PIGEON SHOOTING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3585, 27 March 1886, Page 3

PIGEON SHOOTING.

TO THE EDITOR OF TOE TrMAIUT HERALD. Sin, — An advertisement m your columns ot tlio present time announcing a pigeon match tit Ashburton next weok, when 300 tame pigeons are to bo shot at, lids given rise m my mind to mingled feelings of puiu and disgust. Can anyone calling himeolf a mnn honeßtly say, when slaughtering these beautiful and innocent birds, that lie is indulging m a manly sport ? I was shocked to see the advertisement, because I had thought that such a cruel pastime hud been stamped out of the colony long ago. I have witnessed a pvizo fight between two strong men, and was sickened at the sight, but it was manly m comparison with a sanguinary battue of harmless pigeons. It is some years since I had the pain of soeing a pigeon shooting match, and I can never forget tho feeling of disgust with which I left the field, although I was at that timo a comparatively careless youth. Doubtless I shall bo informed that it requires considerable skill to bring down your bird ; granted, but it doe 3n t require so much skill towing your bird, just enough to onablo it to fly to a safe distanua from its would bo murderer, to die a miserable death of pain and starvation under the sheltsr of some friendly bu?li. How do the children of tho sportsmon like tlio idea of their favourite birJs being butchered to make a colonial holiday ? Possibly thoso who indulge m the slaughter, I cannot call it sport, do so through Bheer thoughtlessness ; if so, the sooner they are wakened from their hideous dream tho better. We are shocked to see fowls carried to market with their heads hanging downwards, behind a cart ; if a horse or a dog is at all ill used, our feelings of pity are aroused nnd the law steps mto punish tho culprit ; but men who profess to be, or like to bo thought gentlemen, will have 300 innocent tame pigeons shut up m close boies for days together, so that ut au appointed time they may be ready to bo shot at, for the amujement of themselves and their sympathising friends. Truly a manly sport ! Why, cockrfighting is a king to it, and prizefighting between human bipeds is worth)' of our best support, m comparison. I understand that a Bill was passed by the British House of Commons, suppressing the degrading sport, but that it was thrown out by the noble House of Lorda. The Princess of Wales has done nil m her power to discountenanco the EO-ctil'od pastime, and Boonar or later it. must be relegated to the slums. Good old Wordsworth m his poem of " Heart Leap Well," expresses m two lines my feelings on this painful subject : — " Never to blend our pleasure or our pride With sorrow of tho meanest thing that lives." I call upon all who wish to protect every dumb creature against man's cruelty, to assist m tho suppression of this most unmanly of sports. I believe m football, cricket, boating, and all true mauly pastimes, but am one of thoso who think that it is not necessary to kill somothing, to tborpughjy enjoy myself. I am, &.c. Hujianitv.