The second event of the season took place on Saturday afternoon under generally favourable conditions the paper being laid '3 is customary by the winners of the previous Hunt who were Messrs. A. W. Burkill and Dr. H. E. Keylock. The weather was all that one could wish though the country still rides "blind." The ery in Shanghai for the last few years both in the Settlement and out of it, as been "Room, more room," and when we come to hark back, say, 20 years or a little more when we used to gallop over the Cemetery Country and finish on the Race Course or later, where Tottie's houses now stand, later still when the final jump after "Daly's" cuts was at the two-mile stone, we may consider ourselves fortunate in havin; the Island and Big Grave country, an beyond, still open. But there is a difficulty that assails us on the other side and that is the question of going further afield than we do now, this without any means of locomotion other than what we have at present is well nigh impracticable to any great extent. I am referring now to Paper Hunting pure and simple. To tap altogether new country we must remember that we have to get our ponies to the start, we have to get there ourselves, and both ponies and riders also have to get back to the Settlement, "before dark if possible, and to accomplish this without means of conveyance by rail is out of the question, The future is bright with possiilities, but matters move slowly in China, especially railways. There is undoubtedly new country awaiting us within reasonable distance now, on the other side of the Soochow Creek but the want of bridges is the cause of our being unable to use it, especially on a Saturday afternoon. A bridge at Jessfield would be a perfect' boon to paper hunters. A pontoon so often yulobed to any part of the creek ready thought of by Shanghai, sportsmen, to be for ponies and riders to avail themselves of has never been put into practice and likely never will be, but there is the fact, given the means of crossing the creek there is splendid riding country sufficiently close at hand. Saturday's course lay up the Fahvwa line, across the Creek on the left of the Box Hedge, through the Fahwa village by the high bridge near the Fahwa'Trees, the scont then lay towards Sicawei where there was a check. Afterwards the paper was discovered lead-which a false scent was laid towards the ing up the old Handicap line at the end of Inner Hunjao country. The true scent, however, was found towards the Plum Tree, then on to Drammond's Water, and Burkill's Dey Cuts, through the Kraw where there was another false scent leading along "here and there" and on towards the Muckle Soup. The true scent however was found leading down the Highland Grips where the run in commenced, The Fahwa Boat Creek was thea waded near the old Handicap Bridge alter which the Paper ley gies Mr. Hogg's Compound at Jessfield. The Jessfield platform jump was then taken and afterwards the Jessfield line, on to the tidal creek platform jump to the finishing jump, on the high ground behind the Bubblin; Well Road village, on the Jessfeld ro side.
During parts of the Hunt the dust was very troublesome to riders and ponies, and especially at the start up the Fabwa line. In fact a very few minutes after the word go' was given, several riderless ponies were seen and numerous were the cries of "Catch my ess, please!" while the sprinting powers of many riders were taxed
their hunting boots, The pace was very the utmost, handicapped as they were by fast from the start to the finish, After the piper "had been picked up on the old rndicap line, Mr. Courts on The Broker was seen leading the field closely followed by Mr. G. Dallas and Mr. Scott on Muscated the whole Hunt being in close attendance. Mr. Courts. showed the way Uhrough the Plum Tree Wade, and mai tained his lead to Drummond's water and was the first at Burkill's Dry Cut, 'At the second he unfortunately came' to grief, his pony falling clean into the jump. 'Mr. Cumming on Sammie then took up the running but after passing the Kraw, accompanied by tivo others, he followed the false scent which led along' "here and there" their chances of being in-it at the finish being thus entirely annihilated. The true scent leading down the Highland Grips was quickly picked up by the main body of the ant, and the pace from thereto the finish was fast and furious. Mr. Collingswood came to grief at the second of the Highland Grips and had some difficulty in getting his pony out of the deep jump.
After an exciting finish Mr. Dietrich on Chessy won by % length from Mr. Middleton on Forest King, the result bein, Ar. Dietrich On... Chessy Middleton...
Forest Ring. lack Deuce Dallas —Sport and Gossip.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.