HOMING.

Evening Star, Issue 12399, 12 January 1905, Page 3

HOMING.

[Bz THE SoTTKAKKa.]

The first race on the South road was flown last Saturday from Clinton, a distance of fifty-eight miles air-line. The different owners’ birds were in separate pens, and were liberated at intervals of five Twelve pens competed, representing thmty bnds. No. • 2 pen, Mr M. Carruth ere’s blue cheq. King Dick, won in Ih 37mm, velocrty 1,006. Mr R. Douglas’s ™ second in Ih 37min. velom W - Br «wn’ B Thistle was m2h 2min, velocity 830 yds. Mr E J. Beeves’s bird was fourth. The early pens had the best of the weather, for the ram came on. making Hying difficult. 1 congratulate Mr Carrnthers on his win. King Dick was bred this season by ..the owner from parents owned by Mr T. Richards, of Pabnereton North. King Dick and his pea-ma'c will be hard to beat in the Gore and Edendale races, and if the owner is wise he will pull them out after those races, as Edendale (eighty-seven miles) is quite far enough for youngsters. Mr.H- Hunt, who liberated the pigeons at Clinton, is a well-known poultry fancier. The club are greatly indebted to him for his trouble.

Mr Finnegan’s young bird San Jose arrived last Friday from Wellington, maMne the fifth bird to reach home.

The Timaru Club have lost every feather from Auckland. Dp to the present no birds have arrived.

This has been a most disastrous racing season for old birds all over New Zealand, and many_ scores of good birds have gone under, being unable to cope against the terrible weather they have met, I know in many cases where lofts have almost been denuded of trained birds. I mention this to suggest that in such circumstances one might be justified in extending the breeding season one' month later to get another round of birds to help to fill the gap made in the lofts from losses. It is to be hoped that hotter weather will prevail during the young bird racing season. If not, there will be still further losses.

This month will find members busy with their young birds, getting them up the line. Hugh Short has some beauties from the Melbourne strain, and purposes being in the running this season. Alf. Brown has also a strong team from two Auckland birds, and Mr Jeavons has the well-known “Creel” strain. By the way, Jeavons’s birds are doing great work for the Napier fancier who purchased the test of them when Mr Jeavons broke up his loft.

Mark Holmes received a fine .pair of squeakers from Fred Wilson, Christchurch. The parents of this pair were specially selected by Mr Hamilton in Glasgow for Mr George Anderson, secretary C.F.C., who presented them to Mr Wilson. Mr R. Douglas, who has been ramble to compete in any of the previous races, has now an up-to-date loft, and as he is one of our most perseveiing fanciers—a pupil of Dr Macdonald’s—l will be glad to hear of his going one better next race. He has old Pilot, Dr Macdonald’s great bird, looking hale and hearty. « Mr J., Craig, a member of the Dunedin Club, bos just returned from a holiday trip to Christchurch. He visited the principal lofts, and reckons we have a lot to learn yet. Penning up for the Gore race takes place at 7.30 on Friday evening. Mr R. Fisher, secretary of the Gore Club, has been asked to liberate.