DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1917, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

AWAKING. ' „ • (From a Correspondent). At the annual general meeting of tlie Awakino Collie Club, it was decided that the annual trials should be held on March 20 and 30. A few members expressed the opinion that the trials should he lidfrl over until after the war, but the 'majority agreed that it would not he fair to absent member* who had given so much valuable time in the past and taken snob keen interest in the welfare of the club, and, also, as the club is a backblocks club it would be difficult after a lapse of a year to reinstate it to its present state of efficiency. The members of the rliii> generally do not look upon dog trials as a sport, but as a means of encouraging shepherds (Especially young shepherds) to breed good dogs, and as an ocular demonstration as to how a dog should be worked anil held under command, being aware that the iareful handling of stock, particularly in broken country, means thousands per year to. the sheep farmers, and consequently beneficial to the Dominion as a whole.

It is not perhaps generally known that arranging- a successful trial meeting entails a great deal of, energy and hard work on the part of the officials of any chili, and it speaks volumes for the official?- of the past annual meetings of the Awakino Ciub, particularly those who officiated at the initial meetings, that they have ahvay- been able to'~sliov,- a substantial credit balance after liberally providing for trophies prizes, etc. The last two meetings were run in aid of t!io Belgian Relief l'imd, after providing for all expenses, and the club have had the pleasure of handing over to the secretary of the fund n cheque for £OO for the 1913 meeting and £S2 for the It was derided at the annual meeting of the club that the proceeds from this year's meeting, after allowing for usual expenses,' shall lie'utilised for the benefit of the Red Cross Fund, and it is their earnest desire to make the meeting a success on that account, both in the w.ay of competitors and financially. 1 At present everything points to a successful meeting, in spite of reduced membership on account of those absent at tlie war, and, given favorable weather, it is anticipated it will be a record meeting. The club hopes to be favored with tlie presence of all old friends on the 29th and 30th to assist them in their efforts to hand-over a substantial cheque to tlie Red Cross Fund, and they wish to remind them that ear; leave Waitara daily for Awaldno, returning daily.*