THE FEATHER FANCY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 151, 20 March 1908, Page 11

THE FEATHER FANCY.

.. , - -[Notebbt "Domino."] The following is tho list of show dates as, coidod upon by "the North Island Associaion:—. JUIIO S.-Wdodvillo., 5 and 6.—r-Whangarci.. Jiine (11 and 12—Eketaluina. v June 17, -IS; and 19.+-Pnlmorston North,, Juno -18; 19, 'and 20.—Auckland. June 23, 24, 25, ind 26 —Manawatu A. r'«nd P- Association. ,: : . Juno 24-and 25.—Waihi. July 2, 3, and 4 —' Wellington.; " : : : Julv 3 aud 4.—Newton. July 7 and 8 —Pahiatua July '9 and 10.—Carterton, - . July 8 and !);—Wan^anui. ' July 9 'and 10.—Gisborne: ■ July 10 and 11. —Wairarap;*Julyls and IG.-r-Hawera. July 17 and IS.-r-Hastinss. . July 21 and 22.—Napier. -24, and 25.—'Taranaki. v July 28 and.29. —Marton. - Datoiof A; and 15.I 5 . Sho'.v. —A\aikato. August ; 6 ■ aud ■ 7.—Taihape. . Last week it wassmy-.-privilego^tOigrvtiuip. it tho delay on tho.part of ,tho;North Island AssOoiatron • in paying lout the. championship prizes' won last season. Thia Meek it is u -pleasuro'to mo to announco that my causa for complainfcvlias been removed, 1 and tho reci-pients--of.'itlio .prizes are smiling, onco more. Ail's ivell that ends .well. • •As ■ far -. as " Domino " is concerned, however, the fact of those amounts : being paid over is not tho end. Tliero aro - always p»o . . sides to a question—tho ono was, given lasu issuo, tho:other is that tho.officials of .tho - ■ association have experienced much difficulty in > 'getting correct returns frcrn tho,'affiliated societies.of>championships.won, and by:thcmmust a sharo of the blamo bo borne. , Sccicties; sh6uld': s '.rec6gniso. that their • assistanceand co-operation is,necessary to keop thonuchmoryrof tho association running .smoothly, and if this is lacking—-well, they only ha\o -,'themselves to-blamo. : I. trust that alfiliated societies, will take the hint. - , ~ Tho -1908 ishow season was opened last • week,' the'' liiglcwood fixture, - being, the'. first on tho'"list.'-''.'lt' would bo'l intorcstirig^to- ' - know what , method- tho I ;''exhibitors at that show' adopted to keep-tho birds' plumageintact at this period of moulting. Possibly : tho birds up that way ignore (nature's laws. .-';H'®B-:.!bn}';tho''/card • thatVan..Old- English. • Game;. Club is soon>,to ,bo; au ,accomplished (- -facti!; Thisas goqdinews. . There.aro -a-great • many .admirers.-of. tho "lighting variety !' ; in the- Dominion,- particularly in tho Nelson districfc'and..down - tho West - Coast.; Spccia-. '- ? .list clubs do vmuoli good,; and wo have ..good -i -'examples .-m: tho;; North and South Island; Wyandotte Clubs, the Orpington Clubs, and ' many others;'6f^recent.-growth.:- "Domino's" only-wonder ns that' our pigeon fancicrs havo \ .not-folloived the lead of the poultrynien and formed' a; few • of. -these ■ very-, valuable , ad-., juncts to tho fancy. Pigeon fanciers aro, .1 naturally modest, -sp lrmustj-.cori- • dude:' their' modesty .'• has overruled their ■ en- ; terpriso. .

" Tlio ,Society' 3 sohcdnlo is ; at,, prosentundergoing ■ revision , at tbo hands of: itrHei'-'various'^sub-oommittees -.set.' up. for , the'ptlrpose,. and am effort is t-o; be mndo. to produce.-something-.attraot-ivo.; for their an- > nual fixture—July; 2,-3,-. and 4. . , ■ Tho ■ Wellington -. HomingJPigeon Society . will fly" a young birds! raco .from. Huntei--ville on-'Mareh.2l;,.tho.second poultry show race being'flown on . tho-samo date. and. fromthe -samo- place; i Other raccs to follow, are " The' Oaks," fromi-Waitotara-on; Arnrch.,23,,.-, and tho "Produce" r4ce from Eav.cra on Apivl 1. 1 The. many ? recent-; importations "of ," buio . '. blood " ' from'.'.'the ■ leading lofts: : m .England; prove-that ttie local, loft-owners- contcmplato . pushing -the;! : .sport; 'along. .Several of _ our , homing (enthusiasts have addedbirds of late, . and .others.' are thinking : .of. doing so.- ■ j JJr. John- Currie,' of 'Wellington, lias been V. appoint-ed to judgo. all olasses; of' poultry. at tlie : Autumn-:,Shoiv; of; tho ..Hawl;q's; Bay, ,Agricultliral- Sccict'y, . to bo held at Hastings. • next month. • • The North, Island Black . Orpington Club's Show tilts-season' will"bolield m conjunction with tho -aiinual • show of tho WangaiiUi • Poultry/ Society.' I ''. This' Society-is to. be con-. - - gratulated upon' Securing. the; hor.otirj and noi doubt.; Orpingtons . will.J'bq" a . feature ■; oftho. Show. > - ,