The Paper Hunt on Christmas Day was doubtless the most dificult one of the season, but the weather was most favourable, the ground was in good going condition, the paper lay well, the Hunt was long and creative of much sport, and the largest field of the season assembled to contest for the honours, previous winners not being disqualified; but unfortunately the sport was marred by two rather serious casualties, The start was in the field opposite Mr. Lewis's house on the Bubbling Well Road, and here at the appointed hour, three o'clock, over fifty horsemen met; and a large number of spectators, including many Indies, also assembled to see them go away. 'The meet was the prettiest one of the year, the field being one of the largest' over known. Mr. Burkill, the Master of the Club, accompanied by Mr. MeLeod, one of the Stewards, Inid the paper. From the start they took a pretty straight line to the Siccawei Road, crossing it near the second bridge; and then proceeded up to Fahwah, where the tidal reek was crossed. Pass ing Fahwah, the handicap course was taken to Jessfield, thence the track turned back in the direction of Home, crossing the tidal creek again at the Lack of the Bubbling Well, doubling round over the Bubbling Well' Road near to Mr. Major's house, and, turning to the back of Mr. Oliver's bungalow, Bnished with the straight ran and the jump over the creek at the Two Mile Bridge. The distance covered was estimated at between nine and ten miles, Some difficult jumps had to be taken, as indeed the appearance of some of the riders indicated—they had not only bitten the earth and amole water, but had rolled on the former and been drenched in the latter. But it was a congenial and comparatively warm day, and these incidents seemed to be regarded as almost essential to the full enjoyment of the sport of the chase, at least the bystanders had reason to think so, who heard one brave rider boast of getting "splendid duckings in three creeks but news of the tio accidents alluded to had not then arrived. The pace was described as very fast indeed at intervals, but when there are such large fields it invariably happens, to use the words of the Master of the Hunt, that the competitors ride so jealously and with such zeal that they overrun the paper and are for the time out of the Hunt. Many of the riders verified the truthfulness of these remarks, and the checks thus occasioned to the leaders three or four times placed them at a disadvantage; nevertheless we were assured that, the half dozen first in had held forward places during the greater part of the chase. But these checks delayed the finish, where a large gathering of spectators anxiously awaited the arrival of the ponies. 'The weather, however, was so pleasant that waiting was' by no means disagreeable. When the ponies did make their appearance a splendid finish was the result. Krom the Bubbling Well Road the tivo leaders, Mr. Fearon, on Spalpeen, and Mr. Taumeyer, on Thurio, raced neck and neck down the Straight to the Winning Post, with seven or eight others well up, all coming at a rattling pace. The to leaders took the last, jump to-Winning Post about half a length in front ther, but managed to pass the of Trurio, Mr. Daniel, on Black Cloud, being third. Mr. Bidwell, on White Rose, was the next up to the final jump, but his
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.