THE KENNEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 25 January 1901, Page 3

THE KENNEL.

(By Canis.)

. Dog shows for the present year are commencing early in New South Wales. The first is being held this week in connection with the Berry Agricultural Society. Mr W. Hamilton, the wellknown fox terrier breeder, is announced to judge all classes. The first real dog show of the season will be held at Lithgow (N.S.W.) on February Gth. Mr Harold Cadel has accepted the position of judge. It is announced that the N.S.W. Royal Agricultural Society's Dog Show, to be held at Easter in connection with their mammoth annual fixture, will this year be held under Kennel Club rules. Such being the case, I presume it will count as a champion show, and if so, we shall probably see four championship shows in Sydney during the present year, viz.. Royal Agricultural, N.S.W. Kennel Club, N.S.W. P.P. and D. Society, and the Court Rice Show. The Executive of the New Zealand Kennel Club, who I believe are nearly all collie men, and therefore not representative of the general canine fancy, recently passed some new rules without any intimation whatever to some of their affiliated clubs (at any rate I can vouch for the Auckland Collie Club receiving no notice), one of which states that only four championships will be allowed in one year, one each at four different centres. Although I do not believe in championships being1 made too easy, 1 do not agree with the above rule. I maintain that wherever a representative show is held under N.Z.K.C. rules a champion certificate should bo granted j if the judge considers rhe best dog in any particular breed is worthy of it. and 1 don't think any judge with knowledge and conscience will give a second-rate specimen a championship.

1 gather the following information from "Nota Bene," '-Sydney Mail":—

Death has recently removed several notable dogs. The well-known Irish .terrier, Criterion, imported to Melbourne by Mr Green, died the other day. Criterion sired many winners, including the New South Wales champion, Eltham Spuds. A pair of famous mastiffs, Messrs Walker Bros.' dog Reklaw and Mr W. Cardin's champion bitch Hazpldene Dora, also departed this life within the last two weeks. Both were fawns and had a number of wins to their credit. Reklaw was by Mr J. Connell's imported mastiff Jonathan ex Tirrita Niobe, and he defeated Hazeldene Noble, luckily. I think, at the P.P.C. and D. Show, under Mr J. C. Coupe, and at Melbourne under Mr Connell, his breeder. Reklaw's head and front were unexceptional, but he failed in loins and hindquarters. Dora (Jonathan —Olga) was a beautiful bitch, and litter sister to Noble. She won every time she was asked except when Mr Coupe placed Evergreen Nada over her at the P.P.C. and D. Show—one of the worst decisions the veteran ever made. Dora's wins included the New South Wales Kennel Club's championship in 1898, 1899, and 1900, and she also scored at the Royal Show. Mr Cardin's loss is a severe one, as his bitch stood over any of her breed in Australia.

Mr R. Vicary, of the famous Churchills Kennels, Newton Abbot, has bred a number of fox terriers of the highest quality. Among these may be named Visto, Venio, Valasca, Vice Regal (sold for £470), Valuator, Vesuvienne, Vicety, and Valteline. The latest stars in. the renowned line of "V's" are Vanodel and Velocipede. Concerning these dogs Mr Vicary, writing to a Sydney friend, says:—"Vanodel is the most beautiful terrier I ever owned in a dog—the best head and ears ever seen—a, really great dog:. I am sure you wouia say I must keep him for stud. He is a continual feast to look at. Velocipede is nearly as good, in fact, Welburn put him over Vanodel at Leicester. But Vanodel is the best, although I once considered the other was. I do not think I have ever had Vanodel's equal; he has not quite so much bone as Venio, but is more perfect in head and on more elegant lines. Vanodel is from Valuator's dam, and Velocipede is out of Cissy Smith, by St. Leger—a Visto dog." Mr Vicary now divides his attention between terriers and hounds; he is master of the South Devon hounds.

Among Commonwealth visitors to Sydney were Mr Fethers and Mr A. M'Laurin of Melbourne, and Mr M'lntosh, of New Zealand, all of whom are interested in fox terriers.

Mr W. W. Thomson, an English collie judge of repute, has again been compelled to delay his so long promised visit to Australia.