CHRISTCHURCH POULTRY, PIGEON, AND CANARY SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4861, 28 November 1883, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH POULTRY, PIGEON, AND CANARY SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Ohristohuroh Poultry, Pigeon, and Oanary Sooiety was held last night in the Commeroial Hotel. There was a large attendanoe, and Mr W. G. Walker waß oalled to the ohair. Ihe Ohairman explained that the meeting should bave been oalled in Auguat, bnt had been postponed in oonsequenoe of Mr W. O. Hill not having been able to prepare the roport and balance-sheet. BBPOBT. . Mr B. E. M. Evana read the report as follows : — " In presenting the sixteenth annual report your Committee ia enabled with muoh pleasure to add to the congratulations expressed on many previous occasions as to the success of the paat year. The annual exhibition, held in the Oddfellows' Hall, showed a considerable increase in the number of entries aa compared with the Bhows of the two preceding years. Ihe total, 481, haß indeed only been surpassed at three of the exhibitions held under the auspioes of the Sooiety, viz., those of 1878, 1879 and 1880. Oomparing the entries with those of 1882 the result is— 1882 : Poultry, 224 ; pigeons, 112 ; canaries, 85 ; total, 421. 1883 : Poultry, 251 ; pigeons, 130; canaries, 100; total, 481. This shows a total increase of 60 entries, and it ia to be hoped that the improvement manifested at the last exhibition may be an earnest of the oontinued prosperity of the Society. The pens devoted to tho game olasses oontained a fine array of birds, the quality on the whole being very good ; the Dorkings, too, wore quite up to the average. Ihe Spanish were exceedingly good, some of the birds being as perfeot specimens of the type as could bo desired. It may be mentioned that tho Fauoiers' prize of £5 for the best Spanish oook in the show, to be gained twice in succession, was this year awarded for the seoond time to Mr fi. Bowland. Your Committee regret that not a single entry was made in the olaeses for whito Coohins. Thoße of tho Buff variety shown wero fairly good, and very even in quality. Out of four birds shown by air Mounier, of Auokland, three took firet prizes, and his buooobb may enoourage otber fanciers at a distance to emulate his example. The Brahmas were better than at the loat few shows, and aome really admirable birds were found among the Langshans. Ihe Haoiburgs are a olass in whioh there has not been muoh improvement during the past few yeurs, and it wonld seem as though some freßh blood and a little more oare in breeding were necessary to raise the quality of the breed to its former high standard. Considerable attention was attraoted by the three pens of golden Polish sent from Ashburton, their imposing appearanoe and splendid crests commanding general admiration. The Andalusians were good, and also the game bantams, but with the exception of the Bouen duoks, none of the other poultry olasses oall for especial mention. The pigeons, in spito of a noticeable falling off in one I or two olasses, were a very fair Ist. The carriers

were the olass in whioh this deterioration was most notioeable, and it is in a great measure to be attributed to the absenoe of the splendid birds sent in on former v occasions by Mr W. Q. "Walker, whose name did not this year appear in the catalogue. The olasses for Bnglish and African owls and Antwerps were amongst the best in the seotion, oontaining as they did many birds of high excellence. The other olasses contained several birds of good qnality and breeding, but do not call for extended comment. The pigeon flying race, whioh it was intended to fly from Ashburton, fell through from laok of entries. The canary olasses, aa usual, were very popular, not alone amongst tho fanoiors, but also the goneral publio, who exhibited the greatest amount of interest in the awards. In nearly every class of this department of the show there was Btrong competition, several new names being notioeable in the list of exhibitors. Ihe quality of tho exhibits was fully equal to anything of the kind at previous shows, the oinnamons and crested Norwioh forming the beßt show yet seen in Ohristohuroh. A comparative novelty were the eight entries of Scotoh fancies, for which classes were inserted in revising the last sohedule. From the statement of aooounts aa aubmitted by the Honorary Treasurer, it will be aeen that the Sooiety ia not in suoh a good position financially as last year, but as this is partly owing to the unfavourable weather which prevailed on both days that the exhibition was open, and partly to the great expense incurred in the purohase of prizes for the Art Union, your Oommittee areef opinion that this outlay was judioioußin as muoh as the good prizes offered this year will, another time, result in the whole of the 3000 tickets being disposed of, and a considerable sum added to the funds of tho Sooiety. Ihe thanks of tho members are due to the judgeß for the oare and attention they be* stowed upon their duties, to the whole of the gentlemen who gave spooial prizes, to Mr John Ollivier for auditing the aooounts, and to Mr Oharleß Olark for plaoing his rooms at the disposal of the Oommittee during the dates fixed for reoeiving entries. Ihe finanoial statement will be laid before you by the Treasurer." An apology was mado for the absence of Mr W. 0. Hill, and the Seoretary read the balanoe-eheet, showing receipts £365 12s 2d, and expenditure £361 Os lld, leaving a oredit balance of £4 lis 3d. Mr Whiteside moved the adoption of the report and balanoe-sheet. Mr Erans, senior, seoonded the resolution, whioh was agreed to. ELECTION OF OFFIOBBS. The following officers for the ensuing year were eleoted:— Patron, Mr George Oould j President, Mr B. W. Fereday; Vice-Presi-dents, His Worship the Mayor and Messrs B. Strange, B. Allan, B. Beeoe, T. Stapleton, sen., W. 0. Hill, J. D. Maopherson, J. O. Hawkes, and W. G. Walker ; Hon Treasurer, Mr George Triggs j Hon Seoretary, Mr B. E. M. Evans; Oommittee of ManagementMessrs Leversedge, Musohamp, Bitohie, Evans, Mather, Goodman, Whiteside, Walker, Beeee, Olark, Bailey, and J. J. Parker. Mr J. Goodman apologised for the absence of Mr E. Strange. Ihe meeting olosed with tbe usual votes of thanks. ____________^