POULTRY LORE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 858, 10 August 1888, Page 19

POULTRY LORE.

Hon-sitting Breeds of Poultry. The non-sitters are the Leghorns, Hamburgs, Polish and Spanish. The Leghorns, of which there are black, brown, Domiuique, and white, are noted for laying groat numbers of eggs. While they may not be termed striotly a non-sitting breed, they cannot be depended upon for hatching. Two or three days appears to satisfy their instincts in this direction, and a deserted nest of eggs, in most cases, will he the result. It appears to be their forte to lay eggs, and their nature to roam and piok up a living on their own account. This makes them very profitable where they have the run of the country place. They are becoming very popular with farmers. Though they are comparatively small in size, the chicks mature early, and are ready for market long before those of the larger breeds. The brown variety is generally preferred by fanoiers, as the rich plumage makes the birds very attractive. The young hens may be made to lay almost the year round if comfortable quarters are given them.

The Hamburg family, which embraces the black, silver-spangled, golden.spangled, golden.penciled, and white is undoubtedly worthy oi such, notioe. The silver-spangled is the most popular for real beauty as, well as profit. They are strictly non-sitters ; having bred them for a number of years we have yet to see the first one of this variety attempt to incubate. Although they do not commenoe to lay as early US the Leghorns, when once they apply themselves to it they have few, if aDy, equals.

They are high flyers and will perch on the highest trees to be found about the yards. Their beautiful rose comb set compactly upon their head makes them preferable in winter to single-comb varieties. When once full grown they are exceedingly hardy, but aie tender and hard to raise when chicks, which is a notable fact in all birds that feather early. The Polish family consists of eight varieties, golden-bearded, silver-bearded, whitebearded, buff-laced, golden, silver, white, and white-crested black, the last being the most popular. The polish are fair layers, aud as fancy birds unexcelled by any. In the hands of the fancier they prove very profitable, and very high prices are often paid for them. As a farmer’s fowl, however, they are not to be recommended, as they require more attention than almost any other bird. They are adapted especially for the yard where they can be confined by an inclosure, Their heavy crests are detrimental to their sight, and where the fowls are allowed their -liberty they often stray away and are lost, "ihey can endure a great amount of cold if kept dry, and precautions must he taken to keep them so. There is but one variety of Spanish fowls, and in their general character they differ but little from the Leghorns.—American Paper.

FINE POINTS OF AN INCUBATOR. An incubator may be described as a limited chamber, the temperature of whose atmosphere, its humidity or moisture, its freedom from noxious gases, aro under the control of the aspirator. From imitating the hen, who -so far as the changes in the eggs are concerned, is the mostnearly a perfect incubator, the nature and duties of these conditions have become well understood. The three conditions of temperature, moisture and ventilation, are all important in selecting an incubator. Temperature is a very important point; for, unless this is all right, all else will prove useless. One person says lQOdeg. ; the next, -102 deg. ; another 103 deg. ; some even as high as lOGdeg. : and probably all these parties made good hatches at the different points—or thought they did—when, in all probability, the difference was all in the thermometeis. The only way to test if your thermometer is right is to test it by hatching successfully, or else gefc it from one who is known to keep correct ones. It all depends on how the thermometer was graded whether it should be 102 deg., 104 deg. or lOGdeg. If the melting point of ice is taken for 32deg. and the boiling point of water at a barometric pressure of fourteen pounds to the square inch for 2l2deg., and then grade the thermometer both ways, the proper and best point for hatching will be 103 deg. If you want to hatch chicks that will live and pay for their keeping, start your eggs at 103 deg. Keep them at 103 deg. until yon see the chickens,,and you wiil have the very beat kind of chicks that oan bo hatched out, j provided, of course, that all other conditions, such as moisture -and ventilation, are correct. Unless you have a machine, the temperature of which can he kept perfectly uniform from the first to the twenty-first day, you will never make a success of artificial incubation in the world ; for chickens hatched in atmosphere varying from 95deg. to HOdeg. will prove weak and difficult to raise. Here is the reason why so few of the incubators on the market to-day are a success. Never purchase a machine that is not perfectly self-regulating, else you will only meet with disappointment and failure. There is only one proper way to apply moisture, that is by evaporation. Sprinkling is not only a nuisance, but an injury to the chicks. If it was not for what is carried off by ventilation, no moisture at all would be needed, only what is supplied by the eggs. All wo want to do is to keep the air moist enough so that it will uot ary up the eggs too fast; more than this is injqry. Yenfcilation should be very carefully ’looked after —too much is bad, tpp Riffle ia very bad. The air should b,e tsken iu auoh a manner that there, esm he no draughts, aud must be up to hatching point before coming into contaot with the eggs—common sense would show that it ought to come in below the eggs.—W. B. Nishet, in Los Angeles Tribune.

