NORTH OTAGO COURSING CLUB.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 639, 21 May 1878, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO COURSING CLUB.

Patron : Pus Excellency the Marquis of jSormanby. President : Hon. M. Holmes. Vice-Presidents : Messrs. Alex. M'Master and Neil Fleming. Committee : Messrs. Allen, M'Auley, Steward, Ronayne, Lintott, Duncan, Hay, Hedley, Menlove, Brydone. Hon. Treasurer : Mr. C. S. Allen. Judge : Mr. C. E. Lloyd.

The Opening Mating of the North Oviigo Coursing Chib took place this morning on the Awamoa Estate, the Hon. M. Holmes having placed his grounds at i.he disposal of the Club. The day. though rather cold in the morning, was all that could be desired for a coursing meeting. It was some time after the appointed hour (nine o'clock) before a start was made, and then some time was spent in starting a hare. There was a very good attendance when a beginning was made. Amongst those present were a good sprinkling of horsemen. The number on the ground gradually increased during the day. After travelling over a considerable extent of ground a hare was started, and the first riair of dogs—Frolic and Fly—slipped ; but the course was an undecided one, the dogs apparently not getting a proper sight of "puss." When the next pair were called upon to be placed in the slips Mr. Meulovo's Flo was not in attendance, but put in an appearance after waiting a few minutes, her owner being fined LI for hohig late. Ouy and Fh> were then placed in the slips, but it was some time before they were let go, for. although some half-00/.eii or more hares were .started, ihey got up at too great a distance from the'slipper. This was partly owing to the beaters being too great a distance from the slipper. Eventually the does were let no, and some good sport was exhibit, d. Mr. Holmes' <'! Ny was slow in getting away, but when he did go he had the course almost entirely to himself, for Mr. Menlove's Flo lost sight of the hare, and was out of the hunt. (!uy worked liis hare remarkably well, turning ! it several times, always being within a very short distance of it, and eventually scoring the first kill of the day. Venus and L'e "Rouge were the next pair, ami ran a ik no course." the hare not. having been sighted. This was owing to the slipper leltiiv the dogs go contrary to the iusti'ueiion.s from the Marshall (Mr. Brydone). The pair (Frolic and Fly) who had run an undecided course were then put in the slips. A capital course was the result, Mr. Stephenson's Fly running remarkably well, and scoring a win, though Mr. Brvdone's dog also ran very well. The hare, however, had the best of it, ' and disappeared among the tussocks. Pirate and Spring were the- next, 10 ' to be placed in the slips. Mr. _ Pate,- ' .son's Spring ran splendidly, turning the ' hare after going a short distance, and ..-iving Finite a'clean go-by, and doing nearly the whole of the finish. Pirate was out-pace.l, although for a time she worked very fairly. Venus and Li! Rouge " ran off :,u" undecided course, and after

spending some time in starting a hare. ;i j short but interesting run t<n>k pliee. L- ; Uouge winning. The next pair of dogs nlae-ed in ti'.o'slip.j were the two crack.;, Mr. Campbell's' Trooper ;uul Mr. M'Auley's Hamlet. Some regret was expressed "at the two supposed best d"i:s being drawn to rnn together, as by this one of them was shut out from hiking a I prize. Some capital sport was looked for. j T!io Marshall made a mcssi of slipping the dogs, and what might havo been an excellent course was stripped of its interest ending without any result being arrived'at. Before the dogs had been caught, tin; next pair, Handle and Polly, were slipped, and'a. fine run took place. Mr. Swanson's Handle running exceedingly well, and winning the course with several points to spare, killing his hare. A short rim took place between Tricolor and Lais, the former winning. The undecided course between lianilefc and Trooper then too;; place, and was speedily decided, Hamlet proving a ; tolerably easy winner, working his hare remarkably well, and killing it in a short j time. A Day and Queen Death ran an, undecided course. An adjournment thou took place, during which a capital luncheon was spread by the Hon." M. Holmes on the ground, of which the whole assemblage were invited to partake. Tn a few Wenchosen words, expressive of the great interest taken in coursing by the Hon. M. Holmes, and of regret at his being unable to bo present., his Worship the Mayor proposed the health of the President, of the Society—a toast which was greeted with cheers. This portion of the business having been disposed of, the. undecided course between A. Day and Queen Death was run oil'. After a very short flutter the hare was caught, by Queen Death, but not killed, for a sporting barber well known in town came to the poor brute's rescue, and seized it from the clog. He did not hold it long : for. hearing it, as he said, " ery like a baby," he let it drop, remarking that " a fellow was not going to be bitten by a thing like that." Pussy toddled away to an obscure corner wherein to end the rest of its miserable moments of existence, amidst the applause of the crowd, and suggestions that the benevolent barber should be awarded the Humane •Society's medal. The first ties were then run off, the first pair to meet being Fly and Guy, the former proving the winner after a "very exciting run. Spring and Le Rouge were the next to enter the slips, and a splendid course took place, Spring again running admirably, and winning pretty easily. Hamlet and Handle ran a "no course." Tri-Color having been withdrawn disabled, Queen Death ran a bye in company with Bella, belonging to the same owner. The Queen 3 worked remarkably well, and in this department she appeared to be the best, dog in the field. Spring and Fly then met to run off the second ties, and a beautiful course took place, both .dogs following and working the hare splendidly. The majority of points, however, were in favor of Spring, who scored another victory. Hamlet and Handel then ran off their undecided course, and a long and rapid run took place, Hamlet scoring the

