KAITANGATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 31

KAITANGATA.

Mr Sharman, well known as a successful Langshan showman, could only give me a few minutes of his company (owing to a pressing engagement calling him away from heme) with his birds. I found, however, much the same show of promising youngstock to be ?een at the^e premises at this time of year, amongst them being four pulleti and five cockerels of Mr Henderson's (I'orbury) strain. Altogether there were about 50 pullets and 16 cockerels, including sc-me white Wyandottes of Mr David Paton's (Milton) strain. Mr Sharman has had bad luck with his last year's show birds, the second prize cockerel being now string-halted, and thg third prize cockerel and the winning hen have both died.

Mr Andrew Bisset I found preparing stands for exhibits at tho flower show, and the time being he would have preferred to talk flower's rather than poultry. He is good nature personified, however, and, without even an exhibition of resignation, turned his back upon the work his heart was set on to attend to his visitor, showing me not only his own birds, but those of all the other Kaitanga-ta fanciers about which I have to report. Mr A. Bisset's feathered (as against his sweet-scented) fancy is that particularly handsoTne bird the silver-spangled Hamburg, and he has held by the breed (either silver or black) for the las' 17 years. Of these I saw a few adult birds and some forward ohickens — it should go without saying of good quality. Mr Bisset's birds have the liberty of a srcod piece of orchard ground, and though in the midst of tlie moulting season each bird, as I caught a glimpse it them in the bushes and amongst the trees, looked perfection in pencilling and brightness of feather. It is an astonishing thing, considering the beauty of the Hamburg and its prolific layirxr, that as a breed it is not more popular.

Mr Hill (a, near neighbour to Mr A. Bisset) has white Leghorns and buff Orpingtons. The first mentioned are of Mr Hunt's (Olinton) sti'ain, procured through Mr Bisset. A Hook of about three dozen of these contained several nice-sized birds, well tucked up in wing, and of (?ood colour iv feather and legs. The buffs are of Taylor's (Milton) strain, very even in colour, and of good &har)c

Mr Jack Bolsh ha-s buff Orpingtons of Gcvernment and' imported strains — 55 (18 cockerels and 37 pullets) in all. Amongst these I saw some grand, exceptionally even colour in both sexes ; and one of the cockerels, just entering 1 its fourth month, was sufficiently clean, correct in build, and sound and even in colour to arrest attention in the best company. In black Orpingtons Mr Bolsh has some from Mr Rolleston, of TC.aia.poi, and half a dozen of an imported strain. The occupants of both 'of these pens will make- good breeders, being of correct type and uniformally good at all noints.

A trio of white Wyandott-es imported from Mr J. H. Jackson, of New York, by Mr George Aitcheson i<? undoubtedly a wonderfully strong combination. When I saw these birds they had been in the sun for three weeks after their long voyage, and yet were still wholly untarnished in colour, and the opinion is that they will continue co. Judging by the length of spurs and his general appearanoe. the cock bird was on arrival quite 18 months old, and it counts for something to be able to say of a white Wyandotte male that it is absolutely white, and apparently a stay white, at that age. He is, barring insufficient depth (a matter of opinion, perhaps) in ohest. of true Wya.ndotfce> shapes, and very nice in head. The pullets have the prettiest imaginable heads, bearing nicely-worked, small, closely-set combs, are equal in colour t ». the male, and both are well-built shapelybirds. One is certainly a finer Wyandotte than the other, but all told this Wyandotte trio is the finest I have seen, either this or last season.

As many of my readers are aware, Mr Aitehoson is best known as an AndakiSia-u breeder, so, notwithstanding- the attraction of the newly importeds, I had, with Mr Bisset's (in the owner's a-bsence) assistance, to hunt up his birds of this breed. I believe w.e found most of them, scattered some here, some there ; but wiiat can one say of Andalusians — above all other breeds — in the moulting season? Shape and' size alono could be seen ; feather and lacing were deep in the skin !