NOVEL PATRIOTIC SPORT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16282, 9 July 1917, Page 8

NOVEL PATRIOTIC SPORT.

IN NORTH OTAGO HINTERLAND. A DEER DRIVE. In response to an appeal for game to be-disposed-of for the benefit of the patriotic innds, or frozen and sent Home for use in the hospitals, the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society decided to organise a deer drive in the lower part of the Society's forests as being of more.practical value than a hare drive which, at tho present price of cartridges, is an expensive undertaking. The chief difficulty lay in getting the venison down to Kurow, but Messrs Roberton and M'Nair, with their own packhorses and others lent by Mr Hudson, of -Longslip, undertook to pack all the venison down to the road, where Mr T. A. Munro promised to convey it by motor lorry to Kurow.

On Saturday last, a.party consisting of Messrs W. Sumpter, W. Dewar, W. Duncan, Jas. Bennett, Jno. Mitchell, W. E.sSßudd, J. Wilson, of Oamaru, A; Scbular and Jas. Hedley of Duntroon, and J. J. Spiers, and S. Ha.wthorne, of Ivurow, motored through to Longslip, where they were accomodated' by Mr Hudson. On Sunday a thorough survey of the ground was made, and on Monday morning early the party # was motored to the Deep Creek ' bridge, where the packhorses were waiting, and in twos and threes the sportsmenmade for their allotted stalking grounds. The first few shots, echoing among, the hills, put the deer on the alert,- and as they mounted to the higher basins the arduous nature of the climbing commenced to' tell upon the town members of the expedition, who, however, stuck manfully to their work. The first 4 shots secured 3 fat deer. Thereafter there was much scattered shooting, but the deer spoilt the excellent preliminary average by keeping at a safer distance and remained on the move for the rest of the day. Notwithstanding the long range thirty-five quarters of venison were secured by rfusk. •

The quality of the venison secured was excellent;,- and as the pairs of j haunches average 35ib, sold at even 6d ; per lb, it should bring in. over £3O to- [ wards the soldiers' comfort funds. Perfeet -weather favoured the enterprise, and although heavy snow fell" » score of miles further up the gorge, only scattered showers visfed the sportsmen. The- venison will be railed direct j t«v Pukeuri Works, where the butchers i promised to dress it... I