win. Hamlet": then met Queen Death, and suffered" "r. :."' \|.. af'er ;r short but sharp run. - Then came the final tussle, Spring and Queen Death, both of whom had scored three >vins, meeting to decido which should be the winner. Great interest was manifested in this event, both dogs having previously run splendidly. Aftci a shoit opoll, the Uiml " i« s ~f war" was entered upon. A tine strong hare was obtained, and a most exciting chase took place. Up the hill went the hare, closely followed by both dogs, though almost from the start Queen Death showed up best, scoring several points iu succession. After running some distance, the hare went through a fence, but Queen Death was not to be beaten, and gallantly jumped over tho fence after it. Spring attempted to go through the fence, and in doing so got stuck, and was out of the chase. The Queen, however, stuck to her hare remarkably well, and turned and re-turned it several times. Unfortunately, at the most exciting moment, one of the other dogs on tho ground broke loose and joined in the hunt ; but it did not do much harm. Queen Death, despite her long and exciting run, had matters tolerably hor own way. and speedily disposed of tho hare, thus winning the first prizo in tho first match of the North Otago Coursing Club.

Throe cheers, called for liy Mr. ltonayne, an one of the defeated, having been ''{jiven for tho winner, a .start was made "for town, which was reached at 4 o'clock, everyone appearing well rdoasctl with the dav's sport. The following are the results of tho first run :

Mr. .J. Stephenson's I.lk s Fly heat Mr. T. Di-ydnne's lir \v s Frolic. slr. M. Holmes'lilk d C!uy heat Mr. K, M.nlove's 1.1 w s Flo.

Mr. 1\ Ma on's r d l.e Kongo heat Mr. N Fleming's In- s Venn--. Mr. A. O. rilt.'rtKin's w d Spring heat Mr A. Thomson's l w (1 Finite.

Mr. K. M'Aulcy'.s I' d Handel, boat Mr. !N T . A. Campbell's f d Tmnpor. Mr. W. Sw.msmi's br d Handle beat Mr. (I. (ircoiiliold's Folly. Mr. 0. M'Gavin's br s Tri-Color beat Mr. W. 11. Knnayuu's Lais. Mr. .1. I>. Ivutt's bl s Queen Death boat Mr. C. J. Jennison's w f s A Day. FlliST 'J'iks. Fly beat Guy. Sprint; beat Lo Kongo. Hamlet boat Handle. Queen Heath ran a bye. Xk<:oni> Tins. Spring heat Fly. Queen Death beat Hamlet. i Thikd Tiks. Mr. J. P. IvcU's bl a Queen Heath boat Mr. A. G. I'ator.sim's \v dog Spring, and won v,hi! .stakes. The winners of (lie prizes, we believe, were—First pm:\ T. 35, Qu"nn Heath. Second I'rizo, 1.1 •>. Spring. Two dog:, l.(i oao.h. Fly .•mil Hamlet. Four d"gs, L", oaeh, "<iuy, Lo Kongo, Han.llc, and Tri-Color.