GREAT KANGAROO HUNT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 211, 6 September 1877, Page 4

GREAT KANGAROO HUNT.

The Inverell cerreapoodent of the S. , A M., Herald writes: — " Mr Mechie, - the proprietor of tho Grournaws run, having by invitation and advertisement aqked the neighbors to assist at a kangaroo drive on his land, many gentle- ; men from Inverell and district, jaud a good sprinkling of the fair sex r availed themselves of so gopd an ppportunity for sport. Aboojt 200 persons in all turned put and pn arriving at the scone of action, which lies abcut 35 miles from Inverell, and 15 from Warialda, twenty captains were elected to direct the chase. A large stockyard had previously been get ready, ajjeut Bft in hbight, having a wing on either side, extending about two miles. At nine o'clook in the morning the captains took the command of their respective Bcjuadroos, and formed a cordon of about saven miles, the horsemen being about fifty yards apart. The whole line then closed slowly uppn the wings, driving the marsupials before them. At starting, the latter were observed in . ftps and threes; but after a drive ef two hours 3000 of them were got together. All went well until the party \ had got within a mile of the stockyard, : when, frem some misunderstanding, or frojn want pf knowledge pf the ceuntry,/j some pf the horsemen made top sudden a rush uppn their prey. The result was that the kangaroos made a desperate attempt to regain their liberty, jumping over the horses' backs and under, their legs, All attempts tc stem : the mad torrent were in vain, and only abput 250 were secured. Once safely. secured within the stockyard the slaughter began. Each horseman dismounted, and having armed himself with a cudgel, laid about him right and left among the marsupials. During the massacre it was noticed that many pf the kangaroos showed a determined resistance, in some instances treating their opponents te a good hugging. Np serieus accident pecurred, the only, damage beiog dene to the clothes pf the sportsmen. Mr Grainger, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, Inverell, was in the act pf despatching one kangaroo, when another sprang upon his back and struck his claws into Mr Grainger's clothes and back. Beyond getting his clothes ripped however, Mr Grainger sustained little or no injury. I believe he afterwards expressed,himself as under the impression that one o£ his fellow-horsemen had mounted his back by -mistake; an'd applied the spurs. During the drive, Mr. William Munro, of Keern, had his lip split by an "old man." Mr G. BT. Gordon, of Gragin, was attacked and almost dismounted by another " old man." Mr Gprden, however, clung to one side of the saddle, while the kangaroo clung tenaciously to the other side. This unpleasant state of affairs continued until the horse had gone some distance, when tbe kangaroo fell off, and Mr Gordon regained bis seat. Many of the kangaroos backed up against trees during tbe drive, and showed fight. During the slaughter in the stockyard one red '• old man," about six feet high was observed to clear the fence — a jump of eight feet — and escape. Several spills occurred during the drive, but no serious accident resulted. On the second duy a drive took place, when about 600 marsupials were yarded, after whieh about 100 of the gentlemen returned to their homes. On the third day about 900 were secured, and on the fourth day about 700. On tho evening of the fourth day (Friday) tbe proceedings were pleasantly terminated by a supper provided by the ho-i. All concerned were well satisfied with the result of the drive.