HUNTING.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5018, 28 May 1889, Page 4

HUNTING.

THE SOUTH CANTERBURY HARRIERS.

Of all the hunting country round about here that of Kingsborough undoubtedly bears the bell, 'ibis, coupled with the meet being fixed for the Queen’s Birthday, was quite sufficient to account for the splendid turn out of hunting folk that hovered around the deputy master’s (Mr Hamlyn’s), at 11.30 on Friday morning. The morning broke fine after a slight shower of rain, and left everything to be desired in the way of scent. Very little time was lost before the hounds wCre set to work, and they very soon found, at the dam below Mr Hamlyn’s house. How they travelled over those undulating paddocks, circling round towards Goodman’s, and then on towards Pringle’s; and how they ran into her in Fowler’s paddock wanted little more eloquence than was conveyed in the joyful countenance of riders, and sobbing sides of steeds, a very fast fifteen minutes without a check; no finer or stiffer line than this could she have taken. After a shore spell another hare was started, in a Kingsborough paddock, opposite Armstrong’s, on through the neighbouring paddocks, and after swinging round the big paddock on the hill, and on to McGirtland’s, she was killed in the road just above Armstrong’s. Thera was a tremendous scent, and hounds carrying a good head, had gone without a cheek, and at extraordinary speed for five and twenty minutes —truly a magnificent run. Mr Alexander Pringle and Mr Higginbotham, \ with the huntsman, were the first in at the death of the previous run, Mr Qracie and Mr E. S. Rutherford being first in at the second, but the field generally were very well forward. Coming to the j unction of the roads above Armstrong’s, we found that Mr and Mrs Hamlyn had a lunch spread out to meet us there, and what a jolly lunch it was ; plenty to eat and drink, even a billy boiling for tea for the ladies. One and all enjoyed it better than if it had been a swell set-down affair. Everyone was busy recounting how they got over this fence, and how the other came to grief at the big gorse out into the road, etc. Mr Ego was chaffed a great deal about being first in at the lunch. I think this was rather rough, as he promised to go straighter than before. After full justice was done to the good things, a move was made to Mr Armstrong’s front paddocks and a hare was soon away ; but by this time that very peculiar thing “ scent ” was gone, and it did not improve as the day wore on. We had several short runs, but scent was altogether too bad to allow of much work being done, but like all else in life it has its pros and cons. The first part of the day furnished two splendid runs for the hard and straight goers, and which I am sure horses seemed to have had plenty of ; whilst after lunch the sport seemed made for the wheel division and i those who were not disposed to go straight, for they could see the whole of the work done by the hounds from the road. After working Armstrong’s paddocks they crossed back again to Kingsborough, and plenty of jumping there was in it I can tell you, and some mighty stiff fences too, judging by the number of “ croppers ” and “ voluntaries ” cut by both ladies and gentlemen ; the wheel division having rather a good time of it, the afternoon turning out as it were for their special benefit. This brought to a close one of the pleasantest and finest day’s hunting it has been my lot to witness, and one and all jogged homewards well satisfied with the day’s sport. The l master, Mr B. T. Rhodes, was determined that nothing should be wanting on his part to make it a successful day, as he had second mounts out for both himself and his huntsman. H e rode The Plug in the morning and Mr Jingle (a fine Jangler colt) in the afternoon, Fowler rode Gipsy Maid and Selim, the whip being on All Fours. 1 was pleased to see our ex-master, Mr John Rutherford, amongst us once again, riding Maud, and it is needless to say that he was always in the leading division. Among the field present I noticed Mrs Hamlyn on Opawa, Mrs G. H. Rhodes on a brown, Miss Archer on Galway, Miss M. Allen on Blueboy, Miss G. Lovegrove on a gray, Miss Gillingham on a bay, Mr John Rutherford on Maud, Mr B. S. Rutherford on Jubilee, Mr G. H. Rhodes on Nero, Mr T, Hamlyn on a chesnut, Mr Gracie on Antigone, Mr Black on a bay colt by Flying Dutchman, Mr Higginbotham on Schimmel, Mr Gordon Wood on Bothwell, Mr R. Allen on Johnnie, Mr A. Allen on Rocket the Second, Mr G, S. Mathias on Sergeant, Mr W. St. Lindsay on Colonel, Mr A. Pringle on Rocket Mr P. A. Archer on Little Dick, Mr M, Archer on a Daniel O’Rourke chestnut, Mr Hook on a bay colt, Mr Stone on a bay, Mr B. Balfour on Juggler, Mr J. W. Balfour on Gibson’s mare, Mr Price on Robin Hood, Mr Park on Three Springs, Mr Hunter Brown on Kingbird, Mr Maitland on Ooachy, Mr Bullock on Wiggins, Mr Gibson jun. on a grey cob, Mr White jun. on a grey mare, Mr Meredith-Kaye on Stockman, Mr Cartwright on a brown, and several others. Pomponitts Ego.

