MR. W. J. BARRY AT RUNINGONG.

Dunstan Times, Issue 535, 19 July 1872, Page 3

MR. W. J. BARRY AT RUNINGONG.

We clip from the Buuingong Telegraph account of kangaroo hunt, feeling convinced it will b® of interest to many of our readers, from the fact of an old ocquaihtauce, Mr, W. J. Barry, being of the party, Throughout the report, which we reprint verbatim, the name of Berry is used ; but, from private information we have received, we are sure of our identity, v At a dinner given in the evening by the members of the bunt to the master of the hounds; after the cloth had been removed, Mr. Barry enlivened the hearts-of the company with that plaintive melody, ■“ My Hear Maid,” doubtless well remembered-by many of his Otago ft lends, subsequently giving a verse of that /serio-comic gem, “ Axe my Eye.” At a later stage of the evening the toast “The. Guest of the Evening, Mr. Barry,” was drank, and in responding that gentleman .said he had been fortyfour years in the 1 colonies; had been in business both in New South Wales and New Zealand, and was now worth 6,000/. a year. “ On Friday last a start was made from S e'hck's Crown hotel, between nine and ten in the morning, the weather looking anything but line.; however it turned out a beautiful day; the late raids making the country alt that tits heart of a sportsman could desire. Trotting along a gentleman remarked to me, “ Yes, sir,” we shall have a good run, the scent will be breast high, and sure enough*it did. But I-must Jcast back. The number of horsemen iuerjased to about ,a score by the time we reached Charlton’s hotel. Taking a lunar at men and horses, I saw the Master on as fine a specimen of cross country horse any could wish for. Mr. Burrough’s jelly. face and hearty laugh the picture of a eportsmafi, he rode a fine upstanding dark iron grey, a real good ’ un to look at, and every inch a jumper ; my opinion of him was correct. During the huntl saw Mr. B. stake him at a six-footer log fence, and over like a deer. An exclamation ef " Well done 1” came from me, as I saw Mr.'. Sellick' on Harkaway shot after him like a rocket. I didn’t follow. But this won’t do, I’m off the scent again, Mr. Hedrick was on Larrikin, as happy as another Larrikin ; Mr, Bishop on Bluey ; Air, Kelsall on Andy Andy ; Mr Kelsall jun,, on .Saturn ; Mr. Rawling’s from Sraythesdale, on Ranger ; Mr, Berry, from New Zealand, only three days arrived, on Mr. - B’s Alfred Colt, and very badly the obit behaved. Mr. Berry rode him with honest pluck and judgment; Mr. H, Watson, on Polly, who went well and straight,'but if be doesn’t want to do 'mischief with her, I would advise him to ride with a large ticket on his back marked my.mare kicks;” Mr. Prater on Milky White ; Mr. Potter on Patchwork ; Mr. A. Taylor on & plucky black horse : Mr. Maisey on Over at Last ;Mr. Bracher on Jimmy. I’d advise Mr. B. to go out oftener with the hounds, aud not to be afraid of letting Jimmy “ spin.” I would advise some of the gentlemen to read a leader in this week’s uetralaeian about reckless jumping when not hunting. That’s a stupid ugly jump—the Durham creek—and nearly cost Mr. Berry his life and the colt a dive in ten feet of water and being a stranger it wasnit fair to lead him. A letter had been sent to Mr. M’Kay informing him we were coming down and to be kind enough according to his own promise, to have his sheep out of the hounds way, much disappointment was felt when, on meeting with Mr McKay we feud he’d only received the letter that day, the consequence was wo didn't uncouple until we had crossed Williamson’s Greek. In pur next issue I will relate a laughable incident that occurred ou uncoupling but, my space ia getting short. Scarcely were the hounds set to work than away all went (baring two), and in two minutes wo were checked After casting about for near half an hour, that true mouthd'n—Bonny Lass—gave tongue, close to Cargsria. We started ever a stiff Jog fence. All over. Yes. -’No. At it. Berry. ‘ ‘ Whoop. ” Well done, if ever this a King Alfred I ho--says B, The long tai.’n kept as if straight for Oargarie, and, Oh! such a pace if it wasn't a cracker for the first three miles, it’s a caution. The ' long taild’n turned sharp from Cargarie over a large brush fence the best horses jumped it others got through as they could. Going out the other side of the paddock I saw Jimmy’s rider hanging ou to the horses ears still the music is loud and strong down a blind creek as I breasted the hill, I hoard a cooey and looking back I saw my friend Berry and the Alfred colt'iu a most laughable situation the colt was on his rump in the creek aud Berry blowing beside him. ‘1 say Soda,’ what shall Ido with this brute Oh get him up, coma on.’ ‘lt’s all very well to say get him up’—but he did—quick was the word for we had nearly lost the beauties. Slash for Williamson’s down the field jo; ‘ah’ and there we buckle up., Howto jet, over the creek, which was running like a river. The hounds are over and . the long’ un in sight, but tlis field’s behind. Over at lost but nothing but the music to follow, The hounds musihave divided at McKay’s big fence. It was hare Messrs Burroughs andSellech made that fine jump, some got over farther down the fence. Unfortunately the master found the hounds on the mutton track, and after swearing roundly whipped them off in disgust and coupled the young ones up. This was 1 believe the fastest run before the divide we. have had with Mr Rowlands’ beauties. I forgot to mention that while the hounds' were being uncoupled Mr. Bishop tailed all present around bin and invited them on Mr, Selleck’s account, to a spread at the Crown hotel; at the same time he stated that a purse of 50 soverigns would be presented to Mr. Rowlands as a slight token of the club’s esteem. SODA AND A DASH.