A WATERLOO COURSING MEETING.

Western Star, Issue 284, 15 February 1879, Page 2 (Supplement)

A WATERLOO COURSING MEETING.

A meeting of delegates from coursing clubs of the Middle Island of New Zealand, held at Dunedin, on the 6th inst, was attended by the following gentlemen: -Hon. M. Holmes and Mr W. H. Bonayne, North Otago Coursing Club ; Mr W. J. Walker and Mr Brown, Canterbury Coursing Club; Mr W. Thomson, Timaru; Mr W. 0. Smith, Southland; Mr Taggart, Dunedin. On the motion of Mr Eon AVNE, the Hon. Mr Holmes was elected chairman. The Chairman thought that it was desirable to have a Waterloo Cup fo> the whole of the coursing clubs in the Middle Island. By joining together, clubs would have much more power and more money than by ea.h striving to have a cup in its own district. The Water’oo meeting would then be of some importance, and the best dogs from all parts of the Colony would be brought together, and probably from the Australian Colonies also. If owners there com} lied with the conditions here there was no reason why their dogs should not como in, the same as those owned in the Colony. He thought that with such splendid country as taey had at their disposal, and such facilities as wei e now afforded by a railway from Amberley to the Bluff, all the best dogs in New Zealand could be brought together to compete for a, Waterloo Cup, and he felt satisfied that those who owned dogs would not be backward in coming forward to enter for such an event. For these reasons he was in favor of the amalgamation of clubs for this important event, Mr Walker : I have much pleasure in proposing “That it is desirable to establish a Waterloo Cup for the whole Middle Island of New Zealand, and that the delegates present now proceed to form rules.” The propot Con was seconded by Mr THOMSON and agreed to. Mr Konayne moved: “That the Cup be a 64-dog stake,” and suggested that the entrance be LI2 10s. In New South Wales and Victoria the stake was much larger, but in those Colonies gentlemen who went in for coursing were more numerous and very wealthy, and if the entrance here was more than Ll2 10s they would not be able to fill up a sixty-four dog stake. Another question which Wuuld have to be considered was whether it was desirable to follow strictly the English rules, which prohibited one man having more than a single nomination.

The Chairman : It would be as well to comply with that iule as far as possible. Mr Smith : The only difficulty in that case would be filling up. Y ou would require to have sixty-four owners of dogs, which I doubt your getting. Mr Walker thought there could be no objection to an owner running three or four different dogs, so long as they were not nominated by the same person. He seconded the proposition in favor of sixty-four dogs. This was agreed to unanimously, and it was further resolved that the entrance money be Ll2 10s.

Regarding the third proposition he had made, Mr EONAYNB raised the question whether it would be wise at present to restrict an owner to one nomination.

Mr Smith thought such a proposition premature at present. Mr Eonayne : I am of that opinion myself, though knowing the question had been raised I thought it should be mooted. Mr Walker thought there should be no guarding in the Waterloo Cup. The Chairman : What is the rule in England?

Mr Eonayne : No guarding is allowed. ■ The Chairman : Then we had better stick as close t» the English rule as possible. Mr Brown : I have to propose “ That each individual should have only one nomination to the stake, and that the nominator oe a member of a recognised club subscribing at least LI per year.” An owner could then nominate one dog in his own name, and have his other dogs entered by other persons, thereby preventing guarding. The motion was seconded by Mr Thomson and carried.

After further discussion it was agreed that a "Waterloo Cup of sixty-four dogs, at Ll2 10s each, should be establhhed, and that the winner of the same should receive L2OO and a plate of the value of LSO; runner-up, LIOO ; third and fourth, 1.25 each; fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, Ll 5 each ; eight winners of two LlO each ; sixteen winners of one course, L 5 each. The winner of the Purse receives L 37 10s; runner-up, Ll 5; third and fourth, L 7 10s each ; fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, L 5 each ; winners of one course, L2 10s each. The Plate winner receives L 37 10s ; runner-up, Ll 5 ; third and fourth, L 5 each ; fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, L2 10s each. Ten per cent, to be deducted for expenses. Mr Bonayne said that the North Otago Club had initiated the proposal for a Waterloo Meeting, and they were of opinion that the meeting should be held in their district. The Chairman said that apart_ from this there was the best of all reasons in favor of such a proposal—the ground was the best and it was central. On Totara and his estate abundance of hares could be got In answer to Mr Taggart as to an admission charge to the grounds, the Chairman said the Club would be at liberty to make any charge they could get. The Secretary of the North Otago Club was appointed to receive nominations for the next Waterloo Cup ; the whole arrangements for the meeting were left in the hands of the committee of that club for the season ; and it was agreed that the Waterloo meetings be held in different places. It was further resolved-that nominations be received up to May 31, at 8 p.m.; that the drawing take place on the evening of June 23; and that the running commence on the morning of the 24th. On Mr Konayne’s motion, it was resolved that a meeting of delegates of clubs be held at Oamaru on the night of June 26 for the purpose of fixing the date and. place for a central meeting in 1880. Mr Brown moved —“That the Oamaru Club have'the power of engaging a judge aad slipper for the meeting. ’ —Agreed to. The meeting then adjourned after passing a vote of thanks to the chairman.