THE HUNT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1020, 13 August 1883, Page 2

THE HUNT.

On Saturday the hounds met at Mr Millar’s, Winchmore road, Mr Stitt having prevailed upon the management to attempt h *ro hunting in place of the drag. The utter failure of the experiment was freely and generally prognosticated, but the sequel was a success quite uaparallelled in the history of the hunt, and which has served to restore it to something like vitality. The weather was superb, the country even better, the attendance numerous and select, and Messrs Millar, Stitt and Hunt, and with one anothei in their efforts to make the day thoroughly enjoyed by all. The two latter gentlemen, well mounted, and with an intimate knowledge of the country constituted themselves pilots «f the field, and right well they discharged the duties involved, pointing out weak places for others, which they carefully eschewed themselves, and leading whenever anything particularly awkward intervened. The hounds, as might have been expected, were a little riotous at casting off, but having satisfied themselves that there was no drag down, they hit bn a hare near Mr Millar’* homestead, which turned its head for the Winchmore road, doubled in a small paddock and was lost. Another was soon afoot and pointed straight for a fence which had been pronounced impregnable and cautions circulated as to its character. However, puss found an opening, and the hounds followed, leaving twelve feet of thick gorse between them and the field; One moment’s hesitation and the game little Pirate and Mr Hart charged through and over it, the breach closing relentlessly behind them. The huntsman went through with a crash, and Mr Stitt made a magnificent, jump in another place, neither leaving anything to help their lollowers who now drove at it together, a dozen good men reporting themselves on the right side. After a little loose hunting in the tussock' the hare ran back towards the homestead, the hounds turning cleverly and pushing her at a good pace on to Winchmore, where puss took to the river-bed. But the hounds would give her no rest, hunting patiently over the rough country down to Mr Millar's. Here puss again took to the enclosures, trying once more to reach the tussock country, but the pack viewing she abandoned the attempt and slipped to the river, the hounds several times in view, and having the hare fairly beaten. On the stones the scent was very bad, and the heavy cover deprived the hounds of a well deserved kill. At this stage Messrs Stitt and Hart invited all present to partake of Winchmore hospitality, and 70 or 80 followers and spectators invaded the old fashioned homestead, but their mighty efforts to exhaust the goodjhings provided, were signally defeated. The least suspicion of a smoke on the lawn, and the vanquished ones returned to the saddle and tried for a hare on the Winchmore estate, but the hounds being very fast they failed to work out anything before the order was given for homo, all appearing very reluctant to terminate a day which was unanimously pronounced the feature of the season.

Amongst those who were prominent throughout we noticed Hart, Stitt, Cargill, Hutchison, Hunt (2), Wroughton, Graham, Thompson, Corbett, Millar, and a lad on a brown horse, and late in the day we were particularly pleased to see Dr Ross again in the saddle, Mr Stitt with characteristic good nature having insisted upon dismounting in his favor. The genial doctor went as straight as usual, and the great brown appeared to thoroughly enjoy his fourteen stone. Several others, including Messrs Brett, Fooks, and Wilkin joined the field after the adjournment, and a large body of spectators stuck to the roads throughout. Mr J Smith handled his hounds patiently and well at their new business, and rode that nice little mare Butterfly like a genuine artist. There was a great deal of jumping, and much of it stiff enough, but we only noticed two falls, with the inevitable result—no damage.