jump up, catch his horse, i and continue the chane, which ended without any other contretemps. A quick dispersal then took place for home. -Next Wednesday a point to point steeplechase will be held at Waikouaiti. Nimrod.

A request of an unusual kind was made to the Oamai'tt Caledonian Society. It emanated from the Oamaru Navals' Band, which asked the society to advance the band's trnstecs £25 on their instruments, to be played off at the next annual gathering of the society. The matter was referred to a committee to report. " Confound it ! " said a testy old gentleman, " the proprietor and editor ot this paper oughj; to be prosecuted. I was just reading a nice pithy little paragraph, an.d found it wound up by advising me to take Woods's Great Peppbrmint Cujje for coughs and colds, aold by all grocers and chemists." The price was only Is 6d, but the advice was invaluable, ■