Hunt Club Dinner

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 25, 14 August 1890, Page 2

Hunt Club Dinner

Last night the members of the Feilding Hunt Club entertained at dinner, at Mrs Hastie's Hotel, the farmers over whose land the Club had hunted, and among other guests were Mr Coutts Crawford, of Wellington, and Mr Lethbridge, the Mayor of Feilding. Mr John Saxon presided, and the vice-chair was filled by Mr Lance, the popular Master of the Hounds. After ample justice had been done to the very excellent repast provided by the hostess, Mrs Hastie, the Chairman proposed the health of " The Queen," which was drunk with the usual honors. Mr Lovejoy sang " Gold among the Mountains" in his usual happy manner, and was accompanied on the piano by Mr Ironmonger, who was good enough to play most of the accompaniments required during the evening. Mr Clissold then proposed the health of "The Farmers" in a neat speech, during which he expressed the gratitude felt by the members of the Hunt Club for the good feeliug which had been exhibited in nearly every case where land had been ridden over and fences smashed. After the toast had been drunk Mr Roake sang " The Hounds of the Meynell " very feelingly. Mr Saxon then responded for the farmers, and fairly brought down the house when he concluded his speech by saying in the words of the old English farmers : " Dang it, with oats at eighteen pence a bushel — ride where you like." Mr Lethbridge proposed the toast of the Feilding Hunt Club, and made complimentary reference to the substantial progress the Club had made since its inception. Mr Ironmonger sang an amusing song entitled "Mr Brown upside Down," after which Mr Lance responded. He pointed out the good the Club must ultimately effect by improving the breed of horses. He also said he would see that next year the Club would have a fence fund, so that all damages to fences would be repaired at the cost of the Club, and not as had been too often the case, let the mending be done by the farmers themselves. At the conclusion of his speech Mr Lance was called on for a song, and in response sang "The good young man that died " with great feeling. Mr Macmillan. of Awahuri, proposed the toast of the visitors, coupled with the name of Mr Coutts Crawford, of Wellington and in doing so also made reference to the beneficial results which must ensue from the encouragement the existence of the Club would give to horsebreeding. Now, he said, some twelve stone men were riding eight stone hacks, which were not worth their grazing, but in a few years they would breed, each man, his own hunter. Mr Lovejoy sang " When the winds are Blowing " most felicitously. Mr Crawford, in replying to the toast, gave a humorous account of the railway trip from Wellington — its delays, its dangers and its difficulties, and the delight he felt when he was met at the Feilding Railway Station by Dr Charlton and his man Friday. He referred in feeling terms to the good impression made upon the Wellington people by the kindness of the Feilding Hunt Club in sending down their pack of hounds ; also some men to hunt them. He was sure that in the end the "Wellington farmers would become reconciled to the hunt. At present they called the pack " dogs," but in course of time they would get over that. (Laughter and applause.) The damage to fencing or crqps was not done by the straight riders, but the people who came behind them who had only scrubbers of horses, and if they had good horses they could not ride them. Of course it was right they should learn to ride, but that was not the proper place. At his farm at Mirimar he had put up a course 4^ miles long, and although he made the jumps stiff, they were no bigger than a good hunter could easily get over. He apologised for the absence of Mr Lingard, the Secretary of the Wellington Hunt Club, who was prevented being present by his business engagements. Mr Crawford concluded his speech amid loud applausa. Mr Ironmonger sang " The Tory " very well. Mr Lance proposed the health of Mr E. Goodbehere, the Secretary, and attributed moat of the present success of the Club to his energy and diligence, a statement that was heartily endorsed by every person in the room. The toast was accepted with enthusiasm. Mr McDonald sang a hunting song, and Mr Goodbehere then responded to the toast of his health in a few feeling and appropriate remarks. Mr Harley followed with " We'll all go a hunting today." The health of the Huntsman was proposed by Mr Benson, and enthusiastically responded to. Mr Clissold sang " There was a young Lancer lay dying," and Mr Eoake responded in his usual happy style. The following toasts were then disposed of : — " The Ladies," " Mr Lovejoy," " Mr Saxon," " The Hostess," "The Master of the Hounds," "The Press," " Mr Lethbridge," " The Rangitikei Hunt Club." A lot of good songs were sung, and the fun was kept up till an early hour this morning, every body of the sixty guests having had a good time. ____^________