THE HUNT.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 447, 13 June 1899, Page 2

THE HUNT.

Ox Saturday the hounds met at the Hautapu Railway Station, and although the day did not look very promising it provided sport such as is seldom met with in the Waikato. The hounde were in grand fettle, and the ground was just what the hones liked, not soft enough to make it slippery, and yet sufficiently soft to ease them on landing. The first hare was roused in one of Hannon's paddocks, and she led the field at a merry pace to MrAllwill's, where she was lost in a gully. On returning to Mr Hannon's another hare was soon a-foot, and she proved a clinker, for she gave what is so far undoubtedly the run of the season. Her first spin was to Broadmeadows, where she doubled and returned home by way of Allwill's ; then aa that had not Bhaken off her pursuers she tried fresh country, crossing the farms of Messrs Butler, Parr and Thomas, after which she made for Mr Forrest's bush, where there was a check for about three minutes. Up to this point it had been a veritable steeplechase, everyone having to go at top to keep anywhere near, so the short delay was very welcome. Just when everyone was beginning to think " puss " had out-generalled the hounds, the old favourites Marplot and Vanguard gave tongue, and the full pack were quickly on the line again, and away went the field through Mr Arnold's land and up to Gwynnelaudc Once more the hare made a turn for linne, aud doubling back she crossed Mr Hamlin's paddock, where the Hamilton Road takes a turn, went over the road into Mr Roberta' farm, then bearing to the r'ght she traversed Mr Watt's land and put into the large Domain paddock rooup'ed by Mr James Taylor. Poor '' Puaa " evidently thought there was more chance of baffling her purauers in the tl-tree on Mr Roberts' land than by trusting to speed, so she turned and crossed Messrs Peppercorn, Hamlin and McCann's farms and then reached Mr Roberts' once more. Here she dodged about for a moment or two, but the hounds kept close at her scut, and as she dodged round a clump of titree the pack split, one poition going on either side of it, and so being beset on every hand ahe met her end. Amongst the straight goers we noticed the Master (Mr Bullock - Webster) on Tui ; the Huntsman on Joker ; the Whip on Captain ; Messrs Hine on Doubtful; Norman Banks on Ptarmigan ; S. Banks on Loppy ; C. C. Buckland on Domino, and W. M. Douglas on Sunbeam. Mrs Hine and Miss Walker witnessed the sport from buggies. Never did we see straighter.'going ; wire fences and gates were taken in grand style and without a single mistake being made. Unfortunately Ptarmigan pulled up lame, but we trust he will soon be sound again. The field was not a large one, but those who took part in the hunt will long remember it as one of the " red letter " days in the annals of the Club.