The Hutton Park Beagles
When the Europeans arrived in Van Diemans Land, they sought to import their culture including things like the hunt with hounds. The following is an account of a day pursuing this particular activity.
The Midland Hunt Club assembled with hounds outside the Melton Mowbray Hotel for the Meet of Mr Carr-Lord on 22 June 1907
Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office. PH30-1-9304
(Click the image for full size)
The following article is the account of a hunt on 9 August 1890. Hark Forward appears to be the nom-de-plume of the author of this piece.
Source: Trove: The Mercury (Hobart, Thu 14 Aug 1890)
THE HUTTON PARK BEAGLES
The Hutton Park beagles met on Saturday, 9th inst., at 11.30 am at Tedworth, Spring Hill, the residence of John Bisdee, Esq. The weather looked anything but propitious, as during the first part of the morning it had been raining steadily, but about 12 o’clock it lifted, and set in fine for the rest of the day. The field, considering the state of the weather, was a very good one, numbering in all about 21, all well mounted, amongst whom I noticed the master on Duchess, huntsman on Countess, J. Bisdee on Syntax, C. E Webster on Golddust, P. Roe on Mountaineer, F. Roe on Ladybird, R Sewell on Bob Sawyer, H. Butler on Grasshopper, W. Thorne on Shadrach, G. Denham on Darkie, A. Baird on Whisper Low, J. Lakey on Euclid, T. G. Bisdee on Circassian, and four ladies on Nancy, Horace, Madge, and Rantipole, and several others. Ample justice having been done to an excellent breakfast provided by our host a start was made, and down the main road we cantered in a sharp shower of rain till we came to Woodlands. Here the hounds were cast off, and the field had a chance of testing their steed’s capabilities over a deadwood. It had been anticipated that a deer would be found on Woodlands estate, and everyone was looking forward to an exciting run with plenty of fences, but although for two hours the hounds worked right round towards Melton no game was met with, and the Messrs. Bisdee, having held a consultation, determined to try Spring Hill for a wallaby. During the two hours previously several fences had been encountered, and I likewise a swollen creek, at which one of the field performed a most daring and wonderful piece of circus riding, his horse having disappeared into a bog hole, while another in crossing, as he thought in about 6in. of water, lost sight of all but his horse’s nose, he himself managing to scramble on to dry land in time. Then away to Spring Hill, and here we had not long to wait, as Be 1 man gave forth the note, which was taken up by Music and the rest of the pack. Hark forward was the cry, and away we scampered through wattles, she-oak scrub, and brush, up steep hills and along a rocky ridge at the back of Tedworth, thence down a thickly scrubbed and precipitous incline across to the main road, where a nasty deadwood on an incline was encountered, and the hounds ran in and killed after a 20 minutes sharp run. It being 4 30 p.m and too late to try another cast the field dispersed, all expressing themselves well pleased with the day’s sport.
Hark Forward