HUNT MEETING AT STOKE. 155 



to Cotwalton Driimble luid the Hayes liy Kibblestone Gorso, over Downs Banks, 

 past Barlaston village to Newsteacl Wood into New Park ; ran a ring and 

 killed on the railway. One liour and five minutes. 



''April nth, 1888. Bird-in-IIand.— Found in Bromley Wood. Ran by 

 Painsley Hall, round by Leigh to near Carry Coppice, and lost him. Then drew 

 Birchwood Park and Fradswell blank, but found in the belt at Sherratt's Wood. 

 Ran back by Fradswell to Chartley Park, and lost in the park. Went back to 

 New Close Sprink. Found, and ran back to Shen-att's Wood, and stopped 

 hounds. People all gone home." 



The record for the season 1887-8 was eighty- two 

 foxes killed and fifteen run to ground. Hunting 

 altogether ninety-six days, forty of which were in the 

 cubbing season. Frost and fog interfered with thirty- 

 nine days. Not a bad record, considering the days lost by 

 bad weather. Subscriptions for this year (including sub- 

 scriptions to the Covert Fund) amounted to £238 G 05. Gd., 

 out of which £400 was applied to the claims of the covert 

 and poultry damage fund. 



An important meeting of the members of the Hunt 

 was held at the North Stafford Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent, on 

 November 29th, 1887, to consider as to the steps to be 

 taken for hunting the country on the termination of the 

 three years' arrangement with Lord Stafford, which would 

 expire with the current season. The following particulars 

 we extrac^. from the Hunt minute-book of that date : — 



" The meeting proceeded to consider what arrangements should be made tor 

 carrying on the Hunt at the expiration of the present season. A strong and 

 unanimous feeling was expressed that Lord Stafford should continue to hunt the 

 country, and the following resolution was proposed by Mr. R. Boote, and seconded 

 by Mr. C. Tayleur, and passed unanimously : That this meeting wishes to 

 express its sincere thanks and gi-atitude to Lord Statford for having efficiently 

 luinted the North Stafford country for so many years, and to express the great 

 pleasure it gives to all present to hear his Lordship's generous oft'er to continue 

 to hunt the country for a further term of three years, which this meeting hopes 

 to be in a position to accept. Resolved that every effort be made to secure 

 sufficient guaranteed subscriptions to warrant the Hunt in guaranteeing a sub- 

 scription of £2000 a year to Lord Stafford. 



''Proposed by Mr. C. J. Blagg, and seconded by Colonel Shakerley, and passed 

 unanimously, that Mr. R. Boote and Mr. A. Simpson be asked to undertake the 

 duties of joint hon. secretaries in place of Mr. Fifzherbert-Brockholes. who 

 resigned that office. 



" The following resolution was proposed by Mr. R. Boote, and seconded by 

 Mr. A. H. Heath, and passed unanimously : That this meeting views with sincere 

 regret the decision of our valued secretary, ^Ir. Fitzlierbert-Brockholes, to resign 

 the hon. secretar\^ship of the North Stafford Hunt, and wishes to record its great 



