NOTES BY MASTER M'GRATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1990, 17 April 1890, Page 30

NOTES BY MASTER M'GRATH.

There being an insufficient supply of strong hares at the Eorbury, the May Plumpton coursing meeting has been abandoned. The next coursing meeting on the Forbury will be tho Waterloo, in Juno, for whioh such arrangements are being made as will ensure a proper Bupply of game. Mr G. M. Procter, hon, secretary of the Oamaru Olub, advises me the President's Cup, presented by Mr John Hunter, for an unlimited number of greyhounds at £2 2s eaoh, will be run at Oamaru on Thursday, 24th April. Dogs muit be the bona fde property of members of the Oamaru Ooursing Olub. Nominations and acceptances will close on April 22, at 9 p.m. Commenting on the Waterloo meeting, the Field says :— " Although to a certain extent some amount of apathy has attended the Waterloo Oup of this season prior to the day of opening the battle, as soon as we got fairly launched in the business there was no lack of oxcitement, and eaoh of Fullerton's displays was eagerly watched and keenly criticised. It was generally admitted that Colonel North's crack was rather favourably drawn, and that his first antagonist, Plemont, was not a very formidable opponent. Then Grlenogle, his next rival, had polished off Oaterham Clerk decisively, but he stood no ohance with the favourite either as regards pace or at close quarters. On the second day, Monkside, who had got off very easily in eaoh of bis spins of Wednesday, fairly collared laßt year'B divider, and at one time almost looked like lowering bis colours, but Fullerton'B extra pace again came to the rescue, 'and bis real good finish gained him the award. In the fourth round Grladiola, who had up to this easily polished off her opponents, stood no chance with Fullerton, whilst his victory over Green Fern was very one-Bided ; and in the deciding course bis great superiority was again manifeatj Downpour's extreme cleverness availing nothing against the fine speed and Bmartnoaa of Colonel North's rop'-eaentative j indeed, seldom has a better trial been seen fcr the deciding course of the Waterloo Cup; and the trial between Duke MncPherson andßurnaby; two years since was vividly called to the mind of those present who had witnessed it. The only difference was

that on that occasion the owner of Duke MaoPherson (Colonel North) had to put up with second honours, whilst to-day Fullerton repeated his victory of a twelvemonth since in' gallant style, and bis performances stamp him as ono of the best greyhounds of modern times, Fullerton's weak point is his inability to kill his hare quickly : but he is possessed of almost every other attribute of a great greyhound, as, in addition to his undoubted pace, he is wonderfully cl9ver, and, ac far as can be judged, is not wanting in Btamina either, Downpour, who waß nominated by Mr Trevor after East End went amiss, obtained her position most I meritoriously ; and, after her brilliant display on Thursday evening, when she sent Smaok to the rightabout, many began to think that her ultimate viotory was not by any means a remote contingency ; but she was no match for the winner, whose defeat of Mr Trevor's representative was very one sided, Taking into consideration the severe running Green Fern has had all the season, and more particularly at Southport recontly, her getting into the last four was a game performance. Donald O 'Kane, too, is entitled to evdry credit for his forward tunning, and his defeat of Pins and Needles on Thursday brought consternation to the many backers of Mr Pilkington'e nomination, Eaon of the Irish dog's displays, with the exception of his first course, which he ran rather unsteadily, ■ were full of merit, and when he went down this morning before Downpour ha had none the best of the luck. Smaok, who won three courses oleverly, is evidently snort of pace, as was shown when she met Downpour in the fourth round ; and Pins and Needles was dearly feeling the effects of her Sleaford exertions when sent to the rightabout by Donald O'Kane. Gladiola, considering the state she was in, added to the high reputation she has hitherto had, and the other) Oastlomilk kennel representative, Gwenna, waß clearly all to pieces when defeated by Barere. Lindrick, too, felt the effect of the many calls made upon him this season ; he is one of the useful sort, and, if now permitted to retire, will doubtless make