Feilding Drag Hounds

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 131, 11 May 1889, Page 2

Feilding Drag Hounds

The season with the above hounds opened last Wednesday, the meet being at Potatau Farm, where everyone was most hospitably entertained by that genial and popular sportsman, Mr John Saxon. It would be hard indeed to tell my readers everyone who was there, as it was one of the largest meets I have seen in New Zealand ; but I will endeavor to give the names of a few of the first flight ladies and gentlemen : — Mrs D. G. Biddiford on Spartan, Miss M. Willis on her well known chestnut, Messrs Edwards, Lovejoy, Levett, Biddiford, Gorton, Cox, Sanderson, Lane, French, Kidd, Humphries, Stewart, Fetch, Ward, Do.tora-Charlton and Johnston, Boake (the huntsman), &c, &c, numbering in all, including.ladies and gentlemen in carriages and on foot, about 150. In the absence of our Master, Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, who, I was sorry to bear, was unavoidably called away at the last moment, Mr Lovejoy, the DeputyMaster, officiated, and carried out his onerous duties to the satisfaction of all. At a few minutes past 1 Boake put in an appearance with the hounds which, by the by, were looking remarkably fit and able to go, as the members of the Club found out before they had gone far. After carefully attending to the inner man, Messrs Colernan and Horsford started with the drag, having half an hour's start. Leaving the lawn in front of the house, they took ua over a nice piece of country, pointing towards Mr J. G. Wilson's property. The first fence — a gorse one — was a teaser to the majority of the field, only about six getting over. Then on leaving Mr Gore's house on the right they doubled back, leaving Mr Saxon's house" on the left, crossing the road into Mr Goodin'a property, then over the road again into one of Mr Henson's paddocks, where a most welcome check occurred, as the going up to here had been very warm indeed. After ten minutes law the hounds were laid on again, and swinging away at utmost speed over Mr Henson's property, direct to Mr Hall's late farm. Here the drag took a circle down in the valley, skirting Amesbury's bush and finishing up again near the road, the whole distance being about 5 miles and a half. Thus ended one of the most enjoyable day's hunting I have had in the North Island. Hoping the new Club will meet with every success and prosperity, I must quote in conclusion one of Egerton Warburton's

verses : —

Here's a health to all hunters of every

degree, Whether clippers or craners or hill top abiders ;

And the man who hates hunting he won't do for nic, And ought to be pumped on by gentlemen riders.

On and Off,