GREYMOUTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 50

GREYMOUTH.

• Here we, of course, put up with Mr Fred " Jtogen, at his nresent establishment, the Royal Hotel (adjoining the railway station •nd the Mawhera quay), and many Witness readers will be pleased to learn that we found both host and hostess in the best of health and thoroughly satisfied 'with their present 'condition and prospects; and, _ I may add, they might "well be so, for a busier bouse there is not on the West Coast. Mr . Hogen was well pleased to receive us, and immediately on our arrival set about securing our comfort during the period of our ■tay; and it was thanks to his subsequent attention that we contrived to see the several establishments respecting which I now proceed to report. Mr Harry James, of Hospital street, jhowed me the nicest lot of golden Wyannotte -chickens I have seen for many a long day. He has in all 19 cockerels and 12 pullets, and. scarcely a really poor one in the lot. The young fry are somewhat more advanced at this time of year on the West Coast than about Dunedin; consequently, I saw these birds sufficiently forward to warrant prognostications; and my opinion. *huß based, is that selected birds will hold their own at any South Island show. Mr Thomas, sen., of Shakespeare street, has a fair show of Langshans. They were in the moult at the time of Jiy visit, and — ■s I like to see- this breed when so engaged— -jrere wasting no time in the process. My experience' is that Langshans are really anxious- to be "fit" when eggs are dear, and' consequently contrive to be early -'rigged out" for winter weather/ A fairly good range, affording plenty of grass, ' gives Mr Thomas's birds every chance to gain; the -desired end. - - ' Mr W. Thomas, jun., showed me the first prize golden Wyandotte hen, Christchurch show, and about two dozen other nice birds of last season's hatch. They are not quite vp — in my opinion — to the James 'standard, but are high quality nevertheless. I noticed Mr James feeding oats, and waR about to remark that oats seemed to be in high favour in Greymouth, for in all the Tuns I had visited the birds were called together with the same grain, but I suddenly remembered that friend Rogen — who, of fourse, was present — always recommended oats as 'against wheat, and held my peace, •nd I only mention the fact now to show the- influence the one-time Evansdale breeder is exercising in his new sphere. , Indeed, I understand that the "'majority it the fanciers now. to the fore in Greymouth are what may be termed new era men, dating back only to -Mr Rogen's arrivel on the scene. Mr Edward Thomas keeps white Leghorns, of a Christchurch strain, noted for legginess; Langshans of good ..ype (a cockerel being noticeably of Rogen s strain —i.e., fine in bone (yet strongly built), good ■carriage, tight and shapely;— and some Pekin ducks, also from a Christchurch yard. The white Leghorns are not quite so extravagantly stilted as were some of the birds -from the same breeder seen here a season 'or two back, and when more -bodied may 'look in proportion, and consequently more ■attractive. • ". I have some photos, just to hand, Jescnptjve of other yard- *een at Greymouth, but fear that, with one or two exceptions, 'they are unsuitable — being taken in a poor •'light— for' reproduction. In order that the pictures . may appear simultaneously with my report. I htold over further description of other Grermouth yards till next week.

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