EGGS AT'TWO CENTS PER. BOBENBefore I hit on the plan cf paying our little boy or girl two cents, for every dozen of eggs they hrißg to the house, what a wearing, drumming'time I had of it to get our hens properly fed and provided with nest 3 and dust boxes, and the eggs gathered each night ! I always save the table scraps and a kettle of skimmed milk for them, thickening the mess with meal or s'horts, and have it hot on tho stove each morning, ready, for the men folks or children to carry-to the hens in tho early forenoon ; but the men folks would be sure to forget it, and the children would often be off' to their play or school before I would remember to have them feed the bidd’es ; aud there that kettle would stand and stow and sooreh, clattering my stove half the forenoon,-and then gro-.v chill cold when carried away from it, the hens often getting their breakfast just as they were flying upon their roosts at their early bedtime. And after school, every day of the week, I must remember to tell the children to hunt the eggs, and not having a bit of interest in the matter, they sometimes forgot, and sometimes half of the nests were not looked after, aud it was all up-hill work for me, this having the care of the hens, which were in a building so. far from the house I could not tend, them myseli. But paying the children for their work has changed all this. Without any telling or reminding, the kettle oi scalded, mRh and meal is promptly lifted on their Rttjle wagon as soon as I have it ready. after breakfast, and is hauled to the. hen-house. I am besieged for bpßed'pptaffaea and meat scraps and extra p.aus of milk, and the hens lay as they never laid before on these premises. Boxes for grain, lime, ashes, burnt b'tines, and pounded crockery, they have addeji tp the institution and keep replenished,. "and one of the cattle troughs they 'wheedled of their father, for the hen's,’' daily allowance of skimmed milk. I Ratfe not seen a frozen egg all winter, hut ©very night I have seen two iittle soudd rosy faoes, brimful of eager delight and expectancy, looking in through a oiack of the sitting-room door, hiding behind them a heaped hatful of eggs, while, with shining eyes, they asked, ‘ Guess, mamma;

I guess how • many eggs to-night ?’ And ) sometimes, though I guess way up in the thirties, they gleefully count out still more from the old felt hat that is their eggbasket. . 4 The regular payment of a few pennies changes a child’s natural antipathy against stipulated daily stints of work into keen interest for the same, doing away with the drive, drive, drive that some of us find necessary to secure the prompt, thorough, cheerful accomplishment of tasks set our young children.

Clarissa Potter.

Poultry Association. President —His Excellency Sir William F. D. Jervois, K.C.M.G., C.B. ; Yice-Presi-dent—His Worship the Mayor; Patrons— Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G., Sir Harry Atkinson, George Fisher, Esq., P. A. Buckley, Esq., Dr Cahill, W. H. Levin, Esq., C. J. Johnston, Esq., j. S. M. Thompson, Esq., John Duthie, Esq., T. K. Macdonald, Esq., C. B. Izard, Esq., M.H.R., T. Fergus, Esq., M.H.R. ; Patronesses - Lady Jervois, Lady Atkin, son, Mrs Levin, Mrs George Fisher, Mrs C. J. Johnston, Mrs J. S. M. Thompson j Chairman, R. Bannister ; Hon Secretary—Jame 3 Pettie; Hon Treasurer—D. D;, Hyde.

