FEATHER NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 299, 11 September 1908, Page 11

FEATHER NOTES.

. ■■- \ [3v DOUINC.] The Christchurch Pigeon .Specialist Club' is to' bij' congratulated upon tlio succcs3 that has atterid.ed-its efforts in. tho direction of tho' inauguration of . " Produce' Stakes foryoiing pigeons, particulars of which were givori iii this column some weeks ago. Altogether 22 fanciers responded, .hailing from all parts of tl:e Dominion, and between .them the total.of 113 rings have been The; idea .is to ;bri»g tho M'holo of the birds wearing, these registered rings together- at this, June show of tlio Christchurch Poultry, Figeoh|-:aild Canary Club for competition forea " best-bird " prize. Acting wisely, the club, have .decided to allocate the amount subscribed to breeds in sections, i.e., long-, fated: tuinblers,. frills, magpies, and A.O.V. pigeons.,- By. tnis. means the .task of selecting tho best bird will be made a reasonable ' one,.:rind the result will bo much more in-teresting-than if, as originally intended, tho "best bird" was' to be selected from all varieties. Added' to this contest, it is in-tended-to: hold a separate competition lor another; trophy—tho " best' bird in the breeds' abdye enumerated alone competing. Fanciers will watch" with interest this innovation of tho Pigeon Club. • With the advont of tho .above club, tho Now Zealand Magpie Club,;' and others, • tho ' "doos." are'.'on the increase,, and I hoar of many-new.'fanci.ers entering tho arena. Local ' fanciers report good...busines—iii fact, one or. • our loading, magpie breeders has had a record sale, for-; the. season,, his . birds" b'tsing . buted .;ribrih : and "south. Importations have, also been numerous, and many valuable additions have been made to-Dominion lofts. 'The Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society.;has ray congratulations upon the result, of its year's-work (financially"and from a fancy point of The report and balance'-slieet pfosQnted at .its meeting on Wednesday. ;evcnin{j, a .prccis of--which has already appeared in. these columns, were very, satisfactory'," tho latter showing tho society to be in a . sound position. There is one aspect, however, which fanciers .will need to x bear...in/irtind —that;is.the decrease shown ' in .'.'-poultry.' entries,'at last ..;shpw-. Other sections . showed' a substantial increase for- ■ 'tuhately.-:'-There is a tendency amongst poultry fanciers tb. .take, things too easy. They hareri'.t^ihe'go in them that the. devotees, to; the; sihall /birds' have. If this indifferent feeling;'.is allowed, to grow tho poultry sectibn (as. one-member, at the meeting pointed out) will soon be'a thing of the past. Pigeon fanciers are optimists, • and agree that thbro; is .a' good time coming,, and work, accordingly. .'Whatever happens to..the big . birds the "small ones will 'still IjG assured of their annual flutter in-the show pen. "Domino sii£gests- to the poultry-keeping section : 'a little more-;energy for the 1908-9 season. '• .' b ' ' . . " A good ; strong working committee was elected j at;, the meeting," with . a . necossary . sprinklihg of hew blood,, and I hope to chron--. icle s'rime good as '.the' result.'.' It is. intended to work .early,; aiid have. . matters well in 'h'and.by:the'eiid of. the year,.,.; The duiios 'of ,a society's, secretary, are arduous, those of the 'treasurer -likewise.;. It ! is. then little'wonder that at each ■ annual mooting tho same difficulty crops, up inffilling these, positions. . At present theso appointments are in: the hapds -of the incomingcommittee, and, I trust,they.will sue- • ceed in their efforts to induce tho retiring, officers (Messrs. Littlejohn .and Simpson) to' act for another : year. Ifi-not-,l' hope., they may be successful in obtaining .two as ivorthy as .these gentlemen, both of whom have done.