THE POULTRY SHOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7432, 19 June 1902, Page 3

THE POULTRY SHOW.

4 The annual show of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society .was opened this afternoon in the Colosseum by his Worship the Mayor, Mr H. F. Wigram. Xhe Colosseum is -most admirably suited for a show of this character, its ariiple floor room affording special facilities for arranging the pens so that visitors can make close comparison of the exhibits, and by examinatipn see for themselves' the points of excellence of- the birds. Plenty of room is- provided! between/ the rows of pens for visitors to walk and -make inspection, and in the daytime the light from, above is sufficiently abundant and penetrating to reach every bird and pet. Foi' the evening the electric light is even 'more satisfactory, the large incandescent lights .vith which ekaters are familiar being lowered" to within eight feet of the floor, so that a light, equal almost to daylight is diffused -everywhere. In the matter of numbers the exhibits are very satisfactory, there being no fewer than' 1203 on the catalogue, and in most of the sections there is fair representation. . In regard to ppultry^^he feature of the showthat will at once -strike' the average visitor is the size of the |sirds,in the classes which provide the table, and in this connection it may be remarked that many of the birds aTe exceptionally well furnished,- showing that the recent fillip that has been gives, to ptoultryrearing by Hhe establishment pf an export trade has taught" breeders a? lesson they have hot been slow :to learn. The- classes, too, that have a reputation as egg producers are also largely represented. Ducks • are in strong force, and present prime specimens, while pigeons appear in such force and variety, that nearly every distinct variety, known to the breeder is in* evidence. The canaries occupy the whole of one end wall of the Colosseum, and will doubtless be an attractive feature of the show, while at the opposite end of the-- building _re ranged the pets, and these comprise many that will afford deji^ht to youthful visitors. At half past two his Worship the Mayor, Mr H. F. Wigram, opened' the show, amd tlie fair audience that had assembled. Amidi the noise of the c-rowing of cocks, his Worship's words were not audible to many, but after thanking the Society for the honour conferred upon him in asking himi to open. the exhibition, he congratulated it -on the work it was doing. It was the thirty -fifth show the Sooiety had •held, and the one he was now opening was* tbe second that had -bean- held in the building. At the exhibition in th© Colosseum jn 1889, there had been a total of 700 exhibits. This year there were 1200. Ifc was very evident that poultry -Tearing had _ great future before ifc a<s an industry, and the Government was giving it great assistance in many ways by aiding in finding markets and taking caro that the poultry were placed upon these markets in proper condition. In New Zealand there was no reason why the very.^besfc pWtry that tbe world' can produce r should not be rea.red, and! the show tbat day was evidence that the thing waa 'possible. He congratulated the Society on its excellent management, and added that in >n oountry tihat could at one time dount amongst its poultry a bird like the moo., poultry-rearers should' have no cause to fear the competition of any other part, of creation. (Laughter.) He hlad pleasure in '"formally' declaring, tlie show -open. (Applause.) Three cheers were then given ior his Worship, the Mayor. 4 ' ' ■ ' -'-■"