NOTES BY TERROR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 35

NOTES BY TERROR.

• . • The entries for the show now number. 240, and 165 dogs are to be exhibited. * . * There are unmistakable evidences that the local interest in the rhow is much above the nsTial. Probably the fact that there is to be keen competition in several classes, more especially" in collies and retrievers,, is accountable foe this.

• . *An enthusiastic skye-terrier fancier in- } forms me that the »how of sfcyes wilL excel anything of the kind' ever seen in New Zealand. ' * . • Ehttie*fojr fox tamers 1 are not so nmnen.- ' oqb as expected. This* claw seems to be oa the wane; Mr Young, a. usually successful exhibitor, has not an entry this year. Greyhounds ace fairly well represented. • Though not particularly numerous; the quality will be there.- No doubfc tfce foot ot' the coursing meeting- being sot close has prevented a few owners from showing their.' dogs which are in training. I do nob notice any entries of foxhounds. I noticed the pack returning from- the hunt last Saturday— they looked- healthy and well. Surely some must be worth, exhibiting. I would' suggest), as many have never seen 1 these dogs, that a email comer be allotted them' and the whole pick shown. It would, lam sure) be a big draw, and the presence of the huntsman or whip would keep them in order. lam sura Mr Myerev who is president of the Hunt Club, would be pleased bo- advance anything in- the interests ot the snow."

' * . • The coursing meeting takes place on July 8, 9, and 11. The committee, I think wisely, have reduced- the tdmittauca to a shilling. There areST entries for' the Bracelet presented by Mr Townsend 1 . The Waterloo Cup and Leger-have not filled so well. About £20 will be given to some running events; * . * I btlieve there is- a feeling prevailing in -some quarters that tote hounds, being kept in a pack, must necestarily have disease and vermin amongst them, and consequently, that their presence would have an injurious effect upon j the high-priced and carefully-tended dogs competing for prizes. This, however, is altogether an erroneous impression, the fact being that the whole pack must necessarily be perfectly clean, I inasmuch; as. they get a sheep dip every week. Orconne^. being' ins full work training for the weekly hunis.^they will nob have the tlsek and welkfed appearance: of the ordinary run of show dogs.* Though I have designated them as foxhounds, I think they are a mixture of beagles,. .Barriers,, and foxhounds. Probably I they m'gbb properly ba called draghounds. Anyway, there are some very good dogs amongsb them, and 1 their presence- a* the show, even for one: afternoon," would;. I think, prove anAttEaflbion.andidrawa few. visitors.

•„• I' have seen sevecal of our local dog« the. last few days, and from* the appearance of come o£ them I oan, only inform, northern

