THE M'KENZIE COLLIE DOG CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 35

THE M'KENZIE COLLIE DOG CLUB .

(Fkom Ojh Own Coeeespondbnt.) ; This young club got its trials off very successfully at the end of laßt week under fairly favourable circumstances, the exception being the low standard of work performed by the j majority of the dogs worked the first day, and j on the second day the weather, though dry, j •>vas bitterly cold, which proved a barrier to s, large attendance on that occasion. The opening day was beautifully fine, and a very large j crowd put in appearance, and manifested keen interest ia the performances of the many contestants. The three senior classes aggregated 72 nominations, only five of which failed to put j in an appearance— a very gratifying entry to j j the club, which had worked hard to make its i i meeting a succes3, and return as much as pos- | sible to the many supporters of the club in rs- j turn for their liberal patronage. Everything j ! was done to make the competitor welcome and l-to ensure satisfaction throughout;. The result j waa all that was desired. As regards the one \ \ or two small matters of when a slight I alteration in the laying oft of the ground might prove advantageous, due note was taken of the ' defect, so that another time even so slight a want will not be noticeable. The presidenb oE the club, Major W. J. Sfcewa-d, M.H.R , was in attendance, and Buri prised nob a few with the amount of knowledga he possesses of the requirements of such a meeting. The judge, Mr W. O. Rutherford, of Amuri, again petformed his onerous duties to the entire satisfaction of competitors and the public alike, and. was given a hearty cheer by way of recognition on driving off, at the conclusion of his work, behind a spanking pair of bays. The club greatly regretted their judge being so pressed for time as not to be able to wait and partake of the club dinner provided specially for officials, competitors, and members, and which proved all that could be wished for it ; but as tho major had to leave fairly early in the night to enable him to_ be back in Ashburfcon on business the following day, the toasts were necessarily short and few, especially as the prizes to be distributed were numerous. The president, in handing over tbo i prizes, made a few happy remarks, addressing j each and all of the fortunate recipients in appropriate terms. The following is the prize ! Hat :— Class I. — Huntaway, about half a mile. Possible I poiuts, 30. ; Mr A. Matheson's (Hyde) Nell, 27 points, £8 ... 1 Mr G. Bvaus (Orari), £4 „ .. 2 Mr R. Eraser (Al bury), £2 ... „,,3 Mr R. Ooma (Tekapo), special '.. 4 (Mr T. Souness's special, Noisiest Huntaway, Mr J, Robertson.) In this class, excepting that of the Otago representative, the work done was anything but "special," the sheep — halfbreds — proving too tame and used to the ground, which, too, was rather limited at the starting point. Sheep got too easily over creek bank. Class ll.— Yarding. Maximum points, 30. Mr J. Ballautyne (Fairlie), £8 1 Mr R. Pollock (Snowden), £i ... .... ... 2 Master H. Anderson (Levels), £2 ... 3 Mr S. M'Don aid (Clayton), special 4 In this event again the work was disappointing, the sheep— merinos— being too weak to stand too much working and too wild to allow of capture, only two sheep being yarded the whole afternoon — a result equally attributable to tho lack of " style " in the dogs' performances. And there is great questioning of tha wisdom of retaining the class in its present form, as a purely yarding dog would be by no means of much value in a country where a. trial like the nass dra watts

contestants from. So I doubt more satisfaction would be got out cf a class confined to young dogs or an all-round purpose dog — a veritable " Jack-of-all-trades," ever one's mainstay. Nevertheless there is no disputing the fact that a real good bit of yarding work ia very attractive and interesting, especially to onlookex - 3.

Class lll.— Long pull. Possible points, 30. Mr W. Ballantyne (Fairlie) 28 points, ... 1 Mr It. Friser aud Mr R. Pollock, 27 points,/ 2 £3 each ... t -. \3 Master H. Anderson, special , ... 4 Mr R. Fraser, special „5 Splendid work was done here notwithstanding that for the most part the dogj were the same as competed in the preceding class and the sheep identical, which tends to show that there is some ground for the oft-repeated assertion that yarding is not a necessary qualification in a dog.

Class IV. — youths under 18. Otte nomination. H Anderson, 27 points, .-C2 1 The points scored iv this class being allowed to count for the Cup gives this youthful competitor the proud possession of the Challenge Cup for the year, with Mr A. Martin close up. Mr J. Barr won the competitors' foot race by about a yard from Mr Evans, C. Thew close up. Mr J. iloberlson won the other handsome trophy given by the ladie?. This event was for beat looking bachelor— spinsters attending the ball only voting.

The ball was immensely successful, and did credit lo the dance committee. Mrß Kuff again had charge of the tea and cakes, ».nd that is sufficient guarantee that justice was done lo it.

MrS. Annifis (vice-president), W. Scott (timekeeper), andJ. Barr (flag steward), worked hard i,houghout in the interest of the club. Mr W. Ballantyne'a Trusty Mos r , as well as the long puli, wan Mr James Lelico's special, a standardbred working collie pup ; and also Mr Scott's special' for best bred working collie, Messrs G. Evans's Glee and Pollock's Wylie running him vgry close. Messrs M'Leod and Smith provided the sheep and Jamison and Souness the sledges, white Mr Jas. -Robinson hsd the trying duty, cf liberating the sheep, which could not have L-ean done better.