THE KENNEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 28, 3 February 1899, Page 8

THE KENNEL.

(By Canis.)

[ am sorry to hear that a serious accident has happened to Air J.Robertson, of Ti lioti. Mr Robertson, who is an ardent sheep dog fancier, and a member of the Auckland Collie Club, is an old settle]-, living1 some four or live mile.* from the railway. On the occasion in question he rode a young hor.se to the station to meet a collie pup which had been sent up from Mr Oosworth's kennels. He took the puppy in Cront of the saddle, and all went well until lie. arrived home, when lie tried to drop the puppy down on to the ground. The horse, however, became very restive and played up to such an extent that Mr Robertson had all he kuevv for fully twenty minutes to keep his seat. Me, however, stuck to the puppy, and the horse becoming' a little quieter, he succeeded in lowering him to the "•round and got off himself. Here, however, the horse again played up and commenced kicking- to such an extent that he broke Mr Robertson's collar-bone, besides cutting- him severely in the face and bruising- him badly all over the body. Uip result being- that he has been laid up in bed for some weeks, and is slUl very weak, but T am pleased to say is now about again.

During the week T paid a. visit to Mr P. W. Edwards' collie kennels, Ponsonby, and for the first time since they were a. few weeks old saw a couple of the Palmbearer—Belle of Aithrey puppies. They are now getting on for a year old. They are small, but one in particular is of very high quality. having1 n beautiful head and ears ami ft nice length of body. Mr Edwards then trotted out the Joker, by Allan Breck, ex same dam. This dog- got third prize in the novice class at the late Auckland Show, since which he has improved almost beyond recognition. He too is a bit small, but has any amount of quality. The old dam Belle is in excellent condition, as also is Astonishment, another sou of hers. Mr Edwards informs me he has had the misfortune to lose one of the Palmbearer litter. It was up in the Waikato being- trained to work sheep, but quite recently got run over and killed on the spot. On my way home I got a glimpse in the street of Mr George Read's best dog, Dick Seddon, who Is looking very well. This dog has also improved since the late show; whilst the same owner's dog Roeco is in the very pink of condition, and is certainly one of the. handsomest dogs in Auckland. Dr. Charles Evan, of Melbourne, has recently received from the Czar of Russia's kennels a pair of Borzois. These are the first dogs of the kind ever imported to the colonies. The breed is immensely popular in England just now, and two of the most ardent fanciers and successful exhibitors are the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Newcastle. The latter lady has officiated as judge of the breed at several prominent shows. I hope soon to see some fancier take up this breed in New Zealand. Puppies will no doubt soon be obtainable in Melbourne, although probably the price will for a time be rather high. The pair in question are in quarantine at the Melbourne Zoological Gardens, where they will no doubt be a great attraction to visitors.

Mr Bursdorf, the well-known collie fancier, who left for a trip to the Old Country on January 4, was priqr to that date entertained by a number of members of the N.S.W. Kennel Club. Mr Bursdorf mentioned that he intended visiting- the big- Manchester Show, and it is hinted that he will very probably bring- back with him one of the sensational dogs of the year.

Mr Nixon's fawn pug Royal Rip, a well-known prize-winner, has been sold for £60.

Mr Fawcet's famous l:>-year-old greyhound bitch Fair Future has recently joined the majority. She was the dam of a very large number of winners, including- Fabulous, Fortune, Fortuna Farente, Fair Floralia, Fortune's Favourite, First Fortune, etc.

From our Sydney files T learn that the Scottish terrier i?; making- great headway in Xew South Wales. This is one of the breeds T advised new canine aspirants to g-o in for in rhy recent notes.

There lias been n most marked decrease in the number of cases of rabies in England since the muzzling order was put in force. Whereas in 1595 there were GC2, in IS9S there were only IG.

There is danger in keeping1 a bigsavage dog, as proved in a recent law case in the Old Country. A St. Bernard belonging to a Miss Evan<\ seized an Airdalc terrier puppy belonging to Mr Barber and ran off with him to an adjoining field, in which his mistress was taking a constitutional. Mr Barber followed, and to make the big dog let go gave him two or three strokes with a hazel stick, which so nettled Miss Evans that she in return struck the gentleman named across the face with a dog whip, and according to medical testimony deprived him of the sight of one of his pyes. This little bit of temper proved rather expensive to the lady, as the jury awarded plaintiff jSTjO damages, which T think is quite little enough for the loss of an eye.

The total amount received for snips through the office at the Into Birmingham Show totted up to £252 7/6.