WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4109, 9 May 1892, Page 3

WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB.

Saturday's Hunt

The Wairarapa Hunt Club opened the season's operations with a run at South Peatherston on Saturday. The meet was at Longwood, the residence of Mr Charles Pharazyn, and, as the huntsmanremarkedon passing through theaplendid poplar grove, it reminded one of a genuine English meet, The weather was very disappointing, but despite the torrents of rain about two hundred spectators assembled on the road, and a good field of thirty-five sportsmen honoured the occasion with their presence. Amongst these latter were representatives from Eketaliuna, Masterton, Carterton Greytown.South Wairarapa and Wellington, These with numerous other visitors, were entertained at luncheon by Mr 0. Pharazyn, junr,, whose unostentatious liberality was praised on all sides,

Mr Bidwill, addressing those present, asked them to ride carefully and avoid crowding and jostling at the jumps, and concluded by saying that he was sure their presence notwithstanding tho inclemency, of the weather was a proof that they were true sportsmen, The event proved the truth of this remark, as there was a total absence of the usual rash riding which we have had occasion to mention previously.

Luncheon over, the patty repaired to the appointed rendezvous and soon the hounds were in full cry. The first obstacle was a bank topped with a gorso fence and was taken by all in splendid style, but the next fence with an irrigation stream on the take-offside, proved to be more difficult of negotiation. Although many cleared it faultlessly, several nearly came'to grief. One rider got his mount stuck fairly on the top of the fence, dismounted, and had considerable difficulty in getting his horse " down." However, when he did, he followed on pluckily. The next jump led ihe field to tlio right towards a stifffouwailer. This seemed, formidable to the leaders, but by the time the main body came there was a beautiful choice between a one, a two, a three, or a four railed fence. One horse from this point on distinguished itself by an apparently settled purpose to carry as much of one fence on to the next as it could possibly manage, running straight through everything or else scrambling over, From the rail fence the course took a turn towards the road and then doubled back over the rails a second time and continuedstraight up through Willis' paddock, taking the wire fence behind the chiiroh and finishing over an indestructible obstacle - sapliugs fixed up between growing poplar trees, This finished tho first run, and al. though the ground was. very slippery and the fences spniewhat stiff, only about a couple of spills occurred. It w§B now necessary to get on to the road to reaoh the point from which the second run was laid, As there was no gate leading to the road tho huntsmen had to file out over ; a rail adjusted iu the wire fence, and a considerable amount of amiißement was occasioned to the spectators in observing the peculiarities of the riders and their steeds,

In the second run most of the fences were gorse, and riders evidently felt more secure and rode with less caution, with the natural result that numerous spills took place. Fortunately, none of these were serious. The course was parallel to the road all the way from B. Burt's, arid ended in the paddock' opposite'!' The Camp," where 1 the ''Kill" 'took' place, The party then returned to Longwood, where refreshments were dispensed and three choers were called for and giyen heartily to Mr Pharazyn and to the todies who" assisted liiri in liis dutfes as 1 host. 1 ' '"• ' ' '' ''

! Oh interviewing Mr Huntsman lie expressed it to (its opinion that-the first run mi somewhat''stiff for a net'day, but that the second run