Unlike the warm congenial weather a week ago for the opening Paper Hunt of the season, the weather for the second Hunt on Saturday was most unpropitious alike for riders and spectators. A strong, nipping north-easterly wind was blowing, raising clouds of dust on the roads and in the country, and it was bitterly cold rendering the warmest of ulsters and wrappers indispensable even for a modicum of enjoyment to be derived from the sport. Still a goodly number of spectators, including several Jadies, braved these unpleasantnesses and were present at the start, which was a little beyond the first bridge on the Siccawei Rond; and as a further marked illustration of the popularity of the sport nearly forty compoting horsemen put in an appearance. Mr. Nickels, the winner of the last Hunt, assiste by the popular Master of the Club, Mr. Burkill, and Mr. Hearou laid the paper, and, we understand, they were accompanied by three ladies. Foreseeing the difficulty the riders would experience in following the track, owing to the probability that the wind would scatter the paper in all directions, the course the foxes proposed to take was sketched out on paper and called out to as many of the riders who could hear before they were started. The horsemen presented a pretty sight while waiting for the word to "go," and when it was given they went away in a cluster but were soon obscured by clouds of dust; indeed it was painful to look after them, the wind was fierce and keen. From the Siccawei Road the paper was laid to the left in the direction of the Big Grave, then skirted the French Road, doubling back across the Siccawei Road near Blydenburgh's turn, thence up to the Fah-wah village and forward passed the red Joss-house to Jessfield, crossing the Jessfield Road at Robison's turn, returning by the Soochow Creek passed Trefaucha, and finishing with a straight gallon Home over the two cut jumps on Daly's property near the two mile bridge to the right of the Bubbling Well Road. The foxes were not wrong in their supposition that it would be difficult for the riders to follow the track, and consequently there were numerous checks. These again and again brought the ponies well together and moderated the pace, sshich was not what would be termed quick for any length of time. But generally the Hunt was spoken of in terms of admiration by those who rode through it, though complaints of benumbed hands and smarting eyes were to be heard on all sides. The finish was a remarkably good one. Crossing the back road to the Bubbling Well nearly a dozen ponies were close up with the leaders who proved to be Mr. Daniel on a griffin called Brownie, Mr. Libert on White Velvet, and Mr. Brandt on Titus. Butin the straight run, and after cleating the first cut jump, Mr. Bell-Irving, on his celebrated pony Black Cloud, had the lead, and clearing the final jump in capital style he won by a couple of lengths; Mr. Daniel was second, Mr. Ibert third, Mr. Brandt fourth, and Mr. Johnston, on Gekko, fifth. Captain Bolton was the next up, but his pony refused the last jump, otherwise we believe he ed could have claimed the heavy-slit prize. As it was none of the first six, we were informed, could do so. The other riders came in in quick succession, and asa rule the jonies took the last two jumps splendidly.
here was only one exemption, we believe, at the first one. The pony of a heavy weight shied at a heap of earth and his rider toppled off, but happily with no worse result than a shaking and having his clothing besmeared with mud and clu: But at the last jump, we regret to say, a worse casuality happened, though not one of a serious nature. Townsend and Mr. Findlay. raced along the straight neck and neck together. The former took the jump first, but his pony did not gather himself cleanly, and Mr. Findlay's animal, swerving a little, dropped with his fore legs on hi hind quarters, pitched his rider, and fel Mr. Findlay was apparently not hurt by fall, but his pony, in plunging to regain his in lees, kicked him' in the face, causing his month and nose to bleed. Dr. McLeod, who was on the ground, at once examined him and expressed the belief that he was not seriously hurt, and we are pleased to say that that is also the opinion of Dr. Jamieson, Mr. Findlay's medical adviser.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.