THE PAKURANGA HOUNDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1236, 1 June 1880, Page 2

THE PAKURANGA HOUNDS.

' Meet at Hautapu. The second meet of the season took place on Mr J. S. Buckland's farm at Hautapu yesterday, and resulted in sonre fine sport. The hounds reached the appointed place about 11 a.m., and at the same hour lovers of the sport commenced to assemble, so that when a start was made there must have been nearly 30 horsemen on the ground. The first halfhour was spent fruitlessly, no hares being iound on Mr Buckland's place. A move was then made for Mr J. H. Smith's farm, where some further time was consumed before a hare was found. A.t length the dogs got on the scent, and bounded off in the direction of Mr Patons property, crossing the high sod division fence, over which only two (the huntsman and Mr H. Steele) were able to follow, the rest watching the sport from afar. The hare presently doubled and returned through another paddouk of Mr Smith's, thus enabling the laggards to join in again, but placing a wire fence between the dogs and the two courageous ones. Striking across this paddock, hare and hounds disappeared in Mr Buckland's place, the whole hunt following at a good pace. At the fence there was a pause, the choice lying between a double ditch and bank with wattling and a seven-wire fence. It did not take long to decide in favor of the former, but horse after horse persistently balked. Mr Gooch at last went at it with a run, but when within a foot or two of the ditch the horse swerved and went sideways over the wires, falling heavily to the ground, his rider being underneath. It waa at first thought that Mr Gooch had sustained serious injury, as he lay for some time on the ground apparently in great pain ; but restoratives having been applied he quickly rallied, and soon after remounted his horse. The rest, after having assured themselves that the accident was not of a serious nature cleared the fence one after the other — the last few walking through the gap — and crossed two of Mr Buckland's paddocks, thence across Mr Wilkinson's farm, negotiating the double ditches with more or less success. Mr Jillings and Mr R. Seddon each got spilled, the latter having a good run after his horse before the animal could be recaptured. Mr Suttor's thoroughbred and Mr McNicol's Laverock jumped in grand style ; Mr Buckland's fine roan also cleared the fences well. When Mr Wilkinson's was reached it was found that the hare and pack had crossed the creek, and the horsemen followed taking the bridge. Following down the banks of the creek the hounds were overtaken, they being apparently at fault. After waiting some time the hare was seen to mount the opposite bank and the dogs quickly followed, the hunt dividing, some going by way of the bridge at Mr Snowdens, and the rest returning through Mr Wilkinson's farm. Tl\e hare was lost in Mr Douglas's paddock ; but another was quickly discovered and followed into Mr Snowdens were, after doubling about, a kill was effected on the banks of the creek. A move was then made in the direction of home everyone being thoroughly pleased with the day's sport.