WAIRARAPA HOUNDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9543, 15 July 1909, Page 3

WAIRARAPA HOUNDS.

"MEET" AT BLAIRLOGIE. (From Our Tinui Correspondent.) A "meet" of the Hunt Club was held at Blairloige on July 11th. The day was an ideal one for hunting, arid a large number of people were present. The day of the hunt is anxiously looked forward to by both huntsmen and spectators, especially on Blairlogie station. Thii station is considered the home of jumping horses and good, riders, and on such an eventful morning as last Saturday „ it is nn3t interesting to spond a few hours at Blairlugie and watch the preparations. Needless to say all the employees get a holiday when the hounds are in the district, and to see men arriving at the homestead from the out stations all smiles and good humour, as their good-natured employer (Mr Rupert Morrison) greets them with a pleasant "Good morning, and how is your horse? Is he fit to clear the water jump?" Then comes the answer, "Oh yes, sir, my horsec oukl clear a rainbov to-day." In the men quarters all is bust.'e, boots and leggins are being polished, a clean collar is borrowed from a mate who has several, bridles and saddles are being attended to, a' broken stirrup leather receiving a copper rivet, while others are shaving with a blunt razor; but all is merriment, and thoughts are on the big water jump. At the stable, the same bustle is going on—beautiful well groomed hunter 3 standing in their boxes. They, too, kr.ow that there is something astir this morning, and are. pawing the straw, and snort if a rat is heard Standing quietly, with his head out of the box, is the wellknown Rata, and he seems to say to the other horses, "If you had seen as much danger as I, you would not be afraid of rats in the straw." Up at the house the ladies are also busy packing up delicacies for the afternoon tea. The refreshments hare to be carted about three miles tj the Langdala Hall and it is no wonder that these hunts are so successful, when people like the Morrison family take such an interest in the sport. Among the huntsmen I noticed two gentlemen who have been taking an active part in the sport since 1889. These are Messrs C. F. Vallance and H. Welch, and, needless to say, they are just as keen for a ride as ever. Others who took an active part in that year were the late Mr J. R. Bidwill and the late Mr VV. B. Buick; also Messrs W. E. Bidwill (Master), F. Pearce, A. G. Pilmer, Wyvern Williams, and Herbert Welch. On arriving on the hunting ground, the hounds were soon on the trail and running very fast, taxed the horses to keep up, but the crowd knew that at least some of them would be pulled up at the big water jump—and it was so. tor Jas. Smith was first up j and took the prettiest header in the j water on record. Mr Bunny then gave an exhibition of fancy diving—in fact, all the horsemen got more or less wet, much to the amusement of the onlookers. The rest of the country was hunted over without any mishaps, and thus ended one of the most enjoyable runs yet heir! here. Miss Katie Morrison provided after noon tea, and was heartily cheered for her kindness. The following took part in the run Messrs W. H. Buick (Master) on Dick Turpin, H. Welch (huntsman) on Fire Stick, C. F. Vallance on Jess, B. Vallance on Lady Madcap and Penant, S. Bunny on Ned, Jas, Smith on Haututu and The Rake, J. Floyd on Prospector, J. O'Brien ua Mo,nlight, J. Hyde on Forest [King, T. O'Dowd on Gun Metal, D. Ratft, T. Douglas on Robin.