SOUTH CANTERBURY HOUNDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1774, 7 June 1895, Page 3

SOUT H CANTERBURY HOUNDS.

A mild breeze for midwinter and a cloudy sky, the smell of raju, and a ripping scent, what move could be wanted for the weekly meet? To time a s^rqn'g posse o,f horsemen turned up at Graham's grossing, with one lady, who rode straight all day— including many qf the well known cross-country horses of the district, as Pembroke, Catesby, Gleniti, Betsy, Bellbird, The Mount, Ballymena, Sam, Fraud, &c, &c, with the huntsman on Sergeant-Major, who is showing "up a beautiful jumping hqrpe, though eccentric occasionally, and the whip on Honesty, A, large ploughed paddoc^ an. cj tWP or three grass fields skirting the water-race were first drawn with discouraging results. Way was then made for the corner blook of land, now Mr Pierce's, and after some pretty work by the hounds a hare was put up which led a warm spin round and over the adjoining paddock through a biggish fence, then doubling back and on to Mr Colliers' land, where she lay low for a few minutes. When put up again she made straight across a wire, thence through Kelland's road necessitating the negotiation of a tough gorse, which was managed nicely by most of the field. After a fast mile and some really good work by the hounds through the gullies, puss again doubled and was finally pulled down. The' horses were warming up now, and after breathing them a little, a move was made, with almost immediately another hare which erogaeja and recrossed similar co.u,ntr^, and : was the means of. shoving some first-class jump-

ing, and eventually she was also pulled down. This was a fair afternoon's work, but as in other things there was an inclination to go one better. Accordingly a move was made through a ploughed paddock over quite a difficult piece of country, and after some play by the hounds and the crossing of a piece of timber by the field, which occasioned some circus work by two wellmounted men, the sternest run of the day commenced. Puss made directly over a large extent of soft ploughed land through what used to be a very high gorse, but being now close cut was dangerous, the wire being right to the top, and some anxiety was occasioned by a smart horseman getting a fall. The hare made across the road and finally got on to Graham's land and on through Kelland's road in the Claremont district. Owing to exceedingly high country the hounds were left alone for some time and well they conducted themselves, nosing the quarry over ploughed land and grass, through timber and swamp. When last sighted on Mr Collier's puss was pretty well pumped, but disappeared in a hollow and though repeated and continuous efforts were made to put her up she knew too much, and rightly considered that on this occasion discretion was the better part of valour. Shortly after 4 o'clock a move was made homewards. There was a good deal of verve shown throughout the meet, and there is no doubt the hounds are improving wonderfully. The cross-coun-try work of the twenty men present was excellent, and a few traps were on the roads.