HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2699, 6 December 1905, Page 49

HOMING NOTES.

(By Mansta Msa&t.) | E. R. D. A., Hastings. — Many thanks, but I don't want results. We have no loft, and, therefore, unable to present you with a pair of birds. Wish your club every success. Mr i£. R. Reeves, president of the Dunedin Homing Ulub, has had his loit broken into and. nve birds stolen. The culprits recognised good birds, tor they took lour line youngsters irom his Json Jfale and Royal iott birds, together with the dam of these young birds. Air Reeves was preparing to examine his loit to see that everything was secure for the night, and almost caught the thieves. They left hurriedly, leaving behind the caps of an overcoat, which Mrs Keeves found, and underneath the cape was a squeaker.' Mr Reeves reported the matter at once to Constable' Bosworth, and, with only the cape as a clue, he very cleverly found the parties the following afternoon. The four young birds and tneir dam were liberated after the constable left, and although none of the birds had ever been away tro/n Burnside they all reached home safely fromOaversham. Two of the squeakers had not previously been outside the loft. Mr ±t. Douglas had two valuable birds stolen six months ago, and one returned last week, the famous Pilot, Dr Macdonald's champion racer and stock bird. Detective Herbert has the matter in hand, and the parties who took the birds will appear at the court this week. The Dunedin Homing Club has a "lost and found" list at its elubrosm. All birds lost, also all birds found, with particulars, are entered therein — a capital idea of Secretary Tattersfield's. i Mr J. B. Smellie, Hunt's Road, Katea, found a red chequer homer rung, C.F.C., 26, 1904, rubber racing ring 499. The bird is stamped on the flights of each wing, "Ppgley Bros." Mr Smellie sent the bird to Mr Finnegan, who is waiting reply from the secretary of the Canterbury Flying Club, Christchurch, for the owner's address. Mr J. Keen, who lost his bird_ in the Cape Campbell-Dunedin race, received a letter from Miss D. Sebley, Porangahau, Napier district, that she had caught a bird rung Dunedin, 108, and Mr Keen's name : stamped on the flights. Mr Keen, was very pleased to know where his bird had gone, and has wired Miss Sebley accordin^ly * ! The Dunedin Homing Club flew off its first j interval race on the South road from Ur- s ton last Saturday. Fifteen members, with j 35 pens, took part. The weather was fine. The pens were liberated at intervals of tve. minutes by Mr Treacy— distance air line, miles. Results :-Mrß.J.Finnegans Fire King, lhr 22min (velocity 1410 yards), , 1 Mr E J. Reeves's Gladsome, lhr 22mm ; (velocity 1354), 2; Mr H. Short's Silver Prince, lhr 34min (velocity 1101),' 3. Tho juniors flew, a race from Ashbui ton on Saturday, air-line distance 3514 miles, wind light nor' -west : weather, fane. , Results -.-Master Bob Smithy Sir Lanoe- j lot 3hrs 21min (velocity 1324 yards) 1; 1 Master Syd. Smith's Ideaha m 3hrs 21* mm (velocity 1322), 2; Master G Michie s Lady Langton, 3hrs 31min (velocity 1215), 3. The birds were attended to and liberated by . M ns STshall give 'Mr H. Short', blue c Young 86's performances. FIREWORKS AND YOUNG 86. TO THE EDITOR Sib— "Mansta, Mealy's" notes on the above subject are much appreciated, and j very interesting, not only to the fancy, but , also to a number of your readers. As one who takes a keen • interest in the homing pigeon, I always look for these notes in your paper. "Mansta Mealy's" notes in iast week's "Witness speak of Mr B. Finmgan's Fireworks as being equal to Mr H. Short's Yotmg 86. Possibly there le very little difference between them. That they J are two good birds is now proved beyond i doubt. "M. M.," in his notes, suggests , that a good go would be between these , two veterans over a. course of about 200 miles. But, seeing these two birds are from Dr J. G. Macdoiiald's strain, I think the , fancy would more appreciate a test between j what Mr Finnegan considers his best bird from some other strain and Fireworks; tTien the winner to be matched against Young 86. I think these two owners, if requested, might possibly fa*, in with my suggestion, and thus afford a very interesting tussle. — I am, etc., Dunedin. December 4. Pilot.