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Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 35

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• . • The Dunedin Fanciers' Club have finally 1 decided to hold the dog show at tho same time as the Otago Agricultural Socitty hold their Tfinter diiplay. The exhibits will not be shown within the walls of the new hall, however, but will be tented just outside, the rsfsou being that sufficient space is not avilable. • . • The committee have opened up negotiations towards securing a judge from Autt-alia. • . • " Fancier" in tho Southland News tugget t?, us per quotation made by me last week, th«.t Mr Rcgeu should act as judge for the next Southland show. Whiltt fully endorsing all that " Fancier " has to fay complimentary to Mr Rogen, I cannot, without crediting him with superhuman virtues, imagine him a< a judge. No one in New Zealand probably has knowledge of the fancy superior to Mr Rogeu, but how can it be expected that a breeder could look with strictly judicial and impartial ejes on dogs of his own breeding or on those from rival kennels ? The idea is simply preposterous. { • . • I am informed by " Station Shepherd " that he has arranged to send his dog up to Wellington to Mr Horrax, as invited through these columns, and is also willing to send him to Bright Eyes, or Mr Jawitt may send his bitch to tbe dog if he prefers that course. As my correspondent is in every respect a reliable and responsible person, I can sea no objection to either plan. • . * I sincerely hope that nothing will arise to prevent the carrying out of these most interesting experiments, which will undoubtedly make the Renfrew and Karori kenne'.s the centre of interest for some time to come. • . • I have had the privilege of looking upon a portrait of Champion Richmond, said to be a perfect dog in the matter of points. Nothing like this tetter hap, it is alleged, ever before croEsed the equator. He won four firsts and rhampions ab Birmingham, the best shoTV in England for setter?, in 1892-93-94-95, and in 1896 (last December) his son JickSt.i^e won two firsts and championships as bpfct English setter shown. Champion Richmond, it will be remembered, is the sire of Mr MaMbewfe's pups out of Mettagong Bans, which, I am glad to report, are doing splendidly. • . • I will now proceed with my report on Mr Jowitt's collies, as promised a week or two back. Taking into considera'ijn the facb that the advertisement at the head of this column contains useful iaformatiai about the dogs mentioned, I will curtail my remarks to particulars not contained therein. • . ' With regard to Rannoch, I need only mention that his dam Duchess II was by Ch*mpion Britannic, by Metchley Wonder, to show that be is a most fa»hion»bly-bred dog. His record as a prizs-winner is" extremely goud. He took" first prize in Ot*go and Southland clkss at the Dunedin show in 1894- ; special best dog in Otago and Southland name show ; first open class in Dunedin in 1895, beating First Shot ; first priz9 Otago and Southland, Dunedin, iv 1895 ; challenge cup for best collie in show in 1895 ; challenge cup for best dog in Otago and Southland in 1895 ; and first prize at Invercargill (open dogs and special) for best dog in show in 1695. •. . * Heather Pluck (by Great Alne Friar out of Clydesdale Beauty, by Paramount, by the crlebrated Eclipse) was shown at last year'« DunKdin show, winning first open class, beating First Shot, and at luvercargill he also won first open class. These are the only times he has been shown in New Zealand. He is a beautiful dog, with aheadshowiog the prominent dome now becoming fashionable. • . • Pearl of Cree comes next. The dam of this prettiest of all Australasian collie bitches is by Parbold Percy, by the celebrated Champion Christopher. Pearl was born in 1891, and earned a good name before* coming to the colony. She won the first and special for best collie in the show at Lanark ; first prize in the limit class, special for- the best collie in tbe show (beating First Shot), first in Otago and Southland class, and challenge cup for best dog in Otago and Southland, all at Dunedin, 1895 ; won first at Invercargill in hitches, and special for best collie in show in 1896. Not otherwise shown in New Zealand. • . • Rimu Bright Eye», by Champion Laird of Shernbourneout of Rimu Cora, is the beautiful slut now offered for service by my correspondent "Station Shepherd's" imported worker. She won first prizs open dogs, Dunedin, 18S3; Thompson's Challenge Cup for b?sb dog in show, Dunedio, 1893, beating Opawft Don and many others ; ficst prize open class, Christchurcb,' 1893; first prize open class, Wellington, 1893 ; first prize opeu class,

Dunedin, 1895. She is a most serviceable and intelligent-looking slut, and to my mind just the very kind of animal with which to make the experiment contemplated. • . ' Renfrew Phillis. — This slut's dam was by Wcodmansteru Claudine out of Opaw* Zeatu. ' . * Rene, a sable and white, by Newmarket Ruff out of Newmarket Faith, won first in puppy class in Dunedin, and in open bitches and puppy class in Melbourne last year. • . • Heather Bride won first in bitch class in Wellirgton, and has not beeu shown elsewhere. • . • Renfrew Phyrne has never been shown. His sire, Heather Squire, is by Champion' Ormskirk Chris. • . • In addition to the above I saw three pups, aged five months, by Heather Pluck out of Pearl of Cree. They looked exceptionally we ]l — as big as their mother. One of them, a dog, is black and tan, and the others, a dog and a bitcb, are black, tan, and white. • . • Al«o two sable, very fine dog pups by Heather Pluck out of Renfrew Phyllis, and three