HUNTING.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12637, 25 March 1905, Page 4

HUNTING.

A PLEASANT HOUR AT THE KENNELS. To enthusiasts -in outdoor sports with the month of April comes in hunting, and though it is so summerlike at present, the weather may be, all that could be wished for the opening meet on Thursdaythe - 6th ApriL-. • Yesterday, in iaccepting the ; courteous * invit'ation of ■ the South Canterbury Hunt Club's honorary secretary to. visit The Kennels, accompanied by a genial companion, the drive -out and into town was greatly enjoyed, and' though the Kennel Huntsman, Mr Malcolm Orion, was found on arrival very busv at.his morning's duties, he thfew aside cutty-comb and showed his. visitors over kennels and loose-boxes. The " music of the hounds," whose tuneful chorus is always a cheerful greeting to visitors, being first heard, a walk to the kennels opened proceedings. Here were found 17 couple of working Hounds/ couple being this season's entry. "- -They had- been given gentle exercise, with/one fairly good run a day or two ago. With the exception of. old Gambler, all;-the 1 hounds were looking well in the coat, and were showing every sign, of coming into hard form. The pups were by Spoiler, one of the Club's own hounds, and were a nice even lot. The hounds were kennelled up and benched for inspection, and afterwards the bitches were sparated; the grouping of the pack was, very picturesque, and it was seen that as a whole they were strong and likely, to be keen workers. A few months ago the Club purchased. a stud hound from the' Auckland Kennels, and the first litter of pups—three couple—were" seen in the yard. They are just at the lapping Stage, lively playthings for Mr Orton's little boy, and should ■be ready for the hunting alphabet by'■next winter. . The stud hound is 6trong and bigger framed than the hounds'of the old pack, and this introduction of fresh blood should result in an all-round improvement. After congratulating the Huntsman on the fine appearance of the pack and the cleanliness of yards and run, an adjourn--ment was made to the paddock and stables, to see the. splendid string of. htjntefs-;.. Most of the hunters are well known to almost. every resident in South Canterbury, for the thousands of persons who visit the agricultural show see the horses at the. jumping contests, ~ while nearly every farmer and hunting man see them in the field. The firet rug was taken off the big bay, Craigmore, hunted at Holme Station, Pareora,- last year,; and seen for the first time at The T£ennels this year. He is seven years old by Kulnine —Mokimoki, just now a little on the big side, a powerful hunterup to almost any weight. He passed his maiden rank last year, and is now valued, amongst the best of the string. —Running, at large also were to be seen Kakahu.who has been sold to Mr P. Harrison,, of Geraldine ; a half brother to Kakahti, by Marlwho has just been broken in, and is to be schooled over-country more or less difficult, and .then turned out; r and a very old friend in "'Rowlock, who had badly cut his foot, and generally, wore a most woebegone appearance. ...As our guide remarked, "Rowlock is always in some trouble or other, but I hope his luck will turn this , year, for he.isof the Teal good sort.". From the paddock, " the: party stroPed , to the loose-boxes, nattily bedded wittr straw and so "clean and neat, as--to "make a sundowner envious of the lot of the hunter of to-day. Harkaway, the hero of steeplechases and meets, was first stripped, and looked sis fit as hands and exercise could make him. He is well known all over Canterbury and was specially noted by our reporter on his last visit to The Kennels. T o the box adjoining was a new entry—t\ih". by Mr Tescliemaker's imported horse MViboeu.-—Cuba, bre-1 on Pareora station. He is a four-year old. pa'e bay in colour, i trifle litrlit. perhaps, but he has a year or two in which to fully develop: altogether | i horse of great promise. JTis action is lisHncilv good all round, build nent, with birlc nnd rmnrfers flint s!in\r immense M'-fngilt. He jumps verv cleverly, and is altogftlsPr inst the sort the-huntsman delves. In the hoxss adjoining' v.-p.in P. and Ktiroki (the latter noted rs the Knlmine colt last year), both old friends, and both of grand stamp. Nest came Peter,

bv iiiindSinanj Broken in at The Kennels, a &ii-yi!lt:bld; aiVay on Ifegs to a pretty chestmlt—|ltß- - the handsomest ■ horse, at .the stables, and quite .the bea.iL, of ,the hunt with the fair sex. Next door;was Gnat, by Kulnipe —Talisman .mare, bred_ on the station,. j* horsci that HaSvdonfe.wlU at., steeplechases, and a tbji-notcber.-at the hlint. , n XM mA ti> 66 se6n was bwagger, how Sight off, and he alsa is .well Tdi.own from>previous reviews, private and public. Chestnuts always 'ock well, and as he is in great foirm just now, he presents a very fine appearance. In addition to those named, three coifs'! are coming on. "It will thus be seen Master, Mr A. S. Elworthy,.; gives "his Huntsman the best of material : ; to> work, with,'and as far as : The Kennels :are con. cerned, hunters and hounds are ;fitr for any run. :no mat tei - when ,or where; ifc'.ts held; or liow sevelc it !h: ■ Anyone wltorhas sßen the schooling can quite-understand how it is that such eTrellent hunters are turned out; and a visit to headquarters. 1 hat eveiythuiG is done to keep-horses and hounds in the best of health and condition; It is to be hoped -that-the. seasonV6o shortly to be opened will be .highly successful, and that no serious. accident'to rider, -liorse or hound will mar the pleasures of-a fine hunting day. -