COURSING NOTES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7863, 14 May 1891, Page 2

COURSING NOTES.

By Spectator.

Master M'Grath, in the Otago Witness last week, informed his readers that the caretaker of the Forbury Plumpton was getting it in first-class order, and that 133 hares were counted one day last week, while it was thought some twenty more skulked unseen in T the plantations. This augurs well for sport at the meeting this week.

Up to the end of last week 110 hares had been delivered at the Canterbury Metropolitan Plumpton Park Company's grounds, and from what I have seen of them they area fine strong lot, and Harry Franks, who, is in charge of the enclosures, has already given them some running about—preparatory work as It were. When the escapes and drafting paddocks are finished early in the coming week their training will be conducted in regulation style, and before the ccming Meeting I hope to be able to report on some of the first trials.

Mr J. B. Hill, the well known Lyttelton courser, has decided upon the following names for some of his greyhounds from Waitangi. For the white and fawn bitch he nas selected the name of Waihora ; for the fawn Waibaha; for the black and wnite Waihi (late Wairoa): for the white and black Waihau ; for the dogs Rangitira andßupaki. Iα naming the daughters of famous old Wultangl Mr Hill has wisely adopted such name 3as are not only euphonious, but easily traceable, and names commencing with Wai in Maori are practically inexhaustible, though to the uninitiated in Korero Maori there is certain to be some difficulty in the matter of furnishing the correct pronunciation. When Waitangt (the gelding) was running in Australia, it was amusing to here the "bookie's" calling the odds " Ten to one Waltanga," and some of the newspapers would insist on spelling the name Waitangab. Two Canterbury representatives, Messrs Martin Taylor and J. 13. Hill, have gone to Dunedin with greyhounds for the meeting held there this week, and much interest is being shown here in the meeting on this account.

A Hawera correspondent writes:—" So far coursing has not made very great beadway amongst us. It's not for the lack of hares that the itport does not find great favour, for I venture to say that hares are as numerous here as anywhere, and as an instance of the ■ number seen they are sometimes to be seen careering about the streets of Ha-vera, and only last week one made its way down High street, and was finally captured by one of Mr C. Budge's greyhounds. In the bush districts behind Manaia aud Okaiawa hares are becoming very plentiful—too much so for orchardists. Oα the plaius Sood sport is afforded to the few that inulge in coareing. Amongsc others wha own good greyhounds and succeed in obtaining large bags might be mentioned Messrs O'Reilly, Newaham, Budge, Adam* eon, G. Gibson, and other*?. Hares should become very plentiful io this part of Taranaki, as there is plenty of shelter and natural cover for them, and escape is easy. If a coursing club were formed in the district it would be readily supported. The opening meeting of the Oamaru Oouraing Club was a most enjoyable affair, though the ground was, on account of the continued dry weather, very hard, and some of the dogs got cut a little. Two events were run on, the St. Leger Stakes, winner £10, runner-up £6. Mr Grimshaw'e dogs, Milton and Dorothy, respectively, secured these prizes, and both are by that good dog Newton. The Sc George's Stakes, for eight all-asred dngs at £2 2s each, winner £10. runner-up £6. This course was won by Mr A. Walker')* w f d Don, by The Miller—Black Bess, who beat Mr W. W. Flnlinson's f s Stirling Maid, by Stirling—Symphony. The latter got badly cut in her previous coarse.