COURSING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 853, 12 July 1906, Page 9

COURSING.

The following nominations have been received for the All-aged Stakes, to be run on July 21 and 28 under the auspices of the North New Zealand Coursing Club:—S. Bright (1), C. Hannigan (1), W. C- Griffiths (2), A. J. Searle (1), Tapper Bros. (1), F. A. Fenton (1), S. Barnes (1), H. Sewell (1), B. Lynch (2), J. Coughlan (1), F. R. Baker (1), A. Wood (1), G. Mills (1), G‘. Franklin (1), J. Witheridge (1), J. Goodwin (1), Mrs. G. Paddy fl), J. Coulson (1), Middlemore (4). A supplementary stake will also be run at the meeting. * * * * I have to acknowledge receipt from Mr. Jerome of a marked card of the recent meeting of the Wairarapa Coursing Club. The coursing all round was very good, and some keen trials were seen. In the final in the Open Sweepstakes Mr. W. J. Williams’ Lord Cardigan (by Lord Roberts —Fairy Tale) beat Mr. W. H. Davies’ Starlight (by (Black Tracker —Lavender Water). In the final of the Maiden Stake Mr. F. Nathan’s Port Arthur (by Kilmarnan —Planet) beat Mr. M. Taylor’s Grand Light (by Able Carrier —Romp). Mr. Wilkie Dowling acted as judge, and his decisions were in nearly every case satisfactory, although I am told that in the final of the Open Sweepstake many of those present thought that Starlight had won easily. In the final of the Maiden Stake Port Arthur led up by two engths, and made a clear kill, Grand Light being easily beaten. There were 25 entries for the Maiden Stake, and 14 in the Open Sweepstake. * * * * In the Outer Domain on Sunday there was another strong muster of longtails. Amongst them I noticed a very nice cut of a puppy by Kilmainham out of the Maxim bitch Miss Vickers. In colour he takes after his dam, white and fawn, and I must congratulate Mr. John Edgar on being the owner of such a good stamp of a greyhound. * * * * Our old friend the Devonport veteran, Martin Taylor, has again had to play second fiddle at the Masterton meeting. His fine-looking dog Grand Light acted the part of runner-up to his castoff Port Arthur. Martin’s luck this season suggests the old song, “ Thou are so near and yet so far.” At the late social given by the committee of the N.N.Z.C.C. to the jovial “ Jerry” M. Jerome, he in his speech strongly advocated straight going, and above all things the necessity of protecting the public as far as lay in their power against practices which are sure to bring this ancient of ancient sport to an untimely end, A matter which will have to be considered is the system of running dogs under one name simply to be under the “ guarding” rule when the dogs are not really the bona-fide property of the party who names them. Also anyone leasing dogs must have a written lease, which should be submitted to the secretary of the club, and should hold for the season. * • * * Certain charges have been made that one of the dogs running at the last meeting of the North New Zeaand Coursing Association was “ stuffed.” Whether there is any truth in the allegation or not will now be found out, as the committee intend taking prompt steps to investigate the matter. They intend to, above everything else, safeguard the public interest by keeping the sport clean, and if any charge of corrupt practice is sheeted home, then no half-hearted measures will be taken to deal with the offender. If a man cannot keep straight in coursing, then the club will see to it that he be given no further chance of spoiling an ancient pastime. As to the present charge at this juncture no opinion can be expressed, but the commltttee are entirely in the right in refusing to hold the enquiry in camera, and the public will be admitted to the investigation.