WHAT IS HUNTING?

Patea Mail, 5 July 1881, Page 3

WHAT IS HUNTING ?

Siß, —You invite correspondents “to discuss matters of public interest with fairness and brevity,” but it seems to me that the liberty thus afforded is often abused by anonymous writers. “ Sportsman ” is evidently of this ilk. He has made a most cowardly stab in the dark, in this morning’s issue of your paper, at the master of the Wanganui hounds. To say that “he cooly tried his pack on a poor harmless cow and then on a stray dog,” is distorting fact, though it must be admitted that some of the hounds did break away. A newspaper is not the medium to vent his spleen against the Wanganui Hunt Club, the members of which know well how to appreciate such sportsmen (save the mark) as he. To conclude, let me ask “Sportsman” whether he took part in the breaking down of fences at the first Whenuakura run this season ; and if so, where he was when the hat went round. Banjo. Patea, July 2. Sib, —I see a letter headed “ Hunting in th nineteenth century,” in last Saturday’s issue of the Mail, which deserves an answer, if not for the benefit of “ Sportsman,” in vindication of Mr Bradley, The latter will probably treat “ Sportsman’s ” letter with the contempt it deserves, but as an uncalled for attack is made both on this gentleman and the sport ho at expense to himself provides us with, an answer should be given. That the hounds should have harmlessly chased a dog and cow. may be a fact, yet hardly deserving of notice for remark from a bond fide sportsman, unless this sportsman in particular thinks ho could relieve the master of the onerous duties of looking after the pack. As for ridicule of hunting in general as it is conducted in these parts, it would have been more sensible of “ Sportsman ” to have caught a firmer hold of his pen, for it is surely unnecessary to explain that with wire fences and no live game to hunt, a “ red herring ” or an “ old sheepskin ” is better to follow than nothing at all. In conclusion, unless “ Sportsman ” is usually amongst the first flight, which 1 doubt, I should advise him to turn his attention to other matters than sport, for he has evidently mistaken his vocation this time. A. B. Patea, July 2.