THE HUNT.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 153, 11 June 1879, Page 2

THE HUNT.

A meeting of the hounds took place on Saturday last on the grounds between Mr Hardcastle’s and Four Peaks station. The day was all that could be desired for hunting, and about 40 huntsmen turned out —all eager for the sport, and ready to go at anything. There were about ten dogs comprising the pack, chiefly belonging to Messrs Barker and Hardcastle. A start was made about 12 o’clock in the paddock next to Mr Hard castle’s, and after riding over some of the Four Peaks paddocks, the dogs soon got on the scent, and went off in full cry. The horsemen were soon after them at full speed, over creeks, up the sides of gullies nearly as steep as the walls of a house, clearing everythig. The next obstacle was a rather formidable one in the shape of a wire fence. It ,was only the work of a moment, and away went Mr Alfred Cox, clearing it in magnificent style, Mr A. Barker

and several others following in' succession. The hare now took to the high ground towards Fairfield Bush. .Here a fence presented itself sufficiently bold in appearance ,to frighten our pluckiest amateurs—five wires and top rail. Our young sportraen went at it, however, and all cleared it without a mishap. Hero the hare doubled, and getting into thick flax, got away Agahi they went off in a westerly direction, making the country ring with the cry of thedogs and the shouts of the horsemen making the disappointment felt all the keener by those Who had to stay behind through their horses baulking at the fence. After a time the sight of the horsemen coming out of the bush showed that the race was leading towards the starting point. At this juncture the dogs got divided, and it soon became apparent that hares .were abundant, in fact too abundant to give the dogs a fair chance. At every turn-up starts the game so close to the horse’s hoofs that one could almost knock them down with a stick. After a little breathing time a movement was again made towards the hills. A considerable amount of soft ground retarded the progress of the horses, but the dogs were on the scent, but much divided, running in all directions, confused by the many different tracts of the hares, in taking one of those wire fences where the footing for the leap was not good one of the horses got entangled in the wire and ran a great risk of having his fetlock destroyed. He, however, became aware of the hopelessness of struggling, and quietly waited till the wire was cut, when he got free, with only a slight skin wound- Both horses and dogs seemed to have had enough of it, as the day’s sport had been throughout warm work. A Council being held the party came to. the decision that it was time to call off the dogs, which was at once done, the little braves, showing signs of having had enough of it, responded to the call to return home. All now joined in the procession leading to Mr Hard castle’s residence, where they met with a most hearty welcome by Mrs Hardcastlc, who had in readiness a wellspread table, literally groaning with the good things of this life. Hungry as hawks all fell to, inid soon made the turkeys, fowls, roast beef, and pudding, disappear as if by magic. Each one now commenced to relate the day’s adventures and the hair-breadth escapes in their own individual case, and all expressing a wish that it might npt be long before they would again have another day’s sport under equally favorable circumstances Mr Hardcastle seemed to enter into the sport with all the ardour of his youthful days ; there were others also who could recall sweet reminiscences of the past. The old English-home sports now bid fair to take a leading position in New Zealand, while the. rising generation show no lack of manly courage and daring.