POVERTY BAY HUNT CLUB

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 940, 13 July 1903, Page 4

POVERTY BAY HUNT CLUB

A general meeting o£ the Poverty Bay Hunt Club was held in the Masonie Hotel on Saturday, there being present: Messrs T. Holden (in the chair), Gouldsmith, D. Macfarlane, E. O’Reilly, H. DeCosta, R. Sher x;.tt, J. A. Caesar, C. Wlute, J. C. McLean, F. Rhodes, A. Zachariah 'and J. Gumming (secretary). The Chairman said the object ol the meeting was to' see whether hunting should be continued, as the interest in the .Club was lacking this year. Mr White said the question was .whether the hounds were to be kept with the; view ol continuing the sport next year. This year tnere had been a split in the camp as to whethcr there should be drag-hunting or hunting after hares ; they, had had only four courses to run over this year, and more were wanted. He, did not think hare-hunting would ever be the sole form of the sport adopted, as at Wairakaia it was almost impossible to hunt hares. Owing to the uncertainty at the start of the season, the Gisborne Racing Club had not any event for qualified hunters,. and the consequence was that they had received no donations from the Club, as in past years. It was for members to say whether they could take charge of the hounds among themselves. He would like to see the Club put on proper grounds next year, and urged that members should display more enthusiasm in hunting. Mr Caesar held that the hunting should be continued. He thought that three couples of the best hounds should be kept, and they could increase them next year, if required. Mr Gouldsmith considered that Mr Caesar’s suggestion was a good one, and said he was willing to look after after a couple of hounds. He thought four couples should be kept. Mr White stated a down-coast resident had asked for some of the dogs if the Club were going to do away with them. He understood Mr Gaddum intended to make up a pack for hunting in Wairoa. Mr Caesar proposed, and Mr blierratt seconded, that a committee comprising Messrs White, Rhodes, and the huntsman be set up to select the hounds, and the remainder to be given to Mr Gaddum, on the condition that he give the Club some of the progeny if required. Mr White said that he was against selling any of the hounds, in the interests of the farmers. Maoris might buy them, and he considered a foxhound strain in native dogs would be troublesome. Mr-DeCosta considered that in the past the Club had been kept alive for the benefit of outsiders, and he thought the suggestion of, reviving hunting in a proper, spirit next year a good one.. Messrs Gouldsmith, O’Reilly, 0. White, and Holden, each consented to look ’after' a couple of hounds. It was decided to write to the Racing Club re a donation. The Secretary stated that the Club’s liabilities amounted to £4O •16s, and the subscriptions of the incoming year totalled £55 14s. It was decided to continue paying the registration fee of the Club, and to hold another general meeting on Saturday, August Ist.