NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1293, 10 December 1896, Page 28

NOTES.

[By Fancier. | Dr Thomas, of Timaru, who returned to the colony by the llimutaka, brought out with h'tn two really fine specimens of the Dachshund breed—a dog and a bitch. All true fanciers will bo pleased to hear uf this, as there are not many of this class in the colony.

Another class that is evidently finding much favour just now is the bull dog. Mr Tegner who is a recent arrival from the Old Country, and who proposes settling in Wellington, has brought out two good ones —a dog and a bitch, that have since been put on the quarantine island.

The following par. from the Australasian should prove to our readers that the fancy is very much alive in Auckland :—Mr T. Sloan Morpeth, of Auckland, New Zealand, who has been a representative of the V.P. and K. Club in Auckland for a number of years, visited Melbourne at the time of the Boyal Sho%v, and whilst here attended Mr C. Lynott's sale of collies, and purchased the sable and white bitch Mona Bell of Wyoming, by Champion Ormskirk ex Amazemenc—a bitch de scended from Champion Partington Belle. This young bitch was in whelp at the time of purchase, but, we regret to learn that all the puppies died soon after birth. This is hard luck for Mr Morpeth in his fctart in the collie faucy, but he is evidently not easily disheartened, as he has just;

purchased from Mr C. Lynott the wellknown collie dog Wonder of Wyoming, by Champion Laird of Sherbourne ex Champion Portington Belle. Wonder has secured the following prizes, viz., first novice, third colonial-bred, and third open classes at Melbourne, 1894 ; first open and first colonial-breds, Melbourne, 1895; third" open and third colonial-breds, Melbourne, 1896. He was whelped in Juno, 1893, so is now in his prime, and, as the breeding of highclass collies is carried out on a large scale in New Zealand, his services as a stud dog should be in good demand. Wonder is sire of Mr S. J. Lammey's Marry.tville Prince and other prize-winners. English setter fanciers will be interested to learn that Mr T. Sloan Morpeth has secured from Mr D. C. Morpeth's Essendon kennels a brace of well-bred bitches, viz., Essendon Daisy Bell, by Champion Ripple Shot—Carlton Belle, and Essendon Meg, by Eemus IV.—Widford Elora. It will be remembered that the same fancier recently purchased Essendon Sam, by Champion Royal Sam—Carlton Bell, so with such an excellent trio he should lay the foundation of a kennel of English setters equal to any in Australia. Mr Morpeth has wisely started with the best obtainable, and these should materially help to improve the breed in New Zealand. Wonder of Wyoming has arrived in Auckland safely.

Mr Hill's Airedale pups by Queensberry Don, ex Vixen, are going off very well. One has gone to Mr Beetham, of Masterton, and another to the Waikato district. There are one or two under offer still.

In a report of the late Auckland, show published in a recent issue of the Sydney Mail, Mr E. H. Cox, the judge, speaks very highly of the excellent arrangements and accommodation provided for the dogs, which were, on ihe whole, a creditable collection. Collies and bull dogs were a long way above the average, there were some excellent specimens noticed in the fox terrier and greyhound classes.

The well-known collie dog, champion Stracathro Ralph, is dead, having succumbed to kidney disease. He was bred and owned by Mr Morton Campbell, well known in New Zealand, was by champion Christopher, ex Stracathro Fancy, and was eight years old at the time of his death. He was remarkably successful in his time as a show dog, and had great influence at stud.