The Association are to be congratulated upon their efforts to bring together what must be confessed to be the finest show of poultry ever seen in Wellington, if, indeed, in any other part of the Colony. Many of tho exhibits were equal, if not superior, to thoso shown either in Bingley Hall or the Agricultural Hall in the Old Country. The various classes were so keenly competed for that it must have been a work of consider* able difficulty for the judges to make their selections. There were very few cases of absolute weakness in any class shown. Each pen was a picture in its way. It is true that there were no monstrosities in the way of peculiar shape, bulk, or size, such as may frequently be seen at exhibitions in England ; nor were there those fanoy and what may justly be termed extravagant freaks of breeding so often seen. Each ©lasswas well represented, and, so far ao a non-expert could judge, tho strains were fairly pure. It speaks well for the caret and attention bestowed upon the pens showa that in all cases the poultry were mffhe pink of perfection, both in health and condition. There were nearly 500 entries, which included exhibits from many parts outside the province. The arrangements inside the Drillshed for the convenience of the visitors were very satisfactory, and with few exceptions all the pens were easily visible. Upon entering the show one of the first attractions is a venerable specimen of the goose tribe, an old veteran, of 27years of age, according to the legend above the pen. It is shown by Mrs E. R&uaisfcer, of Woodlawn, Porirua. Although there is a general suspicion of toughness latent iu the wise looking bird, yet h© appears to have a large amount of vitality. In the turkey class is one of gigantic proportions, not abnormally fafc„ but big built. He, with his mate, araiha only ones shown. The show of dark Brahmas is very fine ; there are some very handsome birds exhibited. The pens of brown Leghorns are so much of a muchness that it must have beea no light task to judge of their qualifications. Pen No. 21 contains a magnificent specimen of a beautifully coloured game oockerell. The bnff Cochins are sortie of the finest, birda that could hu desired. The Houdans ar©= remarkably handsome and in fine healthy condition*. The Plymouth Rooks are picture® of plumage. The show of ducks and geeseis, a atrong one, and some very fine specimens are exhibited. The canary show is not so large as was expeoted, but there are some grand birds penned. The pigeons are displayed in great variety, and the number o£ exhibits is fairly numerous. Amongst miscellaneous articles is a seifregulating incubator, made and shown by Mr T. Dixon, of Masterton, and«a patented incubator exhibited by F. Rogen and Ct>., andl for which Walter Nathan and Co. are theagents, There is a glass stand containing agoodly show of the silver cups, gold medals, and other prizes won by Rogen and Co. The principal exhibitors are Messrs- F» Rogen and Co., Karori ; ; A. Elkins, of Masterton ; Messrs E. J, Hill, R. E. Bannister, J. Pettie, J. R. Skelly, G. Remington, Styles and Curtis, The work of judging was not completed until a late hour yesterday week. The judge© were : —Poultry—Messrs A. Walker (Christchurch), A. A. White (Mastertou), W. G„ Knight (Carterton); pigeons—A. Walker (Christchurch), R: Hopwell (Wellington) ; canaries—G. Bennett (Wellington), R. Wilton (Wellington), A. S. Styles (Wellington). The Committee of Management were— Messrs W. R. Morris, F. Rogen, W. Curtis, W. Durrell, F. J. Fear, Falkner, Naylor, E. J. Hill, W. Hill, 1. James, J. Prcntice, A. S. Styles, Atkinson, T. Johnston, C. Hodges, G. Morecroft, J. R. Shelley, W. Ross, G. Sapsford, T. J. Leighton,, C. Symons, J. H. Holmes, Toady, An Brown, G. Brown, G. Remington,,. Mclntosh, W. Freeman, J. Bannister,. Ji. D. Gakley, W. G. King, W. J. McKenzie, J. McEvven, H. Foster, J. Walters* A. Clark. W. F. Roydhouse.

