COURSING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 34

COURSING.

FIXTURES. August 5, C, 7— National C.O.s meeting.

KO PES BY MASTER M'GRATH.

The Champion Cap of £70 at BenaJla (Victoria) was won by Mr Hartshorn's Happy Jack, by Merry Monarch — Ta'loress, and Mr Weir's bitch Wasp, by Hfdley — Ojueenie, wts the ruui*er-up. Bluotner, a hot favourite at the draw, went out in the fourth tie«. " Ametbury " thus comments on the matting: "At the calling of the o.vd Bloomer was quoted at 3 to 1 against, but subsequently 100 to 25 wai on offer. I notice that in ttie C*loutfca svr»ep BJo:>mer was run up to £4 5s at a time when there was only £8 i-i Ihepool.' Bettipg was slack, although 100 1o 15 Student found a taker. I don't think Mr Bladoa's bitch could have been scoa at her be?t— in fact I dou't suppose sb.e will ever repeat her fotmor great deods In the open iug round the ebrtainly led Rob R«y eight length*, bat (hen the dog is, I should say, very moderate. Those who taw the go <so*oribo it a« a disappointing display. She did better in a second go, leading Tennjsou cix lengths and beating bin comfortably. In the third go the led Triinatr fix leugths to the hare, but had the omfortune to collide heavily, and this doub;l«6S affested h> v chance ; still, as I said before, I (xp-ct she hai passed her be*t. Nevtrthelew, in the rooms at night, and despite h«r full, Btcooiftf' w«g _.^a 6troirg: ftvourite, Sun«bine and Hsppy Jack htiag moat fancied of the others., It wai bad -lnek for their omiers they met in .the flr»t oo«r.se<?on ' the second day. ' Bloomer lud the bje. in this ' rouud, and was' led a couple of lengths by a stable comtmniou.' S'-iU, her parly w«e confident, aud 3 to 1 were laid o:i her agiinst Happy Jkclc in the fourth round. Although they j taoed together for a bit, the son of Merry I Monarch drew out a couple of lengths in the run up, and tbeu bast the great bitoh at work* ing. Thus Mr Bladon's favourite got put out by the ultimate viiuner* To go back to the others, Student, after giving Galatea a terrible lickiug, went out to Happy Jnck in the n*xb round, although there was nothing in it between them for pace. Songster appears to have shown pace. He led Tarboy 10 leugths, then led Herb's To'ee half a dozen lengths and beat him easily (Mr Brown's nomination put his shoulder out), finally les'ng the run -up to Happy Jack by a b»re length. In this course tha ultimate winner jaet gained the run-up and killed straight away — bad luck for the Goulburn Valley dog. Bathurit Boy, the Derby winner, ran a duffer, being beaten poiutlcsa first course. He stood off his game throughout, and never tried a yard — over- 11 run possibly. Baylay's Reward won two ooursss, the fl:fct ens : ly ; but in the second Mr Weir's bitch, Widgeon, led him four lengths. He then got a bje, aud Mr Weir's other representative, Warp, paid him back by leading him two length*. . Warp ran coa«it»ntly throughout, and I must congratulate Mr Weir, our popular veteran, on the fawn b tch's good record. Wasp git a go by herself first course, Shamrock not goiDg to slips. In the second venture Wasp beat Miss Gertie in an tmiatisfuctory trial of 200 yards, taking the turu and the kill. Then she polished off Dante in rare style, and beat' Bayley's Reward as jbefoie-uaenUoned. In the decider the hare was a dodgy cmtomer. After being led two length) Mr Weir's bU-oh began to ■mako matters very interesting for Happy Jack, who only just won by a c!e?er kill. Mr J. W. Harlshoru, the Owner of Heppy Jack, w«s once a constable at Benalla. He was given the dog by a friend who wa« leaving for West Auitralia." After winnißg the Cap he sold the dog to Mr J. B. Pearson for £50— a good bargain for'the buyer, I should say. Although the daughter of Livingstone and Bliss did not win for him on this occasion, Mr Bladou landed tho Sunbeam Stakes with Business, by Liviugitona— Besant."

The director* of the New Zealand Insurance Company have decided to declare an interim divideud at the rate of 12^ per csnt. per annual.