COURSING.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 235, 14 March 1885, Page 11

COURSING.

"Let thy fleet greyhound urge his flying foe."

We shall gladly welcome contributions and information on Coursing matters, duly attested hy the signatures and addresses of Hie senders.

We have received from the secretary of the Christchurch Plumpton Company a circular anent the ISTew Zealand Waterloo Cup nieetJngs, and for coolness, and we may say -cheek, we do not remember anything like it. Of course, according to this circular, it is to 'he understood that the Waterloo Cup is to &c only run on the Christchurch Plumpton ■Grounds, and that nominators from all parts of New Zealand must be subject to the ■caprice of the directors of that Company, In fact send their money and beg for a nomination. If our memory serves us right the present secretary of the Christchurch Pkmipton Company was one of the delegates -from the various Clubs that met at Dunedin for the settlement of the Waterloo Cup jneetings, and it was then decided that the "cup" should be run alternately by the various Clubs then in existence in New .Zealand. Hares got scarce in the "open," and Christchurch being the first to ,have a Plumpton ground, secured the Waterloo Cup runniug for the past two years, but we fail to see why this should entitle them to the perpetual ownership of the Waterloo Cup. Why should owners of dogs in the North Island be compelled to travel ■every year to Christchurch ? Here in AuckJand after this season we will have a Plumpton ground that will be second to none in the Colony, and therefore we claim the right to .a turn of the Waterloo Cup, and we are satisfied that if such a scheme is not carried out the Cup will simply degenerate to a local meeting, call it by what name you will. We -wish to call the especial attention of our readers to paragraphs 3 and 4 of the eir•oular, and see in what a cavalier way they ■propose to deal with persons seeking nominations at their hands. The result would -be that no one but the friends of the Club •could have a show of "running their dogs. In a few years the whole thing would be in the hands of a ring of snobs, and none but the chosen few could enter therein. We .subjoin the circular referred to, that our •coursing friends may see and judge for .themselves : —

The Plunipton Park directors, feeling convinced that the interests of coui'aing will be best -served by carrying on the Waterloo Cup on their rj.ground at Templeton, invite applications for life „ nominations for the Cup, to be run annually at Plumpton Park, in the month of July. Stake, 64 dogs, at £12 10s each. Single nominations only to be allotted. Every applicant to lodge with the directors £1 iwhen applying for the nomination ; the deposit tSo be returned should the directors decline to .allot a nomination.

In the event of a nominator being unable in any contest to run a dog, his bona fide property, Jie must return his nomination to the directors then in office, who will have the power to reallot the nomination for that meeting, or to permit isuch nominator to run a dog not his own property. Allotment of nominations will be made about ',31st March, 1885.

Second payment of £5 10s to be made on the third Monday in June, 1885, and the balance £6 on dav of draw.

In succeeding year 3 the state to be payable as follows, viz., one-half on third Monday in June, •and balance on day of draw. Every nominator will be liable for the full amount of his nomination.

If the commencement of the fleeting is postponed over the week in which the contest is fixed to begin, tiny nominator to have the right to •substitute another dog, his bona fide properly, but no fresh draw to take place. The Cup, Purse, and Plate to be run out, unless either of the competitoi's in the iinal courses is withdrawn without consideration, from lamesiess, or any cause clearly affecting his chance of

•winning. Should a nominated" be proved guilty of fraud, -or be a defaulter for either stakes, forfeits, or bets, or for money due under an arrangement for a division of winnings, or for penalties imposed vfor the infraction of rules by the stewards of any ;meeting, or for any payment required by the decision of the Committee of the Plump ton Park ■Coursing Club, his nomination shall revert to the -directors, and the nominator will thenceforth cease to have any interest in the stake. The directors of the company for the time being to be the Committee of Management, and to have the right to associate with them for Ljig'' of carrying out any particular njgj&ing eight nominators. ~-^ T The judge to be elected annualljr jby the nomivnators. f The contest to be carried^ out under the National <31ub Bnles, so far.&g they are not re.pugnant to any of these conditions. Should any irule be altered" or any new- Jtile be added by the majority of nominators, th/fe minority to be bound (by the amendment of addition.