Hunting is the noblest exercise Makes men laborious, active, wis Brings health, and doth the spirits delight. It helps the hearing and the sight It teaches atta that never slip Search, em, courage, and defence, The memory-good horsemanship, And chase th all ill-habits hence.
Thus wrote good old Ben Jenson, and to ridd a Inter-day quotation, "What price that?" The answer would I believe stump the cleverest Bookie that ever yelled the odds on " Race Course, for the price cannot be estinmted, and one does not have to go fur ativld to know this, for the amount of interest taken in our winter amusement seems each year to be on the increase, us the I re active and honorary' of the aper Hunt Club amply testilies aight takes place this after-id bids fair 10 inaugurate a most successful season.
On the list of these serving as Stewards he names of some who have figured prominently in the hunting field in the past are wanting, notably that of the Master of leat season 6 absence is much to be regretted and by i Jose for this season as good xn all-round wore scarlet. The present winter stands out us an unusually late one, and on iis account we can hardly expect the hunt to-day to compare favourably with those that will tke place later on in the season, The absence of frost until the last week has allowed the leaves to remain longer on the cotton thi country is decidedly "blind. to this, the natives have xs yet hardly commenced cutting the reeds, sv that all the well known lines of jumps are closed; and to cap it all, at the time the hunt is run this afternoon it will be high water and therefore a good gallop is about all that can be expected.
regard the country people the same diffioultien that: aye occurred in. previous years will no doubt: arise this, but these the stewards have, Ihear, anticipated, and. og in previous seasons, the Taotui has peep kindly addressed by the Senior Consul on the subject. Alrexdy, however, holes have Deen dug in places, and the increased mum~ ber of exbbage gardens which are situated exactly where some jumps are usually taken gives evidence that the wily native finds the S.P.H.C. baya a better price for the article tien can be obtained. in the ket. Little eccentricities of this surf on the part of the country people exch year increase the expenses of the Club, and the purchase of cabbages and the cutting of reeds, which is undertaken by the S.P. 14... add very materially to the enjoyment of all those who figure in the pigskin, the Club would, I feel sure, consider it a graceful xct if those who benefit by the steps taken. to protect hunting, would if they are not active five-dollar members become honorary members of the 8.P.H.C. by sending the sum of one dollar to. Mr. Ayscough, the Honorary Seoretary, and by doing help defray expenses and nasist sport.
The country is open to all, and I have only mule the above remarky because I believe there xre those who ride who wish to figure as honorary members of the Club, but have not had an opportunity, some of those who follow the hounds, others who invariably put in an appearance at the finishes of the hunte, and last not lener one large contingent who follow the course of the Saturday's hunt on the Sunday morning, and wh if the trath could be known, dv, I believe, as much if not more, harm than the Hunt proper, And now having finished the preliminary canter I must refer to the horseflesh.
From the careful preparation that many of tu-day's starters have undergone, the hunt will certainly be " keenly contested one; and though therald ponies—on paper have the call there are several new candidates who give promise of being very busy at the finish; and as the hant.will in all probability be x short one, some of them will have " great chance,' Amongst the number are the following winners of races at the Inst meeting, Beeswing, now no longer a blushing Maiden, Kettledrum, the first in the Manchu Stakes, Nonpareil and Smuggler, who were, however, only credited with four belay honour; all will take a lot of beating, especially Nonpareil, of whom wonderful accounts lave cine to hand. Kingeraft, the hero of Inst meeting's Grand National, will also lower the standard of seine of his competitors, and i tion we must not forget our old friend of Inst season, Bendigo, Inst year's winner. of the firat hunt, who is bound to make a bold bid fur victory. Irkdale is, 1 regret hear, on the sick list; and though he. has the past ey amply rewarded. his owner, it is much to be regretted that he will not put in an appearance, fur China pony he is as nearly thoron; bred as 19/6 is to w sovereign, and. it is a pity that he will be "anting when the "Time's up, gentlemen, you may go" is given, Maloja, of Hongkew fame, wow. in. the pink of condition, will make short. work of any obata lo in the way of jumping that away come in his path.
Careless, that mistimed winner of last season, owing to the absence of hiv owner will this year be piloted by another enthusiastic addition to the hunting field and I wish him all succous.
Guarantee will have to wait for a little before having another chance of being first between the fi-gs, owing to his owner having ad an unfortunate accident which, happily turns out, however, to be a severe shaking only. Rob Boy should be there. or there-xbouts; his owner will now have a chance of "giving him the steels, my boy," in person: Iris to be regretted that our friend from Zorich will not be with us this season, for if anyone loved the game he did, and we shall mise the pink coat which wasa well
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.