MANAWATU NOTES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1687, 29 June 1904, Page 68 (Supplement)

MANAWATU NOTES

(From Our Correspondent.)

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Manawatu Poultry' Association, the President, Mr H. J. Manson, drew attention to the menace .arising to the poultry industry in New Zealand by the importation of Chinese eggs. The latter, he explained, were packed in rice husks and a liquid poured over to preserve them. At the present time an import duty of 25 per cent, was imposed against Chinese eggs, but it was altogether too lew to enable New Zealand breeders to successfully compete against them. He suggested that the same tariff* as New South Wales, viz., 50 per cent., should be adopted, it having proved to be high enough to prohibit the successful sale of tne imported eggs in that market. The Association decided to instruct its delegate, Mr C. Pickering, co bring the matter up for discussion at the annual meeting of the North Island Poultry Association, to be held at Wellington on the Ist July'.

Last season a Manawatu breeder had a fine rooster condemned at a show on one point only—a defective comb. Standing up in the show pen, the bird looked a perfect specimen, and the judge considered ho was Until lie found the back of the comb had not grown proportionately to the other part. As an experiment, the breeder kept the cock and a few hens separate for breeding purposes, and the male stock iof the resulting brood have to a bird the same peculiar defect in the comb as above mentioned.

There is a brisk demand for utility birds in this district at present, particularly Black Orpingtons. India Runner ducks are also in strong demand. One of the leading breeders in table birds in. Manawatu thinks that the demand for this class of poultry, which- is stronger than ever this season, is likely to increase. Poultry are becoming more popular as an article of food on account of the heavy prices prevailing for beef and mutton. 'The public have also been educated to recognise the value of the utility bird through the medium of the poultry shows. Mr H. Victor Fitzherbert, the Brown Leghorn breeder, who was very successful amongst the leading shows last season, has purchased an 18 months cock of the same breed from Mr O. Cunningham©, of Palmerston, for <£*s ss. The bird won everywhere he was shown last season. Mr Fitzherbert, who has added considerably to his pens this y r ear, is importing a Brown Leghorn cockerel from Australia, A fine team of Minorcas belonging to Mr J. H. Manttan, tbe well-known breeder in this variety, were exhibited, at the Winter Show. Mr Manttan is also showing White Leghorns, bred from some of the best stock in the colony.

Another fine exhibit in the shape of several liens of Wyandottes and Buff Orpingtons is being shown bv Mr J. Jarvis, iof Rongotea, who has made a speciality of the former bird. All his pons this sea*

son have been bred entirely from imported . stock and include silver, gold, white, partridge and buff varieties of the Wyandotte. Feilding breeders have also been improving tlieir pens by introducing stock from the most aristocratio blood in the colony. The names of Messrs Theo West in White Wyandottes and Brown Leghorns, D. Haswell in Black Orpingtons, and A. R. Mays in Andalusians may be mentioned in this respect. The Manawatu Poultry Association, with its characteristic progressive policy, is holding a two days’ show at Palmerston North on the 3rd and 4tli August next, which has been organised on excellent lines. A very complete schedule, providing for show and utility classes, guinea fowls, pigeons (52 classes), canaries and pets, lias been issued. Over 80 special trophies will be awarded to the various prize winners, and -where such award is made, the Association has adopted the satisfactory course of not withholding ordinary prize moneys. Competitions for incubators, brooders, weight guessing and plucking are included in the general programme, and also the Poultry Societies’ competition. Tlie latter is a new innovation on tlie part iof the Association by which the Society showing the best four pens of either Orningtons, Leghorns, Wyandottes or Black Minorcas will receive prize moneys as follows: —14 entries or more, <£ls, £6, £2; 9 entries up to 14, <£lo/ £3, <£l 10s; 6 entries up to 9. M, £2, £l. The competition is to be. held annually amongst Societies affiliated to the Nortli Island Association. Championship prizes of the latter will be awarded in Plymouth Rocks and India Runner, ducks." Entries are advertised to close on 6th July, at 9 p.m.