THE FEATHER FANCY

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 21 August 1908, Page 11

THE FEATHER FANCY

' • [Nojes bt. "Domino."] Tho • show season being over, societies are now preparing their balance-sheets and reports for presentation to In these days 'of ■ laying competitions, and; the craze for utility stock, the path of the • fancier . society is- beset with many obstacles, : and many a treasurer lias an anxious time with his accounts, his chief aim, of course, tjeing the possession- of a, credit balance. "With such; Jack of public interest it .is indeed hard to run-a, big show with financial success. The fanciers as a,rule are hard.workers, and it is to their credit that they persevere in their.,hobby. One thing I have noticed with ; pleasure this season is the decrease in tho number of shows. This will no doubt-.help' ■ tho coffers of the societies that cater for tho fancier; arid I trust that the various trea-surers)-will have little cause to bring their "wizard instinct" to bear upon the finances, . and that wo shall yet see a further diminution of shows—and better ones licld by those which remain. ' Tho Wellington Society 'will shortly announce its. annual meeting, when the elec- ' tion of officers for'tho ensuing year-will take place. I am pleased to chronicle a credit balance for this Society. Tho chief Southern society—the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary 01 ub - - has just- held its annual, meeting. The statement of accounts, showed the receipts to bo £584 125., the expenditure £566 Is. 9d./ showing a* credit of £18. lis. Id. The Club's assets (plant; etc.) are shown as'£439 1G5..7d., with liabilities £154 Is. Officers for ■ the -year 'wore' elected as'under :—Patron, His Excellency 'tho' Governor; ' sub-patrons, .. Messrs.'A'.'E. 6. Rhodes, A. L.' Myers,'AY-' Ballantyne, W. Reece, W. Goss, E. Strange, J. A. Dr. Russell; president, Mr. F.i Hickmbtt'; ' vice-presidents, Messrs. G. Biitcliff, . Gr. "•' Jeffrey's, J. Tindell, A. A. Clarkson, v A. B. Menzios, and W>W. M'Kinney; secretary, ; Mr. A. Hardy (re-elected); treasurer; Mr. J. H. Shaw. (re-elected); ' auditor, .Mr. E. Jf Ross. A subcommittee was' set. up to confer with the Horticultural Society as to a" suitable' hall- 'for future shows. ' ' • " The.: .concluding . sentence in the _ above' brings to my mind tho very great: difficulty under which our local 'faiicie'rs labour in the matter' of a hall. .Fanciers, however, are much!, indebted'to the -Agricultural Depart- ' ment, who for this past season placed the old : Drillshed at. their disposal,'and did all in their power to enablo a 'successful show tp . be-j held.' Is. it not possible for tlio many societies- and clubs in the city to : combine ' and cqnsiijer tho erection, of a suitable show hall?i'lt ;is badly needed. i 'A'.;'!-. '■ - ' " ' The vChristchurch Pigeon- Club has held •' its . firstfortnightly. show with .success/ Ihe classes under consideration were as follow Pouters, pigmy pouters, or croppers— H. j;: Nicholas,* 1; W. B. : M'Kehzie, 2; AV; AV. -tM'Kinney, 3.' Long-faced tumblers, ' clean-leg, selfs —T. H. Jones, 1; H. J. Nicholas, 2; F. Wood, 3. Working homers, cock, flown 300 miles — J. Porter; 1, 2, and 3. Mr. Arthur Gapes officiated as judge. The committee- recently-set up to consider tho iiiatter'of a constitution, rules, etc!, of : the New Zealand Magpio Club has held several meetings, and is-wellahead with its work.'Circulars will shortly* be issued to faiiciers inviting membership, the list being open until September 30,-when routine work will be'entered into. 1 - .■ >