fanciers that they will not have a walk-over. Of course it is jusb as well that bhere should be keen competition to add zest to the whole affftir. • . • Mr Short, of the Shades, is importing from Victoria a skye-terrier bitch, with' pup by John Robertson's imported dog Champion Turk. Sho will be here in time for the show. • . * It is freely stated that Bookham Queen (Mr Rogen'e bitch) won all before her ab the Sydnoy show, and that she is full sister to and ot the same colour (a blue morl) as Mr Williams'u Newmarket "Mazim ; yet Maxim was disqualified at our late show on account of colour. With regard to these allegations Bo.vkham Queen did not oarry all btfoM J»ar at Sydnsy, being seoond to the impor'wl bifcoh P&rbold Phoebe in the opsn bitch class. In the Australian-bred bitchos, in . the abseuoa of Phoebe, Queen took firsb place aud special, aud first and special in the puppies. With regard to colour, neither Phcehe nor Maxim ar«, etrictly , speaking, merls. Lastly, Maxim was not disqualified on account of colour, but on account of condition; which was about; at bad as it oonld be at the time. • . ' In view of the prevailing idea concerning collies that sables are fit only for ladies' pete, I am pleated to record one more proof to bhe contrary — to wib, that Mr Williams's Maxim is tnrning out an excellent worker. Once again I may remind readers that England's champion worker- (O'rtnskirk Charlie) is a sable and white. • . • Mr Hayne's collie bitch, New Faith, littered on .Wednesday, the. 24th June, nine poppies, four (two of eaoh sex) being bepfc. New Faith is a very pretty biboh* by Newmarkeb Ruff oub of Newmarkeb Faith, and is full sister to Firsb Shot and Maxim. • . • The Wellington Kennel Ciub's uc-xb show will be held on the 16th and 19th September. I should bo pleased to receive a schedule from the secretary. • * . * Christchuroh will not, I fancy, after all be able to arrange a show for this year. • . • " Clubman," of the Sydney Referee, writes: — "Now that the great oanine show of onr year has oome and gone, the Kennel Club 'of New South Wales may fhirly congratulate itself on its successful achievements. Funoiera have had an opportunity of seeing about the i bssb dogs which Australasia posfessei, and some in nearly every class exhibited stuod out as an improvement on dogs previously shown in the same classes. In collies, this fact might be particularly noted ou account- of the display made in that olass being far and away superior j to. any previously made. ,. In Mr F. Rogen's New Zealacd dog, First Shot, we recognise the real crook, aud although he> met- many worthy competitors the judge had little trouble in selecting him for first honours, so well did he stand oat as their superior. Furthermore, although before long he will meet strong company in Melbourne under a different judge, I have little doubt but that he will maintain the honourable position which he gained at tho Kennel Club «how. Then came Mr C&ro's Aberfeldie Hero and Mr Borsdcrffs Bremen Billy, two worthy specimens of the breed, as well aa Mr Oakes's Ormskirk Paradox, whioh I am strongly of opinion -should have scored second honours in the open class. These, and dozens of others which I have not space to describe, must have proved mosb attractive to all collie lovers, and they must have an excellent effect in bringing about an improvement in this class, owing to the information it afforded as to- the degree of perfection which has been attained by breeders, who, by exhibiting them, virtually said to all owners of inferior animals t ' This is our idea of a good collie ; go thou and breed them likewise, or better if sou cau.' "

• . ' The Melbourne Leader R&ys : " First Shot stands oat as a first-class collie. He in a light sable mixed wibh black, aud wibh white collar «ad marking!. He is lsrge in size, bub without coarseness, and of substance throughout. In body I like him exceedingly ; he comes away well from the shoulder, with good strong back, and finishes up with wide, strong quarters. Underneath his brisket is well let down, and his formation is beautifully cub away as ib passes the ribs. His leg«— in front, ab any rate — are first-class. Some say. that he is inclined to be cow-hooked ; aud to that, inclination I give in my adherence. On bhe boards he goes somewhat stiltHy ; but I saw him oub on the green for a gallop, aad there he lays down to his work in fine style. His head is very typical, plenty of length and with fair breadth, showing much character. The eyes are well placed. The ears are a little too large,, bnt are well carried when the dog is ab attention. "

• . • Mr James Taylor,, reporter-in-chief to the Sbockkeeper, has been, compelled by failing health to resign his position. Meat fanciers will regret 10~ hear this announcement, for Mr Taylor's enthusiasm and extensive knowledge have been generally, appreciated by fanciers for years, past. • . • I see by the Australasian that Mr King h»s, sold his Airdale terrier Queensbury Don, by Qaeensbucy . Spring—Queensbury Duchefs, to Mr B. J. Hill, of .Wellington. This is a good all-round specimen, and should help to increase the interest taken in the breed in New Zealand. T notice that this dog is entered to compete ab oar forthcoming show. • '. * Under the heading " The New Dog " an exchange says:— "We are still merely on the fringe of the new age. Nowadays fashion has as much sway over the shape and breed ef dogs as ib has over the burning question as to the shape and cut of sleeves and bonnets^ The new dog, or, ra'har, the bresd which has found mtsfc favour in the eyes of fashionable ladies, is a Norwegian, which ha* the necessary attributes of rarity and costliness. Eskimo dogs are quite passe, and fox terriers, Irisa terriers, and.Airdales distinctly plebeian."