The show was formally opened at 2 )>m\. yesterday week dv Messrs J. Duthie anefc EL Pearce. The former gentleman, in addressing the members of the Committee who were present expressed gratification at the Kige number of exhibits and the superior class of them. For his own part, ho had no idea that auoh a large nvunhet of could be got together in the district. Hewas sure that displays of this kind must bean incentive to tb© industry of poultry-farm-ing, and in, tha,<t respect the show was of great public- utility. He cordially congratu*latp.d the Association on the success of the sho,w.. Mr Pearce said he concurred entirely with Mr Duthie. The rearing of poultry was a, most important industry, to which too little attention was paid. With skill and care it could be made a very profitable industry. It did not do to buy fowls and let them run. They required good shelter and the proper kind of food, and he was sure if this were done those who embarked in the industry would be fully repaid. He congratulated them on the excellence of the exhibition. There was a large attendance of the public

during the ■ afternoon and evening. Xho Hibernian Band marched through the town about 7 o’clock, and ’"enlivened the show by capital selections of popular niupio. The principal prize-takers in poultry were Messrs F. Rogen and Co., of Karori, who have been very successful at the recent shows in Christchurch and elsewhere, and who, it will be remembered, carried off the lion s share of the prizes at last year’s exhibition. Mr R. E. Bannister was also very successful, securing a number of first and special prizes, including Mr T. K. Macdonald’s oup for a light Brahma cock. Messrs E. J. Hill and J. Pettie also took a number of prizes. Mr E. Daore is the most successful prize-taker for pigeons.—The following is the prize-list POULTRY. Black-breasted rod game cock—F. Rogen and Co., first and special .prize ; Styles and Curtis, 2; F. Bogeu and Co., 3. Blackbreasted red game hen—F. Bogen and Co., first and special prize ; Ambrose Johnson, 2; Styles and Curtis, 3. Brown-breasted ped game cook —J. C. Clarke, first and special prize. Brown-breasted rod game hen—F. Bogen and Co., 1 ; F. Dacre, 2; F. Bogen and Co., 3. Pile game cock—Ambrose Johnson, 1 ; F. Bogen and Uo., 2. Pile game hen—Ambrose Johnson, 1. Gamecock, any other variety—F. Rogen and Co, 2.- Game hen, any other variety—F. Dacre, 1. Game cockerell (under 12 months), dabbed or undubbed —F. Dacre, first and special prizes. Game hen (under 12 months), J. U. Holmes, firstandspecialprize; Styles and Curtis, 2; F. Bogen and Co., 3 ; F. Dacre, highly commended. Old English game cock and hen—T. K. E. Jones, 2.. Dorking cock, any variety—F. Pelling, 2. Dorking hen, any variety—C. Simmonds, first and special prize. Dorking cock (under 12 months), any variety— C. Simmonds, 2, Dorking hen (under 12 months), any variety —C. Simmonds, 2. Partridge Cochin cook and hen—B. E. Bannister, first and special prizes ; B. E. Bannister, 2. Partridge Cochin sock and hen (under 12 months) —Bogen and Co., first and special; B. E. Bannister, 2. Buff Cochin cock and hen—F. Bogen and Co., 1; J. Prentice, 2 ; R. E. Bannister, 3. Buff Cochin cook and hen (under 12 months) F. Bogen and Co., 1 ; Mr 3 Moran, 2; J. S. M. Thompson, 3. Dark Brahma cock— J. B. Skelley, first and special prizes ; F. Bogen and Co., 2 ; F. Bogen and Co, 3. Dark Brahma hen—J. B. Skelley, 1 ; F. Bogen and Co., 2 ; F. Rogen and Co., 3. Dark Brahma cock (under 12 months) —F. and Co,, first and special; J. R. Skelley, ,2; Master Naylor, 3, Dark Brahma hen (under 12 months), _ F. Rogen and Go., first and special; F. Rogen and Co., 2; J. R. Skelley, 