OPENING OF SEASON 1900-1901. 263 



forty-three farms, Init considerably more than half of this 

 was done at the expense of the Duke of Sutherland. 



This was G. Norman's last season as stud-groom, after 

 more than thirty years' faithful and efficient service. 

 He had always turned out his horses in admirable style 

 and condition, and had given great satisfaction, not only 

 to the present Master, but to his predecessors, the late 

 Lord Shrewsbury, and Colonel Nugent. Norman is still 

 in excellent preservation, we are glad to know, and is 

 enjoying a pension and a home liberally provided for him 

 at Trentham by the Duke of Sutherland. G. Percival 

 has succeeded Norman as stud-groom, and fully main- 

 tains the good reputation which his predecessor had won. 



The season 1900-1901 was rather below than above 

 the good North Stafford average. Although there was not 

 very long interruption through frost, hunting was stopped 

 for a fortnight in January and February owing to the 

 death of Queen Victoria, and after this there was another 

 stoppage owing to frost and snow. Boxall notes in his 

 diary that it was the wettest and roughest season he has 

 had since he joined the North Stafford Kennels, in 1877. 



We ought, perhaps, to have mentioned before that in 

 the year 1899 Major Stamer was appointed joint secre- 

 tary with Mr. A. Simpson to the Hunt Committee, on 

 the resignation of Mr. R. N. Wood of the joint secretary- 

 ship, and in the year 1900 Major Stamer was also, on the 

 nomination of the Duke of Sutherland, appointed to act 

 as joint Master with his Grace ; IVIr. AV. W. Dobson being 

 appointed to act as Field Master in the absence of the 

 Duke and Major Stamer. 



It is only right and proper to acknowledge here the 

 signal services rendered to the Hunt by these gentlemen. 

 More especially we may mention the very efficient service 

 done for so many years by Mr. Wood and Mr. Simpson 

 as joint honorary secretaries to the Hunt. Mr. Wood 

 still continues to give his valuable services as honorary 

 secretary to the Covert Fund, which office he has held 

 without intermission for something like thirty-four years. 



