WAIKATO HUNT CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3213, 28 June 1892, Page 2

WAIKATO HUNT CLUB.

At the invitation of Mr Douglas, the followers of the hounds met at his residence, Bruntwood, on Saturday last, and, notwithstanding the steady downpour of rain, about 50 hunting-men rolled up. After all had done justice to the copious supply of luncheon laid out by Mr Douglas, a move was made towards the fields, where it was iutended to run a drag ; but oyving to the heavy rain and slippery stato of the ground, it was thought advisable to abacdon the drag and follow the legitimate game, and on next Thursday being fixed for the drag, Mr Douglas cordially invited all to meet, again at his house at 12 o'clock. The hounds threw off just across the road from Mr Douglas' residence, and picking up scent within a few minutes led the way merrily across several paddocks, over nicelytrimmed live fences and clean post and rails into some scrub, from whence, after some few minutes delay, puss was again driven, and made over the road, through a plantation, and down in the gully behind the Bruntwood residence, where the hounds drew blood. After several short runs, in which the game always escaped in the scrub, Mr Douglas had a short drag laid across some nice hunting and ciean-tim-berert country, over which some 25 followed straight-and well, with hardly a mistake. On the drag being finished, Mr Douglas again invited those present to adjourn to the house and partake of mora refreshments. Naturally after this, as might be supposed, everybody was in good spirits, and it was unanimously vot3d oue of the best day's sport ever held in the district. There were more good jumping horses out thau at any previous meet, and when the field was so laree, it was indeed a grand sight, with the hounds in full cry and about 30 well-monnted horsemen following straight and true. Amongst those present were two ladies to whom a lot of credit is due for bravely facing the elements and encouraging legitimate sport. Amongst those present we noticed, Messrs H. B. Webster on Blue Peter, W. M. Douglas on Pawa, H. Fletcher on Nancy, M. H. Pickering on an Ingomar, H. W.vatt on a bay, W. Thornton on a Capapie, Jas, Turnbull on Costley, R. Crowe on Cra/.v Kate, Chas. Weal on Wairiri, H. Weal on Jangler, Chas. Shaw on a bay, W. T. Carr on Neck or Nothing, R. Rathborne on Master, E. Cussen on Commissioner, A. Bach on an Ariel gelding, A. J. Storey on Signora, F. Dodd on Nithmount, Alf. Storey on Nero, T. Dodd or. an Ingomar, Thos. Wise on Sceptress, Chas. Craig on Othello, and a nuinbar of othor3. At a committee meeting held in the evening, it was decided to send the hounds to Kihikihi on Monday, 4th July, and hunt there on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The Secretary was instructed to write to Mr McNicol and ask him to procure a suitable horse for the Club, to be used by the whipper-in. After some discussion it was decidsd to hold the meets in future on Thursday, as being the most suitable day. It was agreed to charge all those that were not members of the Club 5s for each day they followed the hounds, and each member to do his best towards enforcing the above rule and collecting subscriptions. Horses must bo qualified by members of the Club, and hunted five times before eligible for the race meeting.