3. Right Brahma cock —F. Rogen and Co., 1. Right Brahma hen—E. J. Hill, first and special prize; R, E. Bannister, 2; E. J. Dill, 3; F. Rogen and Co, highly commended. Right Brahma cock (under 12 mouths) —R. E. Bannister, first and special prize ; E. J. Hill, 2 ; E. J. Hill, 3, Right Brahma hen (under 12 months) —R. E. Bannister’s Duchess, first and special prize ; E, J. Hill, 2; E. J. Hill, 3 ; F. Rogen and Co. and E. J. Hill, highly commended. Rangshan cock—J. Pettie, first and special prize ; Alexander Smith, 2 ; Rangshan hen —J. Pettie, first and special; G. Remington, 3. Rangshan cock (under 12 months)—F. J. W.' Fear, first anrl Bpecial; J. Pettie, 2 ; J, Pettie, 3 ; G. Remington, highly commended. Rangshan hen (under 12 months)—!’. J. Leighton, first and special'; W. Laurient, 2 ; J. Pettie, 3. Plymouth Rock cock—Richard Evens, first and special; F. Rogen and Co, 3. Plymouth Bock hen—Bichard Evens, 1 ; F. Rogen and Co., 3. Plymouth Bock cock (under 12 months)—Bichard Evens, firsc and special; R. Rogen and Co., 2; Plymouth Rock hen (under 12 months) — Richard Evens, 1; F. Rogen and Co., 2; M. Wilton, 3. Houdan cock—Alfred Elkins, first and special; J. D. Murphy, 2. Houdan hen—F. Bogen and Co., first and special; C. Hodges, 2 ; F. Rogen and Co., 3. Hou<dan cock (under 12 months) —F. Rogen and •Co., 1; Alfred Elkins, 2. Houdan hen funder 12 months)—Alfred Elkins, 1 ; F. Rogen and Co., 2; F. Rogen and Co., 3. White Leghorn cock—F. Rogen and Co., first and special; William Durrell, 2 ; WilSiam jDurrell, 3. White Leghorn hen— F. J. W. Fsar, first and special ; Styles and Curtis, 2 ; J. Harkins. White Leghorn cock (under 12 months)—Mrs Pettie, first and Bpecial ; F. J. W. Fear, 2; O. Hodges, 3 ; C. Durroll, highly commended. White Leghorn hen (under 12 months)—G. H. Brown, first and special: F. J. W. Fear, 2 ; F. Rogen and Co, highly commended. Brown Leghorn cock—F. Rogen and Co., first and special; Charles Simtnonds, sen., 2 ; W. McKenzie, 3. Brown Leghorn hen—-W. McKenzie, 1 ; F. Roand Co., 2 ; W. McKenzie, 3. Brown Leghorn cock (under 12 mouth.) W. McKenzie, 1; C. Simmonds, 2 ; W. Freeman, 3 ; F. Rogen and Co., highly commended. .Black or white Spanish cock and hen—J. 11. Holmes, first and special; P. 0. Anderson, Black or white Spanish cock and hen {under I*2 months)—P. G. Anderson, 1;; V. ■fj. Anderson, 2 ; P. G. Anderson, 3. Antdr.luaiaua, cock and, hen—F. Rogen and Co., (first and special. Golden pencilled Hamfnurgh cock and hen—Sydnoy Smith, first auiel special; Alfred Elkins, 2 ; MrsJ. D. Murphy, 3p Silver pencilled Hamburgh cock and hep—Alfred Elkins, 1 ; Alfred JKlkins, 2. • Gulden spangled Hamburgh cock rand hen —Alfred JSikine, 1 ; Alfred Jfilkin f ■o Silver spangled Hamburgh cock and Ken—M. Wilton, 1 : Alfred Elkins, 2. •Black .Hamburgh cock and hen (under ([l2 months} —R. O’Connor, 1 ; R. O’Connor, 2- R, O’Connor, 3. Golden spangled Poland cock and hen—J. Prentice, first and special priz9. Silver spangled Poland cock and hen _ p. Rogen and Go., first and special prize. Wyandotte cock—H. D. Atkinson, first and sapeetal prize ; Thomas Dixon, 2 ; J. 1 . Shaw, 3. Wyandolte hen—H. I>. Atkinson, first and special prize ; F. Rogen and Go., 2 ; Thomas Dixon, 3. Wyandotte cock (under 12 months) —Leslie Choyne, 1; F. Rogen and Go,, 2; H. D. Atkinson, 3. Wyandotte hen (under 12 months) —Leslie Cheyne, 1 • Thomas Dixon, 2; J. T. Shaw, 3. Black or white Minorca cock and hen F. Rogen and Co., first and special prize. Black or white Minorca cock and hen ‘{under 12 months)—Wm. Durroll, 1 ; F. Bogen and Co., 2; F. Bogen and Co., 3. Any other vailaty (unclassed) cook and hen t-M, Wilton, 1; R, O’Connor’s white Ply-

