COURSING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2469, 6 March 1882, Page 3

COURSING NOTES.

By L'bvbieb. I learn from their trainer that the whole of Mr H. Prince's dogs, viz.—Magician, Legerdemain, and the two Totara—Magic pups, which I noticed recently as being in the care ef Mr James Forward, of Gloucester street cut, were sent to Melbourne on Saturday last by the Botomahana, it being their owner's intention to course in Victoria during the coming season. Miss Lucy, to whose performances I have adverted on a former occasion, will remain in this colony. Mr C. A. Calvert tells me that he has a litter of six fine pups, which his slut, Avonbrae, has recently whelped to Gladstone. This dog, it will be remembered, is very well bred, being by the well-known Azamat, from Glair. What he might have done as a performer in the coursing field oannot be known, as he is reported to hare sustained such ;injury some time back as to permanently lame him. Still his breeding is undeniable, and since the death of the old dog well bred Azamat stock is entitled to some consideration. I hear that Mr Smith, lately joint owner of Capital with Mr Bavenhill, will arrive in Ohristchnrch shortly with a worthy successor of the defunct Bangitira. The need of such a dog must be apparent to every one, as since the sale of Capital, who is thus lost to New Zealand, really good stud dogs axe scarce, and in the true interests of coursing it h to be regretted that the South Island coursing men allowed an outsider to obtain possession of a dog with the undeniable pedigree boasted by this animal. Whilst in this connection I must refer to the one good stud dog still left in North Canterbury—l refer to Champagne Charlie, the magnificent son of Hook—Banner. To all who have seen Charlie it is almost unnecessary to mention his good points. At the late November dog show he was deservedly awarded first prize, and that in competition with the dogs already mentioned — viz., Capital and Bangitira. Agreeably with an invitation from his owner, Mr B. P. Hill, I went out to his father's place at Bicoarton, where I was informed I should see some of his stock out of Peeress, who, it will be remembered, was run over and killed by a conveyance a short time back—which loss was rendered all the greater as she was near whelping a second litter to the same dog. The Champagne CharliePeeress dogs owned by Mr Hill are six in number, viz., two dogs and four sluts fourteen months' old—the two dogs are black and white, and look very promising—one of them leans somewhat to the Peeress side, whilst the other, which is very handsome, shows every trace of Hook, whom he resembles even more than his father; two of the sluts are also black and white, in whom it would be hard to notice anything faulty. A peculiarity attaches itself to oneof these sluts, which is that she has a curly tail; but that failing, if failing it is, is amply compensated for by the good points of the little black, which are in every way deserving of her parentage. One of the others, a red slut, is uncommonly like Banshee, which is a full sister to Champagne Charlie, and in her I look to see a prominent performer in the Oaks of this year, sb Bhe is very fast, and goes without the latt apparent effort. The last of the litter to be notioed is the pretty sapling slut, to which the judges at the recent dog show awarded the first prize in her class. Unfortunately she broke her near arm about three weeks ago, and the limb is still in splints. Although it will prevent her performing early in the eeaBOD, there is little doubt but that she will be fit for the coursing field when the oomirg season is on tbe wane. I should also mention that Young Bidley was there and looking well. He is a good dog, showing lots of quality, and it is only when seen alongside such dogs as the champion prize-taker thit he suffers by comparison, and I believe I am justified in saying that what Azarnat hss been as a stud dog in Canterbury, and even mora than he has been, will bo the weil-known Champagne Charlie. Tour readers who are interested in coursing matters will remember tbe opinion I pronounoed upon him when he was slipped as a puppy, with Seafield, for the Canterbury Derby, two years since. All that I then prognosticated of him has been fully justified subsequently—and I unhesitatingly pronounce him the premier dog of this colony—and if in England, instead of Now Zealand, he would be much sought after, and command a high figure. The only other animal belonging to tbe establishment is a black and white glut ir„m Nelson, by Bichmond, out of HsUlle, named Bicketts. She is a very nice slut, well iet down in front, with good bind quarters, ar.d as she is only two years old, might be expected to do something in the approaching season.