PAKURANGA HUNT CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 50, 9 July 1891, Page 2

PAKURANGA HUNT CLUB.

The regular weekly meet of these hounds tpok place on Saturday last at St. Ann’s Bridge, although the previous night was a very wet one, the turn out was large. Crossing the country proved to be very sloppy and wet. Amongst those present we noticed the following : —Miss Dunnet on Rodger, Miss Percival on Prestissimo, Miss Taylor on Premier, Miss Yonge on a grey, Miss Buckland, the Master, Mr. Percival on Jim, Col. Dawson on his bay horse, Col. Carrie on a Hippocampus colt, Mr. Dunnet, sen., on Bob, Mr. Dunnet, jun., on Hurricane, Mr. T. Craig on Begorrah, Mr. Hanna on a dark bay cob, Mr. Arthur Yonge on Fly, Mr. T. McLaughlan on Cardinal, Mr. D. B. Tonks on Odd Trick, Master Cyril Yonge on Jerry, Mr. A. Bell on a well-bred bay, Mr. Hen wood on Muscatelle, Mr. J. Wallace on Relation, Mr. Kelly on Playboy, Mr. Gilmore on Tomato, Mr. Garrett on Guadalquiver, Mr. Shera on Bradlaugh, Mr. Wynyard on a dark bay, Mr. John Rae on The Colonel. Sharp to 12 o’clock the Master opened the business of the day by drawing the large hill, formerly the property of the Stud Co., but now in the hands of Mr. A. Austin, through whose kindness the Club had permission to hunt over the estate of the late Stud Co'. Shortly after the start a strong hare was found, which made a straight line over the hill into Mr. Bailey’s property, where the hounds could not be allowed to go, owing to his having some very valuable sheep stocked on his property. The opportunity of giving puss a good rouse up had to be lost, but we hope on some future occasion to find the same stout hare in such a position that we can give him a straight run. The order of procedure now was through the estate on to the road leading from Otahuhu to Panmure. Here the Huntsman led the way overy a stone wall into that part of the property where formerly fhe fillies used to play. Preceding on to the large volcanic hill a super-abundance of hares were the resultthree springing up, each taking a line of their own. The hope of the field was that one of them at least would head for Panmure, and thus give a chance for a run across that fine level stretch of country. In this they were unfortunately disappointed, as the hounds first picked up the line of a hare which made for the Tamaki river. The scent proved cold, and was very difficult to run. After some slow work the hounds eventually worked the hare right across the creek into Mr. Hutton’s orchard, where she was lost. While the Huntsman hunted all over the slow lands some of the high-flyers had a chance to try their nags over

the big fences on the estate. Prominent-’ - amongst these we noticed Mr. John Rae on - The Colonial, Mr. J. W. Wallace on Relation,) Mr. Kelly on Playboy, Mr. D. B. Tonks on Odd Trick, Mr. Hen wood on Maritana, Mr. Arthur Yonge on Fly, Mr. Carey on Ma Petite Fille, Mr. Paul on a bay. These gentlemen and some others gave an exhibition of high jumping which for style would be hard to beat. Finallv a hare was found which took a line over the top of the hill through Mr. Stewart’s property, and then on to the scoria mountain (the Otahuhu Reserve). After a good run in which the hounds showed some good work, the hare made her escape by taking to the swamp. After this as the evening was advancing the Master started a drag. This was laid from the Onehunga Road round Mount Smart, and right through to the Harp of Erin. The jumps were all stone walls, twenty-four innumber. A bjg field was able to follow the whole way. Most of the members went the whole run, and were thoroughly satisfied with their day’s enjoyment. Anyone who takes an interest in horses and horse •flesh must note what a great improvement there is in the class of horses now frequenting the hunt. Certainly it must give a great impetus to the brooding of a class of horse suitable for this kind of work.