HUNTING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14453, 27 May 1911, Page 3

HUNTING.

LEVELS MEET. Tllo moot :it Mr C. N. OrbtsH's, Levels, last Thursday tun bo looked back upon ob quite no of tlio "red letter daj-g" in tho annals of hunting in South Canterbury. Tlio moot, which won a very big out, was tit 11 a.m., tlio chief attraction being that the Wuimato pack would hunt in tlio afternoon, although the time-honoured hospitality of jHrs Orhell and lier daughters, together with the easy view of most ol the hunting over the downs and in -tlio valley below, must always bo recognised us groat attractions m themselves. Tlio morning was foggy, wliich very likely accounted for the oxcollont scent which favoured tlio South Canterbury pack whon they hunted the Levels Plain before lunch. Tho fog gave way to a glorious afternoon, hut scent wus not quite so good as in tho morning. There were 82 mounted'in the held, and a big proportion of good jumpers. Amongst them were six members of the "Wuimnte District Hunt who were in the first flight all tho time. A hare was -quickly found on Mr Samuel Trevurza's land, which she left for Mr Michael 11 wiiey's and then turned to tho left and crossed Mr Trovur/.a's farm, doubling to the left again as. isoon as she reached the road. To avoid a paddock that Mr John O'Brien had sown, the field had to make a detour across Mr Frederick Dash's country before rejoining hounds on the main road, which they crossed and carried the line through the plantation in front of the Levels homestead on to Mr Daniel Burns's property and across the main road again on to Mr Lowney's. Slow hunting in the road gave hones a breather after a very fast burst. After leaving Mr Lowney's, hounds travelled at a great pace again out on to the green road, and for some distance up tho road before the hare doubled to tho right across Mr Trevurza's and then over three paddocks of Mr John Divan's, on whoso farm she was killr-rl after a fast run of about four miles, practically without a check. Some of the country hunted was fairlv stiff, moro especially the gorse fence from the road into Mr Dash's, over which the Master showed tho way, as he did also over the last fence jumped, which was also at first .sight a, heartbreaking gorse obstacle. After a short spell hounds worked out a lino across two or three paddocks before being laid on to a hare viewed away, and jiobably the hare whose trail thev had been hunting for about a mile." Although the hare had got a long -start, and was no. longer in view hounds dashed away with the line -with good music, and lots of confidence. From tlrs twinL the hare, which up to nov may be described as a good hunting one, developed into a race as hounds ran on with'a point for Arowhcnun. And it was not far from Arowhenua that they killed their hare after thirty-five minutes without a check making a point of four miles, about six as hounds ran. Lunch at tie homestead, at which, in relays, about three hundred people sat down, was very highly appreciated before tightening girths for a good hunt with the Wniniatc pack in tho afternoon. Before making a move from the homestead Mr A. S. Elworthy in.,welcoming the Waimats Hunt to the district expressed the hope that they would have the same good scent that had prevailed in the morning, and congratulated them on their hunt which was represented by some very straight goers. Mr J. B. Sinclair, Ac-ting Master for the "Waimntc Hunt, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Master, Mr Bowker, and hoped that they would have as good sport as they had had in the morning. The first run after lunch opened with disaster. ' At tho first fence, a high wire. the Waimate huntsman T. Hobbs, had a. bad fall, his horse rolling oh him heavily and burt : ng him a good deal tut fortunately not seriously. He pluckily remounted and showed very good sport with his pack all the. after n/jem. There w)3re' a. great many hares, which was rather a handicap to him, more especially as lie had" to handle a young pack made up of drafts from other packs, and consequently lacked the comb-'na-tion and equality of pace of an older pack. The hunted' hares never left til? Levels country except on one occasion when an unsuccessful cast was made on Mr James Sullivan's land. The first hare, who sank the valley, was , very hard pressed when she regained the top of the downs and took refuge in a bluegum plantation after giving a good run. A fresh hare from the plantation made a. big right-handed, circle into the valley helow and had taken the field over about four miles of country, when hounds had her in view" close in front of them and nearly beaten as she hugfence of Sullivan's road bcf.ire getting into the road through a gateway. But in the road, \vher-? they would have killed her for a certainly, their chance was spoiled by one. or two traps which, instead of being kept still, were thoughtlessly in the enthusiasm of the chase driven after the hue. Other hares were persevered with and. gave good runs, the plantation again saving one that was hard pressed. Ax scent was. failing and horses had had a very long day, Mr Sinclair gave tlio order for "home." Afternoon tea at the homestead was very refreshing before snogging homo on tired horses.

