KAITANGATA POULTRY CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 3304, 11 July 1917, Page 41

KAITANGATA POULTRY CLUB.

ANNUAL SHOW. The fourth annual show^ promoted by the Kaitangata Poultry Club was held in the Presbyterian Hall yesterday, and from many points of view it can be regarded, as the most successful in the brief History of the club. Poultry-keeping is evidently becoming increasingly popular in the Kaitangata district, and each year a distinct advance is made upon the number of entries forward at the previous show, the exhibits yesterday totalling 192, as against 152 in 1916. The majority of these were from local exhibitors, there being only about 20 outside entries. The attendance was fanin the afternoon, and it greatly improved in the evening. The quality of the birds also seems to be on the up grade, and some of the utilityfowls were of a really superior class, and would do well .in almost any show. White Leghorns and Minorcas are the breeds most favoured in the district, and judging by tho samples shown they seem to thrive to advantage, the representatives of tho former breed, which is very popular just now, being quito a feature of the show. Mr J. Jenkinson's pullet, which took the special prize in its class, was a very fine bird, while the cock and cockerel shown by Mr A. Woods, and the hen shown by Mr W. Barclay were very typical examples of the breed." Minorcas were a strong class, and included an excellent oock bird, which was exhibited by Mr E. P. Lavery. Mr R, Hector's cockerel well merited the award and special prize it received, and the pens exhibited by Messrs Jas. Thompson, jun., and Mr Barclay showed excellent and careful breeding. The brown Leghorns were not so good, taken all round, and in many cases were not true to colour. Several nice Orpingtons were shown, tho most outstanding of these probably being Mr A. S. Jarvie's cockerel, which was very typical of the breed. The breeding pens, * both light and heavy, made a good showing, some very good examples of white Wyandottcs being staged. In the open classes some poultry of excellent quality were also shown, and there was good competition in a number of cases. The white Wyandottes were especially good, and if anything some- of tho birds

erred on the heavy side, though most oi them were really fine types ol the breed. Mr A. hi. Jarvie annexed the majority of the awards in this class, but the whole of the prizes for pullets were carried oti) by Mr J. Pryde with some really fine birds, There was only a small entry forward in Leghorns, and the Minurcas in this section, were also disappointing, too much attention having been devoted to the lobes, a loss of quality resulting. Some silver-spangled Ilarnburgs of nice quality wore shown by Mr J. Campbell, who secured practically all the awards, and excellent breeding was displayed by Mr J. Paul a barred Hocks. In. the case of the black-red Game, there was some room for improvement, and the Rhode Island Reds were only fair. There was a small entry forward in Andalusiana and Orpingtons. The championship for- tho best bird in the show was won by Mr J. Pryde with hia white Wyandotte pullet, which annexed quite a number of special awards. This prize was won by Mr Pryde last year with a white Wyandotte cock, and if he should bo successful at the next show the Carson Cup will become his property finally. The best bird in the utility section was a white Leghorn pullet, shown by Mr J. Jenkinson, which also carried off a number of special prizes. The special award for the most points in the show was won by Mr A. S.jarvie, who, with Mr Pryde and Mr Jenkinson, is always a prominent exhibitor irt the open sections at the club's fixtures. The novice selling classes were fairly well patronised, and the sections for children's pets attracted a good deal of interest. Mr C. H. Cunningham (luvercargill) judged the whole of the classes, and gofc through the arduous task in good time, hia awards giving very general satisfaction. It was the first occasion on which Mr Cunningham had judged at Kaitangata, and ha expressed himself as greatly pleased with tho staging of tho exhibits and. indeed, the whole of tho arrangements. Mr 11. Martin carried out the duties of secretary in an efficient and courteous manner.

Mr T. S. Cairns (Mayor of Kaitangata) officially declared the show open, and wished the promoters every success. He referred to the importation of eggs froim abroach and strongly advocated the paying! of greater attention to the industry of poul-try-breeding within the dominion itself.—< (Applause.)