This was the first of the season given in Hongkevw, the "start" and "finish" being near the Stone Bridge. Unfortunately no other bridge is accessible to riders and spectators to enable them to avoid the sinza village which is usually flavour, but mn Saturday surpassed itself in this respect. For choice perhaps the upper Hongkew "'circle" is preferable to the lower, and the route selected on Saturday was all that could be desired both in the way of jumping and galloping; the face of the country was undoubtedly soft but not sufficiently to prevent the ponies having a firm take off at the jumps, Not having & copy ofthe plan in the possession of the Municipal Council of the latest survey of Hongkew, it is practically useless to attempt to dos-ibe the circuitous distribution of the }ine of scent; suffice it to say that the Foxes, Messrs. Renny and Shaw, succeeded in laying out an enjoyable ride to all that took part in it—the number being over thirty. One check was given which enabled the por mies to have a moderate rest; the run in was clear to all; and as an expression of opinion we may say that the best pony on this occasion came in first. Several fair sized water jumps were included in the run, one fine one being reserved until about two miles from home; two got clear over, the next two were landing and gling, when the fifth who was energetic jumped upon them, and a distinct gap was lo in the field for some time—here the main legal adviser to the hunt was observed to be rapidly getting wet,—up to that point he had been going well,—and a globe-trotter was nearly drowned at the same place. Fully twenty riders arrived over the last jum presenting quite a clean appearance, ai they and the on-lookers left without waiting to see how the remainder looked. M. de Malherbe on Sentinel took the premier place, closely followed by Messrs. Callaway in Presto, Walker on Black Veleel, and Per-Clodhopper, Heyn on something, Hough on
reft on Castigator. The ground was too heavy and the pace somewhat too severe during the last mile to admit of a heavy i: weight reaching the goal in time. then comes the Handicap, weather permit.
One more hunt may possibly be given,
ting. The season has scarcely come up to one's ideas of a thoroughly successful one, up to the present, owing to the hard ground, but we may yet hope for a brilliant wind up of 1887-88 in the matter of cross-country riding, as all the ponies are reaching the point of perfection in condition. The question has never yet been raised with regard to the qualification of a mem-Der who falls off at any particular part of ann, chases his pony for some time, and eventually remounts, after, very unintentionally doubtless, missing a number of jumps and comes'in the winner. Can he claim to have followed the course?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.