Hunting at Patea.

Patea Mail, 14 August 1880, Page 2

Hunting at Patea.

“ Tally ho !” was the cry at Patea on Thursday. The first “ meet” took place that day, and the inspiriting novelty of an old-world hunt in our new country was welcomed as a pleasure long deniedGreat was the gathering of huntsmen at.

the Albion Hotel, an immense cavalcade coming in from all parts of a wide district, from Manutahi to Waitotara. There were mounts that would have been a credit to any hunting field in the Old Country, and there were mounts which would not look very smart in a hunting picture. Most of the sportsmen had distrusted the weather, and came equipped for a mixed sensation of riding and swimming—and, truth to tell, some of them got both. Just at 2 o’clock, the hour of starting for the field, a storm of wind and rain came swirling up in a black wot whirlwind, deluging all and sundry of the gay riders who had not hied to cover. But the storm blow itself out in half an hour, and the cavalcade then made a start for the hunting-field. They were a motley ruck, those horsemen, as they moved at a slow trot down the road and over the river to the Whenuakura side. Absut 120 mounts mustered there to witness the cast-off with the dogs, and a number of convepances lined the road, though not half the show that a fine day would have brought out. In fact all the country-side would have been there, and the hunt would have been a real galaday, if only fair weather had smiled on the fun.

Our sporting reporter, who was in the hunt, and had sworn to be in at the end of it dead or alive, has furnished the following brisk narrative : —The “ drag” commenced opposite Mr Coutts’s hew residence, and tiie hounds were soon giving tongue, followed by some twenty to twenty-five horsemen. The first property crossed w r as that of Mr McLaughlin, and at each of the four fences more than one spill occurred, and riderless horses went galloping in all directions. Mr Honeyfield’s paddock was safely got over, and the hounds and several horsemen crossed the road into Mr Mercer’s fields in lino style. At this stage a number of riders had dropped behind, and only some five or six negotiated the fence into the school-ground, where the drag crossed the road again. The jump from the school ground proved a trap for the leading huntsmen, Messrs Gower, Mclvor, Davis, and one or two others coming to grief. Mr Gower soon remounted, and went in pursuit; and he was the only one who finished near the dogs in the first run, although his horse came down twice. Mr Mclvor, the whip, also came down with Old Ireland at the second jump, the horse sticking fast in the ditch. Mr Chadwick) seeing the fix he was in, lent him War Eagle, but the little grey, after getting into a prominent position, fell at the same fence as Sunray, and got on his back in a ditch. Mr McCarthy and Mr H. Davis were well up till the last two fences ; and Messrs Tcnncnt, Byrne, H. Chadwick, Mercer, Williams, and Hughes were amongst others who parted company with their steeds. A lady from Kakararnea rode her horse cleverly over a great number of the jumps. The drag was lifted in Mr Davidson’s paddock; and as there were a great many crying “ bellows to mend,” a spell of twenty minutes was allowed. The hat fthe only bcltopper on the ground) was then taken around, and the huntsmen and spectators appeared to be liberal in their donations to what was called “ a subscription for the dogs.” The second run was by far the best, and a prettier hunting country it would be hard to find. The drag was taken through the five fields of Messrs Davidson, Shcean, Bourkc, Drake, and Hurley ; and the “ death” brought the huntsmen in full view of the road at the foot of the hill near Major Turner’s homestead. Nothingdaunted, over twenty had started at this second taking off ; and by the time Mr Davidson’s third field was reached the dogs were well together, and some four or five huntsmen following in close order; but the fences being rather bigger than in the first run, baulks and spills reduced the number considerably, Mr Gower on Sunray being the only one who did not come down. The following is as nearly as can be stated the order hi which the riders and horses finished :—Mr Gower on Sunray, well up with the hounds, first; Mr J. Chadwick, on War Eagle, a short field away, second ; followed closely by Mr Brewer, of Waitotara, on Bob Tail ; then came Mr Davis on Mr Newland’s Poundkeeper, Mr Dan Williams on Hiroki, and a number of others straggling in. A son of Mr Nary, bootmaker, took the drag over the country, which was selected

by Messrs Chadwick, Haase, and Gower. Three hearty cheers were given for the farmers who had kindly allowed their properties to be. hunted over; and for Mr Mclvor and the absent master of the hounds, Mr Bradley. Mr Mclvor then called the hounds together, and the crowd started for home, apparently much pleased with their outing. There were no serious accidents, and no doubt there would have been fewer “ mistakes” had the weather hold up.