NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 18

NOTES.

[By Fancier. I The entry of dogs at the Carterton show last week was not large, only about 30 being received. In the collie class Mr F. Rogen's Allan Breck was placed first, and Messrs Harrison and Horrax's Honour, second ; the other exhibits being onlv moderate specimens.

I would take this last opportunity of urging local fanciers to make their entry for°the dog section of the Wellington A. and P. Association's show to be held on the 18th and 19th inst. The committee, with a view of popularising their show, have decided to make special provision for dogs, and have carefully selected a competent judge, and have fixed their prrzemoney on a most liberal scale, in addition to which a large number of valuable special prizes have been offered. The classes provided are many, and the accommodation _ on the show ground has been largely increased. Entries, which close on Thursday (to-day), may be made with Mr Stevens, the secre* tary of the "Wellington Kennel Club, or with the secretary of the Association, Mr {Scales.

The fox terrier, Dusky Dominie, imported by Mr Triggs, arrived safely by the Rakaia on Sunday last in first class condition and went into quarantine on Tuesday. A full description of the dog has recently appeared fin our columns, and it is sufficient to say that Mr Triggs is highly pleased with him.

From a recent issue of the Sydney Sunday Times I notice that Eclipse, the writer of the notes in that paper, strongly urges the various Australian societies to follow the example of the New Zealand clubs in asking the judges to furnish written reports of the classes that they adjudicate upon. Let me add that the idea is a splendid one, and that we find it to work admirably. To my Australian readers— Give it a trial.

There is scarcely an Australian mail goes forward from Wellington just now that does not carry with it one or more orders for dogs for local fanciers. This must indeed be most encouraging for those that really have the interests of the fancy at heart, as there is no doubt before long we shall have here the finest collection of dogs of all classes there is to be found in New Zealand. By the last mail three orders went forward for breeds that I am sorry to say have to a large extent been almost forgotten in Wellington. Of these three orders I shall have more to say later.

Mr T. H. Brown's St. Bernard, Zulu, visited the same owner's Juno last week.

The affiliation of the N.S.W. Kennel Club with the Kennel Club of Great Britain is a matter of interest to fanciers in the colony, says the Sydney Mail, as it will not only tend to raise the status of the local club, but it will increase its influence in the exercise of its administrations, because of its being attached to and the representative of an institution which is the recognised head in kennel matters in the United Kingdom, and which commands the respect of fanciers throughout the world. This has been in a largo measure brought about by the fact that Mr H. Moses, junr., was present in England at the time to urge the claims of his society before the committee of the Home club. It is to be hoped that this will have the effect of inducing our own New Zealand Kennel Club to affiliate with some recognised body.

To convey an idea of the magnitude of the Kennel Club of England's annual show, says the Sydney Mail, the following information regarding the prizes which were competed for this month (October) at their annual fixture, which was held at the Crystal Palace, will prove interesiing. The number of classes amounted to 360, and in addition to several 25, 50, and 100 guinea trophies the money prizes total in the aggregate .£3500. The ordinary first prizes are £3 and £4 ; second prizes, £2 ; third prizes, £l. The special prizes numbered over 350.

It is understood, says a Melbourne exchange, that Mr W. L. Rae has signified his intentiou of retiring from the dog judging business. Small blame to him, if it is true, for there are certainly more kicks than half-pence to be gained in Australia, and it will always be so whilst so much cliquistn prevails amongst the clubs.

Of the late Wellington show, the Australian Poultry and Day Gazette writes : " This club produced the large entry of 175 collies, a record for Australasia, no other show anywhere south of the lino over having received such a muster. New Zealand must always be -par excellence the climate for the collie, and I fancy in the near future all the best specimens of the breed in this part of the world will bo bred there."

The following par. is rather rough on the Sydney Kennel Club : —The boomster of the said club, writing in a daily paper, says : The club now numbers 300 members. Why does he not make it 8000 ? But how many of the members really own dogs, and how many of such dogs are good enough for exhibition ?

I have heard it rumoured that there is a probability of a terrier club being formed in Wellington in the near future. I would hardly like to say what success such an undertaking would meet with, as in my opinion there is scarcely room yet even in Wellington for two canine clubs. However, if such a society is formed, I feel sure it will receive every assistance possible from the existing club. The aim of its founders, I am told, is to hold field trials, etc.

I am very pleased to see that that valued kennel writer " Wattle Bark," in the Australasian, is remarking strongly against the inclusion of classes being provided for dogs under six months. For the information of my many readers I insert the par. here, with the hope that it will be borne in mind by the New Zealand Kennel Club Schedule Committee when next year's schedules come under their notice. Several of its members, I am glad to say, have expressed themselves very strongly on the subject.—" The practice of exhibiting very young puppies cannot be too strongly condemned. However good a six-months-old puppy may be, it will, as a rule, stand very little chance of winning in good competition, apart from which the enforced confinement cannot be otherwise than prejudicial to its future chances on the

show bench, even if it does not affect its general health. The proper place for puppies under nine months of age is a large roomy kennel, where they can get plenty of exercise and food suitable to their age and requirements."

The Stockheeper says :—" A query which reaches a contemporary from New Zealand is as to the brace prizes. Thus, where brace classes are provided, should exhibitors be compelled to name the dogs which will comprise their brace at the time of entry, or may they select any pair from their exhibits after the judging of individual classes ? The same difficulty seems to arise occasionally in England, as, for instance, recently at the People's Palace show."