PAPAKURA BOAR HUNT.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 54, 15 August 1844, Page 3

PAPAKURA BOAR HUNT.

The settlers in the neighbourhood of Papakura, occasionally «Mijoy the pleasure as well as the profit of a Boar hunt, there being a great number of wild pigs in the Forest near the farms of Mr. Rich and others. A few days ago a party, of three young men, with their dogs, set ont for an afternoous sport. A double barrelled gun, a bayonet on the end of a pole and a couple of knives, were their weapons of attack as well as defence. They had not been above a quarter of an hour in t»e bush when an old sow with some half grown pigs were started, One of the dogs seized a pig which set up a loud squeaking that brought the mother with bristles erect to the rescue. But instead of rushihg at the dogs that was committing the assault on young porka, she bolted towards Tom M. who was coming along with his bayouet pole oyer his shoulder. Seeing the fierce brute close upon him, he had barely time to bring his weapon to the charge when it was pushed out of his hand, and his precious carcase capsized over a log, and had not the dogs come to his assistance at the moment, poor Tom would most probably have fallen a victim to the rage of the furious grunter. However ' Watch" and " Fan" got her by the ears, and young R. having"turned her over, finished the business by the application of one of the knives to the animals throat. This was rather a poor prize, although a welcome meal for the dogs. Young porka, being in better order, was hung up in a tree until the party should return. Pushing around, they arrived at a place less entangled with vines than that part of the wood which they had travelled through, and evident marks of fresh rooted fern, indicated game at hand. The dogs set off by the bank of a small stream and soon started a pair of fine old boars, which instead of making off, faced about and seemed prepared for mischief. M. remembering what had previously hap. pened, grasped his bayonet pole firmly and retired behind a tree, while R. cocked his gun, and stood ready to let fly the contents. In the meantime the largest of the two being tired of the position he was in, turned out on the offensive, and afterwards made a run tor his life. R. then levelled at the other, and put a bullet in his shoulder, which caused him to struggle, and gave the dogs an opportunity of fastening, after which R. settled him with a second bullet through his head. During this time Mr. B. had followed the other, who made a running fight for above half a mile, but was at last brought to a stand, while M, came up with his bayonet and took revenge for the trouble which the old sow had given him, and thereby added a fourth to the list of the killed and wounded. Having now as much as could be carried home, they retraced their steps with the intention of going out next day, which they accordingly did, and had excellent sport, but I must give you the particulars at another opportunity. Z.