mouth Rock, 3. Best .pair crossbrod table fowls, cock and hen—Mrs R. H. Naylor, first and special piize. Langshan Brahma — J. T. Shaw, 2. Black or brown-breasted red game Bantam cock and hen—F. Dacre, 1 ; Ambrose Johnston, 2. Bantam cock ana hen, any other variety game F. Dacre, first and special prize; Ambrose Johnston, 2; Styles and Curtis, .3. Bantam oock and "lien (any other variety except game)—F. Bogen and Co., 1 ; F. Rogen and Co., 2. Selling Clasß (not to exceed £1 per pair) - Thomas Leighton, first and special prize ; A. W. Webb, 2 ; C. Durrell, highly commended. Aylesbury ducks (pair)—Fred Greville, first aud special prize ; F. Rogen and Co., 2 ; E. J. Hill, 3. Aylesbury ducks (under 12 months, pair) E. J. Hill, first and special prize ; Mrs R. H. Naylor, 2. Pekin duoks (pair)— F. Bogen.and Go., first and special prize; F. Bogen and Co., 2; Pekin ducks (nnder 12 months, pair)—Frank Whiting, 1 ; F. Rogen and Co., 2 ; F. Bogen and Co., 3. Rouen ducks, pair—P. C. Anderson, 1; J. Riley, 2. Ducks, any other variety, pair— W. Cole. Geese, any variety, pair—R. Rogen and Co., 1 ; A. Elkins, 2 ; J. Ban. nister, 3. Turkeys, any variety, pair—F. Rogen and Co. PIGEONS. Carrier cock, any colour —F. Daore, 1 • F. Daore, 2. Carrier hsn, any colour— F. Dacre (dun), 1 ; F. Dacre (dun), 3. Dragoon cock, any colour—F. Dacre, first and special prize ; W. G. Curtis (blue), 2. Dragoon hen, any colour—F. Dacre (bine), 1 , W. G. Curtis, 2. Pouter cock, any variety—T. H. Moore, 1 ; John McEwen, 2; Charles Simmonds, highly commended. Barb cock, any colour —T. Reynolds (black). 1; T. Reynolds (black), 2. Barb hen, any colour—F. Dacre. Almond tumblers, pair—F. Dacre, first and special ; John McEwen, 2 ; Charles Simmonds, 3. Kite tumblers, pair—R. Dalton M ; W. L. Curtis, 2. Flying tumblers, pair—W. R. Hill, 1 ; W. R. Hill, 2. Any other variety tumbler, pair—F. Daore, 1. Jacobins, cock, any colour—T. R. Reynolds, first and special; T. R. Reynolds, 2. Jacobins, hen, any colour —T. R. Reynolds, 1. White Jacobins, cock—John McEwen, first and special; H. Foster, 2 ; John Toorner 3. White or any other colour Fan tails, pair W. L. Curtis, first and special; W. R. Hill, 2. Any colour Baldheads, pair W. L. Curtis (red), 1 ; Charles Simmonds, 2 ; W. R. Hill (yellow), 3. Any colour Beards, pair—F. Dacre (blue), 1 ; F. Dacre (black), 2. Nuns, pair—F. Dacre, 1. English owls, pair -F. Dacre (blue), 1 ; F. Dacre (silver), 2; W. R. Hill (white), 3. Magpies, pair— F. Dacre, first and special; R. Dalton, 2, Blue Chequers Long-faced Antwerps, pair—F.Dacre, first and special; W. R. Hi11,.2; W. R. Hill, 3. Blue loug-faced Antwerps, pair—F. Dacre, 1; W. R. Hill, 2. Any variety short-faced Antwerps, pair—F. Dacre, 1 ; F. Dacre, 2. Any other variety pigeon, pair—W. R. Hill (red chequers). Selling class for pigeons, to be shown in pairs—H. Foster, 1; F. Dacre, 2; W. L. Curtis, 3. CANARIES. Buff or ticked buff Belgians—F. Dacre, 2. Yellow clear Norwich—J. H. Turner, 3. Buff clear Norwich —F. Dacre, 1. Yellow ticked or variegated Norwich cock, F. Dacre, 1. Buff tialced or variegated Norwich hen—T. S. Turner, 1. Any colorcrested Norwich —F. Dacre, 1 ; Richard Coltman, 2. Lancashire coppie—C. Simmonds. 1. Green canary—F. Dacre, first and special prize ; Henry Tandy, 2. Auy variety cinnamon—H. Tandy, 1. Any other variety canary—Amy Hyde, first and special prize ; Henry Tandy, 2 ; Amy Hyde, 3. Cage of 4 Norwich—C. Simmonds, first and special prize; C. Simmonds, highly commended. Any variety mules—C. Simmonds, first and special prize; C. Simmonds, 2; F, Ashdown, 3. Any variety British song bird—Charles Simmonds (goldfinch), 2. New Zealand paroquet—Mrs Bolter, 1 ; Mrs Bolter, 2; Mrs Bolter, highly commendod. Any variety parrot -H. Price, 1; Mrs Bolter, 2 ; Mrs Bolter and H. Price, highly commended. Selling class, for any variety cage birds—F. Dacre, 1.

