THE WAIKATO HOUNDS.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 171, 17 August 1897, Page 2

THE WAIKATO HOUNDS.

TIIK hounds met on Saturday at the cross roads just beyond Trecarne at Pulcekura, at II a.m. Whenever the meet is at Pulcekura there is a good attendance, and so there was on Saturday, but we noticed very few of the local farmers were out, doubtless owing to the day being an unsuitable one for them. Amongst those present we noticed : The master (Mr Douglas) on Sunbeam, Mr Hine on Pat aud Mrs Hine on Happy Jack, Dr. Perceval on Bob and Mrs Perceval on Gipsy, Mrs Richardson on Demon, Miss Walker on Jangler and Miss L. Walker on Joker, Mrs W. T. Carr on Neddy, the huntsman (Mr BroWu) on Muscatelle ; Messrs Bach on Domino. Banks en Wavcrley, Wyatt on Captain, Bullock-Webster on Kiiser, Pennell on Libeller, R. Hannon on a Natator gelding, G. Comer on Magpie, N. I. Hunt on a Mountaineer gelding, Risdcn on Fidget, G. Gane on a chestnut and a host of lads—some of whom took the jumps in fine style—and a Maori lady who rode in the approved Maori fashion. There were several in bugg : oa and vehicles of various kinds, including Mr and Mrs Thornton, Mr Buttle and party, Mr Rae, and of course our old friend Mr Ned Hewitt, but on this occasion he was without a lady friend, and therefore felt at liberty to go the pace, which ho did until the spokes began to fly, and then he moderated his speed a little. When "Ned" gives up hunting he should present the remains of that buggy to the Cambtidgc Museum, as one of the greatest wonders of the age. Later in the day a number of others joined in the fun, including Mr and Mrs Reynolds. The hounds threw cIF in the paddock opposite the Trecarne homestead, and a hare was found in some oats and it went straight for the Cambridge West township, where, alter a lot of dodging about in the furze, it was lost. The hounds were taken back to Mr Reynolds' paddocks and foon had another hare on foot, which likewise made straight for the township, and it was hunted all round it, passing Mr Pike's, Miss Hooper's, across the main road by .Tarrett's and away almost to Mr Tucker's farm, then back over the Maori Hill by Fitzgerald's and across the main road again, and was finally lost in rome ploughed land. A portion of this run was after two hares, who kept together for some distance, as they frequently will do at this season of the year. A move was then made to the low er part of Mr Reynolds' ground, where a staunch hare was found. She made for a gully near the river, but was soon hustled out of it, and she took the field a merry spin of about a mile and a-half and returned to the gully. Again she was roused out of it and took another course of about the same distance, returning again to her carrying ground, but for the last time, for Brown read the burial service over her and the hounds sang the requiuni. A move was then made to Mr T. W. Hick's land and pn.<s was found after a little trouble, and she made across Mr Seabrook's land to the Waikito bank, where it is almost a precipice, and before they knew where tiny were nine of the hounds found themselves on a ledge half-way down the clitT and not able to get up or down. Thanks to Mr N. I. Hunt who at great risk rcsaued them ; none of them were damaged. This is the second time the hounds have got into trouble at that place. There were a few spills, but no damage of any consequence was doDe.