RACES FROM LINER

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 7, 10 January 1938, Page 10

RACES FROM LINER

PIGEONS RELEASED AT SEA

The Union Company liner Awatea on a recent trip from Auckland to Sydney was the starting point for P^ 0" racing conducted by the New Zealand Homing Pigeon Clubs She_ carnedlSO pigeons in crates'under the bridge. They were started by the commander, Captain A. H. Davey, early in. the morning, when the liner was off the Three Kings Islands. The pigeons were from Gisborne, Hutt Valley. Petone, and: Wellington Clubs; and Captain Davey had to time their liberation so that they would not join forces and play around instead-of -making their flights in earnest. From the liner to Wellington the birds had to fly 503 miles ah-line, and Hutt and Petone birds a few miles less, while the Gisborne birds had 435 miles airline to fly. The Wellington, Hutt, and Petone birds were released first. They shot straight into the air, circled once, and then set off on their correct course. A quarter of an hour later the GisbornG birds were released, and they, too, set off on their correct course and were soon lost to sight. These nights created much interest to passengers aboard the liner, and Captain Davey derived much pleasure in his capacity as starter. Th» Wellington birds took just over 13 hours for the-503 miles journey.