dogf, and one bitch by Rannoch out of Heather Bride, five weeks old. • . • As I said before, all these dogs appear in the pink cf condition just now, and are likely to render a good account of themselves if shown at the forthcoming winter show. • . • In quoting other papers I like, vrhen possible, to acknowledge the source of information, fo I may as well say that the following paragraphs are irom the Sydney Mail and the Melbourne Leader ! Is it not strange that they should both introduce their quotation from the London Referee with exactly the eamo • • journalistic splaeherism " ? That genial journalist, Mr George R Sims — 41 Digcnct" of the London Referee — and prince of good fellows — I judge him to be so from his writings — thus in a recent issue of the above paper informs his readers of the popularity of the old-fashioned breed of bulldogs :—": — " Barney B&rnato's bulldog brother, Mr Sam Woodiwiss's Barou Sedgemere, became a full-blown champion this week at Derby. Tho popularity of the bulldog is shown by the fact that I have duriug the past week received three applicitions from clrrgyraon, two from Americans staying in London, »nd fivs from ladies for advice as to where they on buy a good specimen of the national breed." Mr Sims is a lover of the breed himself and has several valuable specimens, including Billy Greet and Barney Barnato. That genial journalist, Mr George R. SimE — '"JDsgouet" ot the London Referee — and prirct) of good fellows — I judge him to be to from Irs writings — thus in & recent isnue of the above paper informs his readers of the popularity of the old-fashioned breed of bulldogs :—": — " B-vrney B&rnato's bulldog brother, Mr Sam Woodiwis&'ti Baron Sedgemere, became a tull-blown champion this week at Derby. The popularity of the bulldog is shown by the facb that I have during the past week received three applications from clergymen, two from Americans staying in London, and five from ladies for advice as to where they can buy a good specimen of the national breed." Mr Sims is a lover of the breed bitnself, and huR several valuable specimens, including Billy Greet and Barney Barnato. • . • Dog yarns have to verge very closely indeed on the improbable to stagger the genuine fancier. The People, an English paper, is jesponsiblefort.be following :—>• A gentleman living in Scotland took his dojj with him recently to a neighbouring town some miles away from his own abode. He transacted his • business ; but hating lecked his dog in a room, he forgot all about the animal and returned home without him. In order to get him back withqut the trouble of fetching him, ife orcurred to him to try what the t'lephon^ wcuUl do. Accordingly he telephoned; and the 'receiver' was placed at the dog's erv. The sagieious animal at once recognised his master's voice and whistle, and, obedient t j the call, trotted off and reach-d home safely." • . • Mr W. J. Smith thus writes to the Australasian :—": — " I am not s.n advocate, by any means, of low-leggpl terriers ; at the same time I atn not. an advocate ot long-legged ones. I consider Criterion is too leggy for his longth of back and short neck. I .have undoubtedly had low-legged dogs in my kennels, both at Home and here, some of which I bred to get length of head, in which effort I certainly succeeded. I bred fo>* bath work and show. My idea of racy build is not a dng of greyhound or whirpfet appearance, but a dog with good long neck, well get shoulders, good long head, straight legs, with good feet, and a moderately long back with good loin (indica'iog propelling power), I caunot bear a stilty. short-backed, long-legged dog. There is no doubl it must be perplexing to uovic*s to decide which in the co'reet type. With the amateur judging that has been resort.-d to. Jill typed aud s'z°s serm to be able to scjre at our leadirjg shows, and •until some decision in come to it will always be a bone of contention amongst fanciers." • . ' The Mm-lp collie Bookham Queen, by Newmarket Ruff — Newmarket Failb, has whelped eight puppies fo Mr L. D. BorsdofT's imported Ormskirk PAlmbsarer. by Champion Portiog'oi B*r None — Rowley Madge. Quoea was br»>d by Mr F. RogcD, and is the property of Mr J. S" Clarke. The Gordon Sktter — The following is from the pen of Me F. A. Manning, in the Kennel Gazette :: — •• The year now closed, although not remarkable for having produce 1 ! exhibits of an exceptionally high character, may be conS'd^red a very satisfactory one for Gordons. Certainly considerable progress has bees made in developing the type of head which, all sportsmen admire, and which is sometimes called the fquare head — that is, the capacious brain and fquare, broad no»e, with more lip than was usuaUyseen on the show bench a few years ago. This was conspicuously shown at the lash Kennel Club show, where not an exhibit could ba called snipy ; they have, in fact, lost mush of the sharp no 3e — an inheritance from the collie— which so many of the show dogs had ; and with the capacious head they will doubtless retain their intelligence of old. Nearly all the exhibits show the bloodhound eross — the hair and dewlap. These in moderation are a sst-off to the dog. We really want the bright, intelligent, and determined eye. which alone can give true character to the Gordon." Mr Manning further remarks: " It is doubtless to field trials in csnjunction with our shows we must look for the further improvement, of the breed. Then with true judging and making a typical head an essential to prize-winning on the show bench, and careful training f,pr field work, -We shall get Gordons not only beautiful to the eye, bub dogs abe to show sport -in one of its most attractive forms."