WAIKATO HUNT CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3119, 12 July 1892, Page 2

WAIKATO HUNT CLUB.

THE KIIUKIHI WEEK. TO THK BDITOR. Sin,—The first day's hunting at Rangisuitiin, on the sth inst., has been already reported in your columns. Hares were rather scarce, or rather difficult to find, but wo got on to a stout one in the afternoon, and the liouuth ran fast and well for n time, but eventually lout in a big swamp. To kill a hare fairly with six and α-half couple of Imimls in a country with much ti-tree or swamp about is anything but an ensy operation, and those who don't know the many dodgHa a hare practices when pressed, and the many difficulties a huntsman lias to contend with are apt to blame him and the hounds when there is no kill, but it takes fiftoen or twenty couples of first-cla'-s harriers in England all their time t;i bring a strong hare to hand in i. fairly open country, often after an hour's patient hunting. Running a drag, too, is about the worst education a young hound can fmve for hare-hunting. The drtg which Mr Weatherill laid afterwards was a great success, the made jumps being stiff enough for any bruiser, without being dangerously high. There were a couple of spills over the laßt fence on to the road, but no damage done, and we know that

No game was ever yet worth a rap For a rational man to play Into which no accident or mishap Could possibly find its way. But still, I would like to impress upon sorr.e of our hard-riding youngsters the necessity of nursing their horses in these three or four mile drags, going steadily at first, keeping their horse.s well in hand, going slowly in heavy ground, anu? steadying their horses at big timber ; getting them well back on their haunches, so that they jump from their hocks and get their forehand well over, which they often fail to do if ridden very fast, and are going on their shoulders. Tha bad fall* in a. drag are invariably at the last two or three fence?, when horses are a bit blown, and it is then that they want to be most earpfully ridden, and not bustled along as if they were finishing a steeplechase, remembering that you cannot take liberties with a hunter in ordinary condition like you can with a schooled steeplechaser in training. The following day we played polo en a beautifjl level paddock, most kindly lent for the occasion by Mr J. Hutchinson, of Brayftti.nes, Orakau. The sides were : Messrs Bullock-Webster (captain), W. Kay, T. Wetherill and T. Wilkie v. Messrs W. Wilkie (captain), 13. Hewett, J. Corboy and S. Archer. The men and ponies were all more or less new to the game, but Wetherill and Kay speedily proved themselves a bit too good for the other teams, and four goals were scored in quick snecession. A change was then made, Wetherill and Archer changing sides, and this just pet things right, and some grand tussles took place, Mr Wilkie's team eventually winning a hard fought game, another game was started which after half-an-hour's play ended in a draw, to be fought to a finish on the Friday. Thursday, 7th, we met at Kihikihi, a lovely morning, but then the climate needs no bragging about we all know it's the finest in the world. There was a fair muster of hunting men and among others I noticed Messrs B. Hewett, J. Corboy, C. Weal, H. Weal, T. Wetherill. H. Wyatt, W. Kay, S. Lawson, Duncan McNicol, Churcliwurd, J. Storey (a real chip of the old block), Corcoran, W. Wilkie, ft. Wilkio and Hannon vyho was the only Cambridge representative, there were also some 15 or 20 small boys on all sorts of mounts and all brimful of pluck and suppressed excitement. One youngster went well all dav without a saddle. Wβ went on to Ngamoko /when the Messrs Wilkie had made preparations for us in the shape of stiff rails in their wire fences .and plenty of hare,". The hounds were soon on a hare and rattled her merrily through some lowlying land and on to the hill beyond where they changed hares and turning to the left over a big gorse fence ran on through Qualtrough's to the swamp where we lost. We then tried back through Ngamoko where we soon found another hare but the hounds had most of the fun to themselves. About three o'clock Messrs J. Corboy (on a rare weightcarrier) and H. Weal started with the draff. The hounds were laid on in the road and turning sharp to the right over some rails into ,Mr McKinder's property sped away at a'attling pace into Ashby's, all natural fences now, mostly neatly trimmed gorse hedges with occasional wattles and rails, no following one- another, but go where you please, the whole fence being jumpable, now we cross the road, a high gorse fence in, and a stiff wattle out, into Moncreiff's, and as we go sailing along over his beautifully trimmed gorse hedges (ivith never a wire in them), and well tilled land, we can almost fancy we are back in old England and a " fast 20 minutes in the vain." "Its so English you know, quite English," as Mr Churchward sane to us in the evening. We jump Mr MoiicreifF's big gorse fence into the road and turning to the left below the school, the two flights of rails, Hobarts. at least 4ft. Oin. high which wont bend or break, heave in sight, the hounds are streaming through tile school ground and out :>n the other side, so there is no time to shirk, you must jump or go home. Shirk did I say ! they don't know the meaning of the word here and horses are topping the big timber to right and to left some rapping it but only one falling and this one ridden by the gampst of all, young Maunders, a wee little lad on a rough cob in apparently no condition and he had ridden him quite straight and safely negotiated the first flight of rails when he knoed the second and tamed over. The boy was unhurt and into his saddle again in a minute, and when he learns to temper his valour with discretion he will be a bad 'nn to beat over » country. Here we turn sharp to the right into the township and go in and out over about as awkward a lot of fences as anyone couldlwish f >r, but there are no falls and we end up in the main street after one of th 3 most enjoyable drags I have ever ridden to in Nnw Zealand, and the thanks of all hunting men are due to Mr Moncrieff and the other landowners who took so much trouble to make the Kihikihi drag the red letter day of the season. In the evening there was a Hunt ball at the Public Hall, and a capital dance it was —Mr T. Wetherill as Master of Ceremonies was the right man in the right place, as usual—and dancing was kept up with great spirit till nearly morning , . The next day we fought out our unfinished game of polo, and after a most exciting game in which both sides showed greatly improved form, Mr Wilkie's side were defeated. A fresh game was then started with two additional players, Messrs Churchward and Duncan McNicn), tho latter pn.vinj, , himself a rnal good player and hard hitter. The game seems to have " caught on " well, and I hope Mr B. Hmvett will succeed in keeping it going and that Cambridge will also try and raise a team. It is without doubt one of the best games going ae all those who played can testify, and here in Waikato where all our young men nre born horsemen and ponies can be bought for lower prices than in any othei"country, we should be able to get together a united Waikato team that would be hard to beat in the colony. Saturday 9th, well perhaps the less we say of that awful wet day, the better. The rain was coming down in sheets at 11 o'clock as we turned out of the Albion Hotel, and hunting was out of the question and particularly so, as the best bit of hunting ountry round Tβ Awiiinutu was closed to the hounds. Home was then the order of the day, and the Tβ Awamutu meet postponed till Monday ISth (weather permitting). Now, in conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity of thanking the many friends I have made in Kihikihi for their hospitality and kindness, and particularly to Mr Corboy, for the trouble ho took in seeing to tho comfort of my hounds, and I hope that we may have many more merry gallops over that splendid hunting country which is without doubt the pick of the Waikato, barring the roads, which are— well, just a trifle muddy in places.— Yours truly, H. 3ullock-Wkbstkb.