DRAG HUNT AT OMATA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10656, 3 July 1896, Page 2

DRAG HUNT AT OMATA.

RUN WITH EGMONT HUNT CLUB

HOUNDS

It could not be truly said in the words of the old hunting song that " All Nature was Smiling and Gay" on Thursday afternoon, the day fixed for the first run in this part of the district wjlth the Egmont Hunt Club's pack, for more dismal weather could not have been experienced, even if it had been specially ordered to damp the ardor of the huntsmen. The meet took place about 2.30 o'clock at the Bank of New Zealand corner, and by that time some forty horsemen, mounted on all sorts and sizes of "noddies" had assembled, besideß a fairly large crowd of spectators, who whiled away the time spent in waiting for the Huntsman to appear, by passing good natured comments on the members of the mounted party. When Mr Vine appeared with the pack numbering ten, a start was made for tho ground at Omata, and notwithstanding the steady downpour that had set in, everyone appeared bent on having an afternoon s fun. When the party arrived at Oma\;a, not much time was lost, the drag having already been laid by the Master, Mr M. J. Goodson, and Mr F. Watson, The spectators, some two hundred, assembled on an old Maori pah, andj from this coign of vantage, the\ had a splendid view of the whole of the country that had to be traversed. The course was laid over the properties of Messrs R. Clemow, J. Penwardon, A. Bayly, and Jas. Hooker, the distance being about two miles, and the jumps about a dozen in number, consisting mostly of rail fences with furae growing over. Before the throw off Mr Goodson gave some advice to the huntsmen as to the way the jumps should be negotiated in order to prevent any accident through one horse being too close up and jumping on one that had fallen. "

THE RUN.

The hounds soon got on the scent, and went through a rail fence topped with furze, but they immediately got off, evidently on a hare's scent, and scoured over a paddock in the opposite way the (Frag was laid. The horsemen, numbering twenty-seven in all, followed the pack over the jump, which was taken by all at the first attempt, except in a couple of instances, but the baulkers got over on the s»3ond attempt. At this jump Mr Harley «n a bay was unseated, but was not hurt. The Huntsman then called up the pack, who soon got on the drag, and never afterwards made a mis take, although a sheep dog was anxious to assist and headed the pack for -about a mile. The horsemen followed in full chase, and rails were soon heard cracking, some of the "neddie*" hitting thatim-'

bers with resounding whacks. Mrlredale, of Hawera, on a grey was unseated at the second jump, and Mr J. Montefiore on Voltigeur 11 . came a cropper at a post and rail jump in Mr Hooker's property, but both escaped injury. There were several baulks, and the post and rail just mentioned was run round by a few, but the majority shaped very well for green horses, and safely completed the course, although some wore crying, " bellows to mend," at the finish. Those to finish close up to the Huntsman on Charlie, and the Master on Bradshaw, were Master E. Russoll on Waiongona, Mr R. Henry on Tho Friar, and Mr W. Joll on a che3tnut. When the run was finished rain again descended, and it was wisely decidod not to have a second run. A return to town was then made. Among those who followed besides those already mentioned were Messrs M. Mills on Kapai, O. Enderby on Clematis, Q-. Corke on Sloper, F. Watson on May Boy, Bartrop on a roan, I*. Webster on Thunderbolt, J. F. Pease on Boom-de-ay, Valintine on a bay, B. Cock, P. Webster, H. pallaghan, I)r. Valintine, and others. No ladies fqlpwed the pack. The neitVun will take place at Bell Block on Thursday," July 30th.