THE PAKURANGA HARRIERS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 265, 22 August 1895, Page 8

THE PAKURANGA HARRIERS.

On Saturday la-t the card said, “ The hounds meet at Sylvia Park ” There is a lot conveyed in that short sentence. Huntsmen know that while the country is of the best, the fences are of the b ; ggest, and that to he with the hounds they must be ready to put into practice two of the maxims of the great Assheton Smith : — “ Throw your heart over and your horse is sure to follow ; ” and “ There is no place you can’t get over with a fall.” However, all nature looked charming and gay, and after we had partaken of some refreshment at the invitation of Mr Bullock-Webster, the late popular master of- the Waikato hounds, a movement was made for the swamp in the vicinity of the stables of Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co. Here Selby cast his hounds, and in a very few minutes “ Gone Away” resounded from the field, and the music of the pack confirmed the informatio» given by those who had viewed the hare as she left her cover and crossed the road in the direction of Bailey’s Hill. Her course was an unfortunate one, as all who know the almost impenetrable thicket of gorse and scrub adjoining the plantation on the hill are aware of the difficulty of getting a hare away once she seeks cover there. And it was to this thicket the hounds led us. After they had cleverly dislodged puss several times and she had returned to her dense hiding place, it was decided to draw the swamp again, in (he hope that better luck would follow. We were not to be disappointed. The hounds had not been working many minutes before firstone then another threw his tongue and then a chorus of inspiriting music told us they had again found; and this time their quarry took the right direction. Away she raced right merrily, with the pack in full cry, in the direction of the mountain on the old Sylvia Park Estate, and the sight was a pretty one indeed. Finer grass pastures could not be wished for, and the fences in this line are of the stiffest. It was a picture to see the seven or eight ladies who followed taking the four-railed fences with all the dash and nerve imaginable. Auckland is, however, noted for the straight riding of her huntswomen. To the top of the hill puss led us, and then struck her course in the direction of the water on the other side. Here she doubled and led us over stone-walls and timber with bounds in full chorus to the top of the mountain once more. Again she manoeuvred and doubled, and on we sped at a rattling rate towards the water, and over almost the same line of country w r e had previously crossed. On reaching the water’s edge the pack made a wide detour, and we found ourselves travelling at steeplechase pace in the direction of the swamp again, where the hounds ran into their quarry and killed. So ended the sharpest and one of the stiffest runs of the season. The run was practically without check, and man and beast were glad of a respite before our huntsman made another cast. Again the swamp was drawn, and after feathering for a few minutes hounds gave tongue and were soon, with ringing melody, chasing after what proved to be the strongest hare of the day. First they swung towards the road, and then they took us at a merry pace to the top of the mountain again, where a big post and rail in an awkward position turned many a good fencer. A circuit of the mountain was made and then “ puss ” raced in the direction of the water. Here the pack checked slightly but were soon travelling as fast or perhaps faster than one could wish over stone wall and timber in a direction to the right of where we had found. Having reached the outskirts of the Sylvia Park property she doubled and took us back to the mountain where again she changed her tactics and ran back to the swamp. Now the pack were at fault for a few minutes. They were working too well, however, to give their quarry a chance of escape, and a burst of melody told us +hat “ puss ” would have to seek refuge elsewhere. A new manoeuvre was necessary to get rid of her indefatigable pursuers and this time she struck across country over hedges and ditches, stonewalls and timber in the direction of Panmure. Without check we ran until we reached the lagoon. Here “ puss ” was viewed travelling smartly down a newly grassed paddock on the edge of the lagobn and she subsequently crossed the road in the direction of home. Straight back to where she was found she led us with the hounds keen on the scent. On reaching the swamp again the hounds were once more at fault. In a short time, however, they dislodged “ puss ” who again set out towards Panmure, with Selby and his charges in hot pursuit, and I learnt subsequently that they killed. The hour was now late, and most of us made a move towards home more than satisfied with the great day we had had. There were a number of falls which was to be -expected from the nature of the country. Had the immortal .Jorrocks been present he would have withdrawn his opinion that “ Puss-’untin’ was werry well for cripples.” First Flighter.