A DEER HUNT IN THE DOMAIN.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 22, 25 June 1874, Page 2

A DEER HUNT IN THE DOMAIN.

The Domain Board having expressed a wish that the deer so long occupants of the large enclosure should be removed, to permit of that portion of the gardens being laid out and planted, measures were taken some short time since to capture these animals by erecting wire races, surmounted with wood, in an angle of the euclosure. One or two attempts were then made to capture the deer, the result, however, being unsatisfactory, as only one of the animals was driven in, and it succeeded in breaking its neck. It was decided to defer the next attempt until the assistance of a lassoer could be obtained ; but the only person in the province known to excel in that art was a native of South America, who is an invalid at the hospital. Some few days ago it was represented to the curator of the acclimatisation grounds that a man called Antonius, also a native 9f South America, and in the employ of Mr Nicholson, of Woodend, was an expert at using the lasso, and yesterday was the day appointed for catching the_j deer. About two o’clock, over fifty persona collected in the Domain, consisting of some of the members of the Council of the society, a number of other gentlemen, the college boys, and the laborers employed in the garden. The lassooer, who stationed him- , self at one side of the fence, while the deer were encircled and driven past him, made throw after throw of the line, without, however, arresting the speed of a single animal. He changed his his position several times, but always with like unsuccess; some of the onlookers contending that the man was used to throwing from off horseback, while others strongly asserted that his evident unsteadiness was to be attributed to another cause. An hour having been wasted in these unsuccessful attempts, a determination was come to, to take advantage of the number of willing assistants present, to run the deer down. And now commenced a deer hunt in earnest, in which the college boys joined most heartily. The scene at this moment was most exciting, the boys and men running and excitedly shouting, while the terrified animals were indulging in terrific leaps, in some instances jumping clean over their pursuers’ heads, only to be again driven into the centre by those who were stationed along the fence. The boys made the first capture, and the old buck and two young ones were driven into the smaller enclosures by another contingent. The old buck when caged attacked the younger animals in a furious manner, indicting a severe wound on the side of one of the does. After making frantic efforts he broke the wire netting of the enclosure, and when trying to force his way through the outward fence his head and antlers got fastened in the wire. Some of the men ran up but before they could extricate him he had strangled himself. The legs of the deer caught by the boys were tied by the youth American, after which he carried it to the fence and coolly

dropped it over ; the fall, added 1o its exhausted state, killing it. A second one was now captured by the College boys, ils legs being also tied, when it was conveyed to the Curator’s house, but died when reaching there, no doubt from exhaustion and fright. A fourth one was pursued until completely prostrated, when it fell down and died immediately, and a fifth jumped the fence and escaped. Darkness now closed in. and the one deer remaining in the enclosure received a respite. The eight doer with which the “ hunt ” started are thus accounted for :—Four killed, two captured (one of these badly wounded and not likely to live), one escaped, and one remaining in the enclosure. The first four when found to be hopelessly gone were bled for venison. To put it mildly, it is to be regretted that so good an afternoon’s sport should have been had at such a sacrifice.