THE PAKURANGA HARRIERS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 266, 29 August 1895, Page 5

THE PAKURANGA HARRIERS.

Noon on Saturday last saw Selby and his pack at Mt. Albert. The proximity of the meet to town attracted a very large attendance, both of those who “ ride to hounds ” and “ Macadamites.” The day was, however, not altogether a satisfactory one. The sun was warm and the wind high, and the scent did not appear to hold, and there was consequently a good deal of pottering. The hounds were thrown off in a large field of stunted ti-tree, and in a few minutes gave tongue. The hare crossed the road and ran in the direction of the mountain, on the slope of which she doubled and ran back to her cover again. Here the pack seemed to have considerable difficulty in discovering her whereabouts. They were working, however, in fine style, and were at last rewarded for their diligence, for they winded their quarry and were soon speaking to the scent with no uncertain sound. Away “puss” raced with the fleetness of the wind, her long ears laid well on her back. Swinging first to the left and skirting a cottage and farm yard the pack then swung sharply to the right and crossed the road. Over big stone walls and up the mountain side in full cry we merrily, sped. On'descending on the other side the hounds had checked and were at fault. Selby made several casts round the mountain, but without effect. The hare had evidently run down the road and being a bad scenting day the hounds were unable to wind her on such delicate holding ground. The ti-tree cover was once more tried, and after pottering for a short time away the pack travelled in a long line through the stunted growth, making the welkin ring with a volume of melodious sound. “ A cry more tuneable Was never holloa’d to nor cheered by horn I ”

After persevering through the ti-tree for some three-quarters of a mile “ puss ” doubled and running back crossed the road and descended into the stony flats in the direction of Mount Eden. Here the field had a good opportunity of testing the fencing capabilities of their mounts as numerous formidable stone walls had to be negotiated. After the bounds had dislodged their quarry from some gorse cover in which she had sought refuge “puss ” again took her course for home, and in crossing a wall was seen when at the top, with ears alert, leisurely looking back and taking stock of her pursuers. Backwards and forwards across the road from one cover to the other she dodged, and when after our hunstman had worked his pack in the ti-tree most persistently on the scent of “ puss ” and the wellknown cheer announced a kill, it was discovered that only a poor bunny who had crossed the line had met his fate. In order to satisfy some of the hard riders and late arrivals who seemed to consider the day not sufficiently exciting the drag hounds were now brought out and a stiff drag brought the day’s sport to an end. . First Flighter.