; Thosd present were—Mrs*H'nrper ou TCaitaa.. 'Miss Lyon on Cri;sa<lor ; Miss J F. Lyon oti Gay Lad. Miss Cole on Yo EI Key, Miss Trilford on Trixv, Miss • Talbot on Dick, Miss B. Talbot on j Puffing Billy, Miss E. Talbot on T„ 0 ' j Step, Miss Br.'stol on Tui, Miss R. E!i worthy on Tommy, Miss Hops ou Roirncy. Miss Jones on Stella, Mx A E. Fhvorthy and Mr J. B. Sinclair, Masters of the South Canterbury nnd AVnimate Hunts on AA'izard and Davio es- ! jK-ctivcly. M. Orton (Huntsman S C. on Matthew and Br.sk, G Fielding (Whip S.C.H.) on Comet and Phantom" 'J'. Hobbs (Huntsman W.D H) oii Kawa, S. 801 l (Whin Av.D.RVon Melibauiis, Messrs \V. H. Orbell on Bloomheld, C. L. Orbeil on Lagbm.n- W BeH on Goid Crosd, J. Golds tone oii lwolie, A Dyer on Vveka, T. Bell on Blucber, L. Hamilton on Bhiina H Ehvorthy on Ironbnrk, P. A. Elworthy on Liberty, M. Harper on Swagger \ .G MacdonalJ on King of Tnmvps' H t Bennetts on Kauri, A. B. Temnl'e on IJerhv, B. M. izard on Novice E Butchers on Crasswaya, J. Mo'-lmii on Cle-j B. J. Edprar on Brownbird. A Beatti» on Bangi and ffa : m<ia, J on Sinner. J. Dennistaiiii on Shirley" C. A. Crowe on Lancet, H Crow- mi Dawn A. A\"iliiam.s on Gold 'l\w F Bamsav 01; Gristn, T. D. Shaw on AVarl rata-li, J. Shaw ou Saimvson. \V Bn-k ley on B. Patrick on Bell Buoy, M. Charles on Mountaineer W Duvev on Xettle. J. Maze on Donation' M,M,., 8 0n McDonald. G. Maze on Sn:p A\. Knnwl-ss on Captain Wood, J A. Bennett on Mark, F. G. Bus- ; sell < m The Slcpper, T. Leonard on Arnau, J. Tenuant on Ti"er E L"w renson on Xiirjrer, J. PnhiW 01V BuVil I nut Morn. T. Palmer on Rap.-unii B i Cole on Tommy, F. Trilford on Barrev P. IVM'son on Queenie. L. Mann on ■•.,„. K .T. AV Tcnnant on T.ndy Cora, D Crav •.(«! McSnr'ih, C. Cornelius \m ' Peni-tentbn-y. ]> Scannel o„ Gay Grafter .1. Cmnr-n«!i!in, on AYi.,d„„,. R, Vm-. i.oy on T-Tu-rnit. M. Siuoders on Bln» T,.r.'ru:<. ,1. C Strin, ; e,- -„ Bu-by, H Andersoa om T u i. R. GIM-i.,-, on ca' ' vey. D. 8r,1..-rfc.son on R ?lin 1V " I i Payne on Ail Black, T, Scannell o> ; '

0 \\litti. .1. Daley on Ciiniv Queen, 1 i. -N. Tlioiiiason 011 Darkle". W. .1 ' llassett „„ Woodstock. It. J. Gib '•brisL on l,cna. R. CJiilbra.il Ii on Ciiv '_'«■ |v. McKay on. Grey Girl, R. verslnk,. „n Garry, N. Rollinson on ttobm Grey, and o'. K. Thomas on Puzzler.