THE KENNEL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1202, 15 March 1895, Page 27

THE KENNEL.

Stud Visits and Whelpinga wil) lie inserted under r.he JCknnel Ni'Tks in the New Zealand Mail for ONE SHILLING each insertion. for Sale advertisements, &c., -not exceeding six lines, 2s each insertion. The Kennel Editor will he pleased to answer, through tins column,"any - question as to canine diseases; or disordets, or any inquiries on matters generally d ating with. dogs. Items of general interest to dog fanciers will at all times he acceptable, and our readers are invited to forward any information to theKeiiuel Editor, New Zealand Mail. - V. ; . NOTES. ,’f By Fancier. As I predicted last week, the announcement that the whole of the Woodcote Ken-nels-Irish Terriers were to be sold by public auction on the 20th April has made a great stir among dog fanciers, not only locally but all oyer the Colony. Mr Moofhouse has already received a batch of applications for full particulars. It will no doubt interest mnny Southern readers to learn that several of the best Irish Terriers in the kennel are likely to find homes in the South Island, negotiations having already been'begun for several purchases. This, by the way, is only another proof of what an excellent kennel advertising medium the New Zealand Mail is. .71 shall be very surprised if there are mahy of the terriers left for the auctioneer to deal. with.

Referring to Irish Terriers reminds me that it is somewhat amusing to note how many people have suddenly taken to praising the qualities of the breed, and many of them are, strange to say, thinking of investing in one. I wonder if the announced sale of the Woodcote Kennels has anything to do with it?"

It will be noticed by an advertisement in another column that the well-known fox terrier Harewood Tyrant is for sale. This dog is of exceptionally good breeding, which, coupled with the fact that the figure risked is a small one, should rind a ready purchaser from the rauks of fanciers of this brted.

The whole of the kennel column in a Southern contemporary was taken up last week with a long letter from Mr R. Wark and the paper's reply to him. Mr Wark’s letter vvas all- about the performances of his collie bitch Ormskirk Stella. It appears that the contemporary in question attacked Mr Wark severely for having stated that Stella had never been beaten in England, the paper making use of such strong terms as “unwarrantable falsehood, fabricated and circulated by a fancier,” etc. Now I merely mention the matter because it seems to me that a little calm outside explanation is necessary.

As a matter of fact Mr Wark was told at the Wellington Dog Show, by Mr Stanton, of Napier (who previously owned Stella), that the bitch had never been beaten in England. Mr Stanton made the assertion in the bond fide belief that he was speaking the truth. On the strength of Mr Stanton’s assertion Mr, Wark went back to Christchurch and repeated the statement in a Christchurch contemporary. The statement was then attacked by another Southern journal, and the rash expressions above referred to were made use of. As soon as Mr Wark had the true facts pointed out to him he at once wrote to all the leading fanciers’ papers asking to have the statement that Stella had never been beaten in England corrected. All through Mr Wark’s be^ayi9Vl?

strictly open and above board, and I trust my Southern contemporary will do him the justice of withdrawing its remarks,. and apologise for having made use of unnecessarily strong language. Mr Wark is a good fancier, and one upon whom Ido not like to see unprovoked attacks made.

Fanciers in New Zealand are anxiously awaiting to hear of the arrival in Australia of the renowned collie Ornish irk Amazement. It is said that Mr C. Lynott itlie Australian purchaser) gave something over LSOO lor him. That the presence of such a dog in the colonies is a great acquisition to the colonial collie fancy goes without saying. Messrs Harrison and Horrax’s Herd wick is a son of Ormskirk Amazement.

An extract from a Christchurch contemporary’s report of the Wellington Dog Show is made by the Stock-Keeper, after which the latter adds;—“Mr Coupe’s collie awards are critically overhauled, but we should feel inclined to consider that Mr C. has forgotten more than his critics will ever have the opportunity to learn, although Mr Coupe does perform his duties in the unorthodox attire of high hat and cloth spats." Rather a nasty knock 1

•From the obituary notice in another column our readers will see that the famous pair of fox terriers Result and Regent have gone the way of all flesh. Regent’s disease affected the dog very visibly, and Result had been blind for the last eighteen mouths, so their humane owner decided very reluctantly to ease them kindly of existence, which had become a burden to them. Both have been given decent burial in Mr Clarke’s garden. In our notice a reference is made to the oftrepeated tale of the American fancier's, Mr August Belmont, magnificent offer of LIOOO for Result. It will be seen that we now disclose that dollars were intended, not pounds, but all the same Mr Hopkins, acting for Mr Belmont, misunderstanding his message, made the offer in sovereigns, which was not accepted

The cropping of dogs'ears is likely to come to a sudden end in England. Not only has the English Kennel Club forbidden, the practice, but the English courts have taken the matter up, with the result that several offenders have been severely fined. The Stock-Keeper thus refers to the matter;—“The cropping prosecution has been the absorbing and exciting. topic of discussion in kennel circles this week, even to the exclusion of the usual interest taken in the great Liverpool event. The Kennel Club has been having a bad time of it at the hands of the general press. The important daily papers, without exception, have expressed themselves in strong terms of condemnation of cropping, which they unanimously pronounce to be a national disgrace, and the Kennel Club is blamed for having looked on so long and done nothing. The Standard scornfully alludes to the societies which permit the exhibition of cropped dogs as ‘ highly respectable clubs for the promotion of cruelty to animals.’ From all directions the Kennel Club is appealed to to cease countenancing a practice which is regarded with horror by all humane natures. The force of the outbreak of public opinion against the Kennel Club is slightlv modified by the fact that this body has forbidden the cropping of Irish Terriers’ ears for some time past, and for this slight break in the attack the club's thanks are due to those who, when that question was before the meeting, gave their votes for humanity in preference to logic and consistency. That, vote has been the means of sparing hundreds of Irish Terriers from cruel mutilation."

At a recent meeting of the Marlborough Poultry and Dog Association it was decided that the club should affiliate with the New Zealand Kennel Club. Poor Marlborough Association ! Surely it would have been better for them had they waited till the New Zealand Kennel Club was awake and doing active service for the good of the fancy. Better indeed had the Association followed the advice given at its meeting by two of its members, Messrs Shaw and Hall, and waited to see what good it was going to get for its monev. In regard- to a judge for dogs at the next show, it was decided that the secretary should write to the Christchurch and Wellington societies asking that recommendations of suitable men be made by them.

The following extract from the report of a sub-committee of the Marlborough Poultry and Dog Association can only be called “ distinctly good.” The italics are my own : —“ n the fox terriers it was thought advisable to add a puppy class, as at the last show a pup not two months old vvas awarded Ist prize against fully grown dogs, the judge guessing what this pup would turn out when he developed into a dog. Such judging as that gentleman’s, said the committee, lias caused a great deal of talk amongst dog fanciers. Judging should he what the dog is at the time of exhibition, not what he is likely to grow to.”

A correspondent, who apparently believes in the argument that “ a cat is a dog,” has sen t me a photograph of a fine black cat. The cat is photographed calmly sleeping on the lap of a well-known Wellington law clerk. Perhaps the photo has been sent me on account of the latter fact, I must thank the (no doubt well intentioned) donor.

A meeting of the committee of the Wellington Kennel Club was held in the Central Hotel on Wednesday, Mr R. Triggs presiding. A number of letters were received, including one from the Marlborough Dog Association asking the committee to recommend a judge for their forthcoming show. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the secretary. Mr Cook reported that he had paid out all prize money in connection with the last show. The question of the large number of arrears of members’ subscriptions was also dealt with.