CANTERBURY HUNT CLUB.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 960, 24 July 1877, Page 3

CANTERBURY HUNT CLUB.

Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather of Saturday there was a large attendance at that day’s" meeting at Cowlishaw’s corner, both of spectators on the Sandhills and those in the field. Among the former were about a dozen ladies on horseback, and a number were also present in carriages. Had the afternoon been fine there is no doubt but that the attendance would have been greater than at any previous meet. The hounds threw off in Mr Brittan’s grass paddock opposite Mr Palairet’s house, and went away at a clinking pace towards Linwood, through the stockyard, and over some grass paddocks in the direction of Mr Stace’s. Thence they went in a circle, which again brought them close to the spectators on the Sandhills. From here tire line was straight in the direction of the City Council reserve over pretty stiff country. Thence over the properties of Messrs Green and others, leading to McGregor’s, where a check took place, which was acceptable to both horses and hounds, as the travelling had been excessively heavy. Out of a field of about fifty horsemen, only about half a dozen were in the first flight when the check was made. After a short, interval, the hounds were laid on the line leading over Messrs McGregor, Money, Brittau, Palmer’s, and other properties, many of the fences being stiff post and rail, and these, with the double in and out of the reserve, proved an effectual check to a good many. On Mr Palmer’s property an ugly water jump was successfully negotiated by those in the lead. From here the line led over a bit of good jumping back to the spectators, where the dogs ran in. Among those at the death were the master (Mr F. Brittau), Messrs Barker, Jones, Lunn, O. Thomson, J. Anderson, jun., and Egan. The run could not have been less than seven miles, over fair hunting country, portions of •which were exceedingly heavy going, owing to the wet weather. The spectators (many of whom had evidently not seen the hounds at work before) seemed greatly pleased at the way they went, and also at the plucky riding of many in the field. Towards the latter portion "of the run a good many saddles were emptied, but when the condition of the horses and the state of the ground are remembered, fchis circumstance is not to be wondered at.

After the party partook of Mr Brittan’s hospitality, the hounds trotted to where a have had been seen in the morning. After a cast or two the dogs were successful in picking up pussy’s whereabouts, but. lost her after running" about a mile. Yallance, the huntsman, after one or two unsuccessful casts, picked her up in some high gorse close to Mr Stace’s house, the lot going away at a stunning pace in the direction of the Sandhills, and close to the bulk of the spectators. Away went pussy through Linwood garden, the Avonside Cemetery, u number of small paddocks in the vicinity, breaking into the open at Cowlisliaw’s corner. Thence across Messrs Brittan’s and Money’s farms, in the direction of New Brighton, where the first kill in Canterbury by the hounds was recorded. The distance of this run could not have been less than five miles, and it was gratifying to see how the dogs stuck to their work, quickly and cleverly picking out the scent during various checks. Yallance also deserves great credit for the manner in which ho worked the dogs. In fact, considering how seldom they have limited a hare, it was remarked they worked as well as many packs of harriers in the old country. Darkness having set in, and as riders and horses (even those stable fed looked as if they had had enough, a return was made for home, those who remained to the last being excessively pleased that they had done so. Altogether, the day’s sport was most enjoyable, and was the best run the Canterbury hounds have yet had.