THE FEATHER FANCY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 204, 22 May 1908, Page 11

THE FEATHER FANCY.

[Notes by-Dosiixo."] POULTRY SHOWS. Juno-.3. —Woodville. Jtjne 11,'12. —Eketahuna.- . Juno 17, 18.—IJawera. V Juno 18,' 19. 20i—Auckland. Jun0?23,:24, 25,'26.—Palmerston North. July-2, 3/ •i.—Welliiigton. ~ . July 3,! 'l.^-vNewton; July 7, 'B.—Carterton. ' July 8, 9.—Wanganiii. .July 8, 9, 10, 11.—'Waikato. ■ July 10, 11.—Wairarapa. July,l7; 18.—Hastings." . 'i ' , Ju1y.23,>24, 25;—Taranaki. ■ July 28, 29.—Marton. August 6, 7;—Taihapo;' ' •• , The. sliowj season is upon us, and next month will seo fanciers at work m real earnest. fanciers will bo enabled to .test;thejStreh2th-of their, teams against many birds from' other parts, -as hardly a steamer ■ comes along without ,a few "feathers" destined "to play an- important part in' our 1908 shows. • Tho s.s. Ulimaroa last week brought along quite n number:of birds for various fanciers,namely,: For Miv A; ■ Finlayson, Spreydon, Canterbury,, a -white ..Leghorn cockerel/and pallet; /for * Mr.' Teichert,- Canterbury,, two white .'LeghonV l cockerels';. for Mr. Sturrock, : Blenheim, eight'- black Orpington liens and pullets; for Mr. J. B. Wilson, Rangiora, a buff Orpington cook and hen, a vory nice pair ; and for. Mr. A. B. Spiers, Kumara, a very. good, white - Leghorn cock and pullet. ~" _ Our.local Magpie fancier, Mr. M.'G. GrenBide,'.last week shipped to.. Australia three pairs; of coloured .Magpies, to tho order of a fancier; in Now South Wales. ' -;Wr.■'"■ '■■■■ ' _' Tho Nortli Island Wyandotte Club is proving itself, quite a live body, and since its inception: has done much to improve the Wyaridottes" in-!the-North Island. Tho many : valuable trophies offered by the club each year .Kayo ~heon ;miich : admired, and competi-tioh'-fortho Sa'mo'; has been very. -. keen, .Throiigh the'cOurtesy of the club's secretary • I have been, privileged to • inspect,Uhe trough, design, of, the latest in 1 shields now-being mado to- the .order of this ' , enterprising 'body of faiicicrs. This shield is -ihandsbme.:. design,' will b'o . mounted : on an elegant cedar base, and will be 'surrounded by. a ■ series of twelve small' shields -for'inscription ;purposcs. When finished, "it ,'is': intended .that the. t'ror>hy_ will bo included in the list of club trophies,for . competition, and will be awarded to -tho exhioitor, possessing the " best Wyandotte " :in -.the' show.' With : two such, fine shields it ; ■ is. small- wonder that competition promises' to be . exceptionally keen this season. ■; of- specialists' clubs reminds me that;? the.'project to form < a Magpio Club is abotit 'to-Vreceive, tha earnest attention of.' .pigeon fanciers. - Circulars will bo issued in. the'course of a few days to. votaries of this. 1 breed, throughout'the Dominion, asking for as to the formation of the club, and also-soliciting the. support of all. Should : tho roplies .to the circular be encouraging— as no doubt-they, will—a 'meeting .will bo called .during the currency of tho . Wellington j Show)in July to discuss ing;that last year there were as many as 60 ■ fanciers exhibiting this now popular variety, the formation of. a club should bo easy \york,-and I trust that in a very short time; I shall be able to chronicle its exist- ■ ence. l ■ < - The judgo at Chnstchurch will havo his work;.cut out,-, as. I' loam.' fee.; record ; total-' ' of-80 Magpies, will face him. ' Up to' this ' " year Wellington; held the record* with .59. .

Tho. total entry -secured by the- Christ-'' church Club for poultry, pigeons, canancs, etc:, ; isils7s— .... • •'j.vv'---' I ■' .. .- ' . On W'ednesday .last -a furtlier. shipment of , birds arriyed by the Moeraki.' These woro: ■ E. Bannister,:'Palmerston North, a nice trio of "white.Leghorns, aXnumbcr of black Langshan'hens- and pullets, a trio- of, black, Orpingtons, and a trio of- v,'hito ,Or- , pingtons; for Mr. Lovelock,' Carterton, ■ one black' Leghorn : cockerel, the second pfizej winner at ,Parramatta Show ; for Mr. . J:'T. , Notfc, Lower Hutt, a trio of-white Leghorns; ~ for Mr. '.GfjC. Holder, Porirna, a trio of wliito Leghorns and a black Orpington cockerel.' Mr. R. E. Bannister informed me that it is his intention to go in strongly for poultry rearing,' and he 13 securing best strains of-'the < differont varioti.es.' \ He will be very strong in :\itility.>strains,. while fancy ..points will;'licit: be overlooked/ and 'attention will bo paid to-both. With:"such,a strong team of., birds at . his . command, tho .':Palmcrston fanciefi.willino doubt command attention.- At his' farm he' has this year a very -.fine lot of>Light breed that, brought him into much prominence in seasons past. ■ It is now opportune for me to remind show: secretaries, that this column will be' found an excellent medium for the dissemination of particulars "regarding . their show dates, of closing of entries,' etc. The Dominion enjoys the privilege of a very large•; circulation,: and,, as the advertising rates aro. quite within the reach of societies, I hope this will be borne'in mind when our numerous 'societies advertising; arrangements aro being made. 1