Last Friday the Drillshed was thronged all day with visitors at the Poultry Show. It is estimated that during the two days the show has been open at least 5000 visitors have passed through the exhibition. The art union was drawn soon after 8 o’clock. The following special prizes were awarded by the judges :—Messrs Nathan and Co.’s prize, best black-breasted red game cock in show, F. Rogen and Co. ; Messrs Nathan and Co.’s challenge cup, to be won twice, best pair of Cochins, F. Rogen and Co., who have now made it their own property; Mr J. Mandel’s prize, best white Leghorn cock in show, Mrs James Pettie ; Mr J. Riley’s prize for best game cock in show, J. C. Clark; Messrs Wilson and Richardson’s prize, best pair minorcas in show, F. Rogen and Co. During the evening the {Hibernian Band, under the capable leadership of Mr F. L. Dean, performed at intervals. The large Wenham lamp kindly lent by Mr G. Rem ington, of Cuba-streen, gave a splendid light in front of the main door of the Drillshed. . We are informed by the Committee that the judges have disqualified all the birds shown by Mr William Durrell, of Kaiwhara, on account of their having been prepared for exhibition in an irregular manner. At the close of the exhibition last Friday the Committee gave a spread to the exhibitors, donors, and their friends. Mr Riley, of the Post Office Hotel, provided the necessary delicacies in a most satisfactory manner. The following toasts were given with full musical honors: “The Judges,” proposed by Mr Hyde, seconded 0y Air Walker; “ The Exhibitors and Donors,” proposed by Mr R. E. Bannister, who spoke in eulogistic terms of the liberality and spirit of the public in providing the special prizes for the show. This was seconded by MrF. J. W. Fear. Mr Ivor James proposed the Secretary and Treasurer, and congratulated them upon the successful issue of their work. Mr E. J. Hill, in proposing the health of the Chairman (Mr R. E. Bannister), paid him a high compliment for his unremitting attention to the work of his office, and for the grand success of his labours.. Mr Bannister replied briefly in a few well-chosen words. Mr R. E. Bannister proposed, and Mr Hyde seconded, “That the Secretary be instructed to write a letter of thanks to

Messrs Pearce, Duthie, and Levin for their j kindness in offering to open the Poultry Show.” The press and a few other toasts ) were given, and the meeting parted in the beat of harmony. It may be added that hearty cheers followed each toast.