PAKURANGA HOUNDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2502, 24 July 1888, Page 2

PAKURANGA HOUNDS.

The Drag.

As announced in a previous issuo, tho place of holding the drag hunt on Saturday last, was altered from Gwynnlands to Bardowie, the residence of James Taylor, Esq. That the alteration met with public approval is fully demonstrated by the fact that nearly, if not quite, 200 people attended the meet; some 00 beiog mounted. Among the oqunstriennes wo noticed tho following :—Miss Walker, on Recruit; Miss B. Walker, on Nora ; Miss Storey, on Daybreak ; and the Misses 15. Storey, Moon, Taylor, Fletcher and Rathborno (Ng.uuawahia) on horses we did not know. We have it on our conscience that we have omitted some ladies' names from the list, but can assure them that wo have not done so intentionally. Among the gentlemen were Messrs John Taylor, on Cock Robin ; A. Storey, on Laddie ; J. Turnbull, on a Merrylegs maro ; C. Weal, on Kdtirc); N. Glassford, on Reckless; C. G. Glassford, on Cockio; Dalgleish, on Britomart; Lawson, on Joe ; Phillips, on Mercedes; A. Bach, on Maori; 0. Storey, or, Marksman ; ,T. Weal, on Kismet ; C. Lake, on Dick Swiveller; W. C»rr, on Fairplay ; Halcrow, on Painter; IT. Dibble, on Jim ; and many others. The Master (Mr Pickering was on Laverock, one of the best jumpers in New Zealand ; Tom Brown was on his old favourite, Laddie, and Hitchman, the whip, was on a Reldinß ofMrGrice's. The meet was on the lawn in front of Mr Taylor's house, where a table was spread, and overyone was invited to help themselves. Indeed, no one could have been more hospitable than Mr and Mrs Taylor, and at the close three hearty cheers were given for the hoat and hostess. Of tho hunt we will say little, except that Meesrs McNiool and A. Storey laid the drag over nineteen or twenty stiff fences, including a watei jump, which many negotiated successfully, but, on the othor hand, many also came to grief. It was a steeplechase, not a hunt, for many were ahead of the hounds, and the object appeared to be to see who could get to the end first; but as all did not utick to the course- we refrain from mentioning the names of those first in. Wo were forcibly reminded of one of the first visits of the hounds to Waikato, when, after having a fair run, one of our leading settlers beat both huntsman and hounds, and was a Rood hundred yards ahead of them, slashing at the hare with a Rtock whip. We are told that another said he wished they would stop the hounds making such a noise, as it would so frighten the hare that they should never catch it. If the hounds are present let it bo a hunt, and not a steeplechase.