PALMERSTON NORTH SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2624, 29 June 1904, Page 57

PALMERSTO N NORTH SHOW.

The poultry sections of the Manawatu winter exhibition, he-Id on the 21=t to 24tb ir..^r were am»ng the most attractive of the exhibits. All classes of poultry wwe well represented, and reports certitv that the judges (Messrs J. Rose, Dunedin, and F. Dacre) got through a difficult task witn satisfaction to themselves and all concerned. Wyandottes and Orpingtons he-re, as elsewhere this jear, proved to be the fashionable breeds, and Langshans and Plymouth Rocks made a good show. In Wyandottes the gold cockerel that won the Aorth Isand championship is a very fine bird indeed, and takes precedence eas-ly. Next to him came J. O. Suckling's silver pullet, an exceptionally good bird; one of the best, in fact, that the judge (Mr Ro=e ) has seen tip's year, surpassing e^en the Christchurch exhibits cf last week. There was good competition among both silver and gold. The winnii'3 Minorcas were of good quality, but after the phieed birds there was a big faliEg-off. Loghorn? were also a superior class, particulai-c it the brown bree<l, and the Langsha is similarly were the bpst seen for some time. Mr W. A. Sowman (Blenheim) was a proniir.tnt prize-taker in Plymouth Rocks. He manes a specialty of this breed, and his ext.ibi raised the "standard equal to anything seen in New Zealand. Houdans were fair, and Indian game were strong, both in quality and quantity. As regards quantity of exhibits, however, both Wyandottes and Orpingtons exceeded e\erything, in one class of the former there being as many as 30 entries. Indian games ranked fairly high in numbers, and the judge remarked the winners were as good as any he had seen in Wellington. The Indian game is put to useful purposes, and though of a show cla^s will not be done away with in the demand for utility birds, chiefly on the- ground of its suitableness for crossing. In the old English game thpre were some splendid specimens. Hamburgs were very disappointing iv number, but competition was very keen. The fancy Polish brec-d is rare, and there were few bhda showing, but these were good h> quality. The pmes in most classes were fairly distributed all over New Zealand.

In Dorkings, F. D. Pelling and T. W. Burns were the chief prize-takers, and Mrs W. Webb and J. O. Batchelar divided the honours in the Brahma?, each taking two firsts. In Langshans C. H. Burnett took two firsts and J. H. Prie=tly a single. T. O. Poad, a well-known breeder, was apparently out-classed, taking two thirds. Plymouth Rocks were a gift to W. A. Sowman, of Blenheim, his wins being a special, three firsts, and three seconds. His first prize cockerel called for special praise. In Orpingtons, Mr Sowman again defied competition, taking first and special for cock and hen, and winning in the single pullet class. Walter Churton (Wanganui), G. R. Hutche&on (Auckland), and C. E. Kember (\\ allace\ ille) were large prize-takcr=, particularly the. Auckland breeder. Local exhibitors — 11. J. Man&on, Manttan, and others — were outclassed.

Wyandottes were the feature of the show. In all there were 116 entries. The champion cockerel shown by Fred Bradley, of W elHngton, was exceedingly well favoured, and would take any amount of beating. J. Suckling, of Pahiacua, who carried off the special for siher pullets, showed a splendid bird. The principal exhibitors in the various classes were Robert Bishop (Levin), T. H. Stewart (Hastings), Frod Bradley (Wellington), C. J. Frost (Wellington), G. R. Hutcheson, J. Cuckling, G. Hight (Rongotea),

and B. H. Gowen, all of whom secured firsts. Bert Tasker, of Nelson, took a third. Local breeders were again out of ii. In Minorcas, however, Palmei>i.on pens were better filled. J. D. Cox took a first and special with a choice black hen, and the same honours with a black cockerel. He also secured a second and third in black pullets; J. H. Manttan secured a first and a second. G. R. ITulcheson was again to the fore with a first and special in black pullet?, but in other classes he was beaten. There is credit for Palmer^ ton ians in the fact that they overcame good outside competition. Leghorns, white and brown, as a class were strong. G. R. Attwood, Palnierston, carried off the special for white hens, and a second for pullets. A. R. Alpe, Wellington, showed the best white cockerel, with Hope-Johnston next. The same breeder won in whita pullets. (Haiti's representative (A. W. Broadway) and W. Cotton (Palmerston) were first in brown cock and hen classes. Mr Broadway took first and special for cockerels and Mr A. Montgomerie second and third, and T. H. Stewart, Hastings, took a special in cockerels. The well-known breeder, J. Cunninghame, beat some good birds in brown pullets, Mr T. H. Stewart getting second and Mr Montgomeri© third. There were no exhibits in Spanish. In Andalusians, Robert Bailey acd G. R. Hutcheson were almost the sole prize- takers ; A. JR. Mayo, Feilding, securing a third- The special prize in Houdan hens fell to H. J. Manson, Palmerston North, who also secured honours with his cockerel. G. R. Hutcheson shov/ed up well in Indipn game; but H. J. Manson carried off the first and special cocks, his only exhibit. In Old English game, G. Ailman (Palmerston North), Miss Treewick (Palmerston North;, and A. Roxburgh were the chief scorers. G. E. Fern (Northland) showed the champion Hamburg pencilled hen and the first-prize cock. A. R. Alpe (Wellington), James Grant, Mrs Webb (Hawke's Bay, secured" firsts in this class. Thompson Bros, and A. Roxburgh took the Polish prizes, F. J. France the bantam (a weakly represented class), F. Nossiter the guinea fowl, and James King two in bronze Turkey hens.