NORTH TARANAKI HUNT

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1930, Page 13

NORTH TARANAKI HUNT

ENJOYABLE SPSN AT WAIHI

FIRST “BRUSH” OF THE SEASON.

TWO SPLENDID RUNS FOLLOWED.

PREPARING FOR POINT-TO-POINT.

(By

“Moturoa.”)

Sunny skies and just that freshness that makes hunting so invigorating favoured the members of the North Taranaki Hunt when their second meet, of the season was held on the hillsides of Waihi and the undulating plains of the Motonui district yesterday. A more enjoyable hunt could scarcely be wished for, and two vigorous hares led a merry chase over rail, plain wire and brush, and not a few falls added spite to the eport. Mr. James Edwin’s fine stretch of country has always provided a lookedfor outing, and yesterday proved no exception to the rule. Fences in parts, where the quarry led the pack beyond the bounds of rails, were stiff, but the horses fenced well. Ono incident alone marred the ride, when Mr. Ivan Cole’s mount Ngawhaa staked himself at a wire fence, but Mr. 8. Topless expertly stitched Hie wound, which was an ugly one. When Huntsman J. Sexton unleashed the .pack'at the homestead, there was a fine muster of followers and, on mov- ■ ihg off, hounds soon gave tongue to a hare in the second paddock. Running strongly, puss set a hot pace through Mr. Giddy’s and into Mr. J, Cole’s, where she turned left-handed and raced across Messrs Jonas and McCoy’s properties into Mr. G. Foreman’s. There was a cheek here, but hounds were soon on the trail again and had the quarry running down the Nikorima Road past Mr. G. Foreman’s residence, where she sought the fields again, running. into Mr. Vickery’s and even further afield before she doubled back into Mr, Vickery’s with the pack in full throat, and here she was pulled down. FIRST BRUSH TO MISS IL COLE.

It: was a wonderful run, between four and five miles of country being traversed. The pack worked well and voiced their approval of the blooding as the first puss of the season was broken up. Miss Hazel Cole, who was the first lady rider to reach the kill, was presented by Master Halcombe with the brush.

The pack then worked back down the Nikorima Road, passing through Messrs Topless, Purdie and Bassett’s properties, thence to Mr. Edwin’s and across the Main North Road to Mr. Edwin’s second farm. Proceeding towards the beach, a second hare was viewed stealing through Mr. Greenwood’s and away towards the eld Maori redoubt. The pack seen picked up the’ trail and puss ran down the cliffs to the beach, but she was driven back through the crop paddock, over the lower readies of Mr. Edwin's property to Mr. Fitzsimmons’. The spars ended here and a brisk ride was given over Messrs J. Cole and P. Colo’iT farms, where the hare turned left-handed and then doubled over the same ground to Mr. Greenwood’s and out on the cliffs, where. conflicting.trails brought a check and , puss was able to make good her escape. This run had been another long one over about three miles, ami as the hour was drawing late Master Halcombe gave the word to “pack up” and the. followers cheerfully recounted incidents of interest on the way to the Motonui Hall, Where Mrs. J. Edwin and her helpers had laid a fine spread. Following the afternoon tea, Master Halcombe expressed the thanks of the members to Mr. and Mrs. J. Edwin for the fine entertainment they had enjoyed. Mr. Edwin had long been a staunch follower of the hounds and his property had become famed as one of their finest hunting grounds. He reminded the followers that some of the neighbouring farmers were a “bit sore” because 1 -of the damage done to their property in the past, but Mr. Edwin had interviewed (hem.and made matters right. However, he requested the followers to advise’ the owners of the property they hunted over when fences were broken so that there would be no inconvenience caused by straying stock. Mr. Edwin said thanks were due to the neighbouring farmers. He was fond of the sport , and it was a pleasure to make the way clear for them to hunt. He complimented Master Halcombe on •the manner in which he kept the sport alive to encourage the younger riders, who were shaping well and were taking

wire in great style. Great interest was evinced in the approaching point-to-point on June 3, the red-letter day of the hunting fraternity in North Taranaki. The members of the Egm on t-Wanganui Hunt Club under Dr. Simmonds, who paid a visit last year, have been invited to attend the iiunt at Mr. J. Barnitt’s on Thursday, May 29, and they will, no doubt, leave their horses to compete in the races on the following Tuesday.

: Among the mounted followers 'were Master A. Halcorpbe (Passport), Deputymaster W.’Jdll (Silver Cord), Huntsman ‘J*. §extbh (.Steeplejack), Whip K. (Bedford finger), Messi’s D. Stock hid'n (Michael. Shimose), .C. Honeyfield (Vvonne), ,1. Cole (NgawhaaL R. Hill (Hillton), J. Loveridge (Lady June), B. Lapouplo (Just John), G. Brown (Waitaunaha). R. Powell (Lorna Ddone), J. Bailey (Waipapa). D. Brown (Patrolet), L. Bullot (Bay Dig!) ton h P. Cole (Puawhato), R. Topless (Rangi), W. Cole jun. (Lady De Reske), J. McKenzie (Valet), E. Wilnon (Black Wateh), W. Nolan (Piri Piri), E. Cole (Paraknra), R. Foreman (Razor), E. Rook (Whak-arangi), L. Cole (Dougal), Misses H. Cole (Nimblefoot), M. Cole (Huirangi Girl), M. Hicks (Onestep), P, Halcombe (Mohakatino). D. Newton (Ladv Shimose) and A. Newton (Jess). There were a large number of parties present to view the hunt from points of vantage, and among those who lined ■the crests of the- hills were Mr; L. A. Nolan and party, Mr. G. Foreman and party, Mr, W. Cole and party. Mr. J. B. Mabin and party, Mr. P. Elliott and narty. Mr. J. Edwin and partv. Mr. H. J. Wells and party, Mr. W. T. Hookham and party, Mr. R. Olemow (Cambridge, formerly of Ornata) and party. Mr. C Jury and narty. Rev. J. Hadfield and party, Mr. S. Toplesn'afid party. Dr. Adamson and party. Mrs. Newton and party. Mrs. A. R. Standish and party, Mrs. Rook and others.