COURSING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 50

COURSING.

Next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, at Forbury Park the Dunedin Coursing Club will^hold their first meeting this season. For many weeks past men have been busily engaged in training the hares and making various improvements to the ground, which is now in splendid order. The meeting will open with the New Zealand Waterloo Cup, for which a record number of dogs have been entered, not only locally, but from all parts of the colony, and even from Australia. The Waterloo Cup should prove an exceedingly "tractive day's sport, as never before has there been such a large number of champion greyhounds competing. The Forbury Park Plumpton is considered to be the best in the colony, and, given fine weather, the meeting should attract record attendances.

A large number of greyhounds are arriving daily from all parts of the colony, and even from Australia, to take part in the contest. Never before in the history of coursing in Dunedin has such attractive sport been provided, inasmuch as the hares now at the Forbury Park are particularly strong and thoroughly trained, and there are more champion greyhounds competing in the Waterloo Cup than has ever been seen at any coursing meeting yet held in Dunedin.

WELLINGTON, April 24.

At the -coursing meeting to-day the "Wellington Cup, of £50, was won by Monarch, after an exciting run with Clements. In the Trentham Plate Major- Taylor and Vickers divided the stake.

Full advantage of the holiday on Monday was taken by a very large number of people to journey out of town, either by rail to the country or by tramear to the many pretty surroundings of the city. The rain which came on during the afternoon spoilt the outing for some, and caused a general stampede for the cars, so much co that the tram service was taxed to the uttermost. During the afternoon St. Clair and Ocean Beach were largely patronised, but there was enormously heavy traffic to Anderson's Bay, and that district bids fair to become a most popular holiday resort. The Taieri races attracted some visitors from town, and the Broad Bay regatta was also responsible for a good number, while all the trains out of town and into town carried good bookings. Towards evening carriages^were being raked up anywhere for the suburban trains, and several were somewhat delayed in starting. It is satisfactory to record, however, that both train and tram traffic was handled without accident.

The railway traffic on Monday was again heavy. Some 900 persons travelled by rail from Dunedin to Mosgiel. The number of passengers booked by the Railway Department for stations along the north line was 1500, while the number for the south was 1350, exclusive of those who went to the Taieri races. The bookings to nearly all Hie stations were grood. bnt the places that found most favour with excursionists were Oamaru, Waikouaiti, SeaclifF, Waitati, Middlemareh, Henley, Waihola, and Milton. On. the city tramways every oar available was brought into requisition, and probably 60,000 passengers were carried.