WAIMATE COUNTY HARRIERS. Friday last saw the above pack meet at Mr Medlieott’s, at the Hook. This has always been a most popular meet, and on this occasion there was no exception to the rule, as fully 70 riders were present, including a large sprinkling of ladies, to accept Mr Medlieott’s hospitality, as he has always been a most enthusiastic sportsman, and one of tho chief supporters of this hunt. After giving about a quarter of an hour’s law to allow those who had a long distance to come to be present, tho hounds trotted off to a paddock at the back of the house; this proved a blank, but trying a small plantation higher up, a hare was soon on foot and skirting back along a gorse fence by the house, she took us over a gorse fence into the adjoining paddock. Being closely | pressed, she doubled back and tried to make

for her old haunt, the plantation, but the hounds quickly bustled her up the hill to the right, when she went through a straggling gorse fence, which steadied the field considerably. Then some pretty hunting .took place, as the scent here was very catchy, but sticking to her right well, they took her across a gully on the top of the downs, when scent improving, they simply raced along. Over a stubble paddock she bore away to the right, close past the Hook schoolhouse on to the road ; she then got into prohibited ground and we feared we should have to leave her, but fortunately she doubled back on to the road again. Here hounds found great difficulty, owing to the line, but by careful working they spoke to her further down the road, and then threw up again. However, a gentle whimper from Harmony and Barrister and a “ Hark, forward ” from the huntsman, soon had the pack together, and quickly on even terms with her again. Here, pressing her closely, she turnrd in through a gate into a grass paddock, which proved her last resting place, as the hounds were right on her, and broke her up in the open. An adjournment was then made for Mr Medlicott’s, where full justice was done to all the good things provided. After lunch we moved on to a turnip paddock belonging to Mr Rickman. Here there was some difficulty in finding a hare, but after a little while a view holloa soon turned all eyes towards the corner of the paddock, where a hare was seen stealing away. The hounds were quickly on the line, and puss here crossing the road took us over a good double, which somewhat tried the jumping powers of the horses. A couple of big post and rail fences further on stopped all but a very few, and those had to ride their hardest to keep up with the pack, as the scent here was breast high. She then took us across the grass paddock, turning sharp round up the gully into a stubble paddock, and then back again through a swamp, where we got the first view of her since starting. From here she crossed into a newly|soon wheat paddock, but the cry of “ Ware! wheat ” prevented all but the huntsman and whip from following. Here a fresh hare got up, and a little time was wasted in whipping off, but they were soon laid on to their own line, and doubling back through, a wire fence into the stubble paddock, she made for the road where some twenty or thirty yards further on the hounds ran into her and pulled her down in the middle of the road. After the hounds had been blooded, I am sorry to say one of the best of them met with an accident, being kicked by one of the horses standing near, and who was so badly hurt that she had to be destroyed. Before closing I must mention the plucky way in which two very youthful sportsmen had managed their ponies, and rode well to the front. New Chum.