EAST COAST NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 862, 9 April 1903, Page 3

EAST COAST NEWS

TOKOMABU BAY,

(From Our Own Correspondent)

* The Waiapu Sheep Dog Trials took placi on the datos advertised, April Ist and 2nd , und continued until noon on Friday, the j 3rd. There were ninety-seven entriei 3 altogether, and very few of theso bein'. 3 scratched the judge and committeo were set the difficult task of getting through [ over 90 runs. Judge Munro was on the ground at nine o’clock, when a start was made with Class one—the long-head. The weather was all that could bo wished from a dog trial point of view, and very much better work resulted than tho previous year. The majority of tho dog 3 headed their sheep, and a good number of them got their sheep on to tho flat. This Class was just finished at five o’clock. On Thursday morning a start was made at eight o'clock with the short head and yard. In this Class also there was improvement on last year’s work, but only a few managed to yard their sheep. About three o’clock a start was made on the lluntuway Class, with a fow exceptions the work in this Class was very poor owing to so many of tho dogs being heading dogs. The last dog was run about midday. The shepherd’s race and dog show concluded tho eighth meeting of tho Waiapu Sheep Dog Trial’s Club. Tho following are the winners of the various events and special prizes : Class one : L McKinnon’s Storm, 28 points, 1 ; B. Merritt’s Nip, 28 points, 2 ; G. Walworth’s Vic, 25 points, 3; McKinnon’s Don, 24 points, 4; I’. White’s Gyp, 20 points, 5. Class two: L. McKinnon’s Don, 29

points, 1; Martin Fitzgerald's Joe, 28 points, 8 ; W. Duff’s Towsc, 22 points, 4; l’. White’s Cure, 21 points, 5. Class three : It. McDonald’s Darkic, 27 points, 1 ; 1’ White’s Scott, 22 points, 2 ; L. McKinnon’s Dess, 21 points, 8; D. Merritt’s York, 17 points, 4 ; H. Warner’s Don, 111 points, 5. L. McKinnon, 89 points, won Mr Moato’s trophy, D. White, 6b points, being second, XI Is. D. Stowart won Mr Cotterill’s trophy. No second usvard. B. Merritt’s Nip won Tokomaru Trading Co’s prize for dog under best command, XI Is, ulso Mr Tulloch’s prize for best style of working his dog, a pair of breeches. K. McDonald won Mr Pettis's prize for competition, not having won money at any previous trials, X2 2s. McKinnon's Bess, dog show, XI Is, W. McKay won Mr id. 11. ifairlie’s prizo, foot race, XI Is. Mr D. Stewart was awarded Mr Kolloy’s prizo of ono dozon photos for best-looking shepherd. The annual meeting took placo on the Ist of April, at the To Puka Hotel,"tho President, Vice-Presidents, and about forty members being present. Tho secretary road tho annual report and balancesheet, the latter showing a balance in hand of Xll. On tho motion of Mr K. S.

Williams, seconded by Mr B. Merritt, the balanco-sheet was adopted. The President, Mr A. B. Williams, addressed the meeting, and pointed out that when the Trials wero first started ft general holiday was given by most of the employers in the district; he was sorry now to find that the holiday was takon advantage of, even by shepherds, to go in other directions. 110 hoped an etlort would be made by the older members to induce new members to join the Club and take more interest in the Club’s welfare. He was glad to see an improvement in the work at the present Trial, and thought it was well they had changed the judge, as they would be likely to get new ideas from Mr Munro which would be beneficial to the Club. Mr JDavis had served the Club well, but it tvas necessary to change in order to avoid getting into a groove. Pie hoped now that the Club was so well established, and having done so much good in tho way of working dogs in the district, a keener interest would bo taken generally, and that the work would not bo left to a few in tho future, as it would be a pity to have to break up tho Club and discontinue the holiday, and he would be very sorry to see this happen. He trusted when the Trials wero over that ho would have given satisfaction, and would at anyrate do his best to award the prizes according to tho merit of the work done. He thanked the Club for their kindness and hospitality, and wished tho Club every success in tho future. Mr K. S. Williams was then elected Chairman of the meeting, and in a few well-chosen remarks thanked tho audience t for tho honor. Mr A. B. Williams was re-elected President; Messrs E. B. Murphy, K. S. Williams, L. E. CotterilJ, Cr. i'\ Hindmarsh, T. S. Williams, A. H. Wallis, B. Kemp, and M. Fitzgerald were elected Vice-Presidents ; Mr E. B. Murphy was re-elected time-keepor ; W. Oates, Secretary and Treasurer ; Messrs \v. Hull, H. Warner, A. L. Wood, M. Williams, L. McKinnon, and D. Buff were elected a Committee for the year. It was decided to leavo all tho Classes and prizes as before. This concluded the goneral businoss of tho meeting. Mr Munro, in the course of a few remarks, said that the work so far as he had seon was not of a very high standard, but he was glad to hear that it was an improvement on last year’s work. Ho would like to point out to the youngor shepherds tho importance of always starting their dogs from behind, and not allowing them to°commence their run from any point carelessly, and that it was very important that in heading sheep the dog should not bo allowed to cross between the sheep and tho shepherd, and also if possible to avoid a barking dog for heading purposes. When holding sheep in the ring tho dog should always stand up to face his sheep. Ho looked upon tho loDg head course as a difficult one.