KENNEL AND POULTRY NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 746, 23 June 1904, Page 10

KENNEL AND POULTRY NOTES.

The annual show of the Auckland and Suburban Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association, which was held last week at the Federal Hall, was beyond question the most successful ever held by the . Association. In the number of exhibits it was a long way ahead of anything yet seen in this city, no less than 1163 birds being shown. To be exact, the entries in poultry numbered 681, pigeons 329, and canaries 153, a record in each department. There was also a marked improvement in quality, and the judges had a very difficult task set them. The judges were as follows Mr J. Casey, of Wellington (poultry), Mr H. Tattersail, of Auckland (ducks), Mr J. L. Fitzgerald, of Wellington (pigeons), Mr T. W. Brown (canaries). Mr W. Whinwray, of Cambridge, won the North Island Championship for White Leghorns, while Mr W. B. McKenzie, of Wellington, carried off the North Island Championship allotted to the turbit pigeon class. A similar championship for canaries was won by Mr J. M. Thomson, the popular secretary. The show was exceedingly well conducted throughout, and Mr Thomson and the executive deserve much credit for the completeness of their arrangements. Several portraits of the winning birds appear in this issue.

The Irish terrier bitch Spinaway, by champion Breda Muddler ex Burma, bought by Mr W. W. Robinson (better known to old Auckland sportsmen as Billy Robinson) for Mr James Cooper, of Auckland, is full sister to champion Mile End Muddler, Burma Boh, Mile End Barrister, and other well-known winners. The importation of this bitch will be a great acquisition to the Irish terrier fancy in this colony, as new blood is badly wanted. It is the intention of the owner to send the bitch to the well-known winning dog, Chinados, before being shipped for her future home.

Irish Terrier lovers will regret to learn that in the opinion of no less an authority than Dr. R. B. Carey, the hon. secretary of the Irish Terrier Club, the old, true, varminty type, with keen expression, is getting - lost, and. that one rarely sees at shows dogs with the correct, sharp, keen outlook which a game terrier should possess.”

Fanciers desirous of showing their dogs to the best advantage must exercise them all they can between this and show time (writes “ Terror ” in the “Otago Witness ”). Exercise and judicious grooming will do more than anything else to improve condition, appearance, a<tion, and character —exercise with chain and without. On entering dogs for the show care must be taken to see that the necessary fees are paid to qualify for Kennel Club and specialist clubs, as well as for the show club’s, prizes, trophies, etc. Fanciers sending small dogs to distant shows will do well to provide hampers or cases giving ventilation at the sides, back, and front, as well as on top. Railway guards are apt to pack the cases, one on top of another, and sometimes side by side, so every precaution should be adopted to give the travelling canine every chance to get fresh air. Large dogs sent on chajn "should be accompanied to the station by someone sufficiently interested to see that they are properly placed in the van ; and if possible arrangements should be made for someone to look at them when en route, if only to guard against their being placed in juxtaposition to a dangerous companion. Above all things, due notification should be given to. secure their being taken in charge on arrival at their destination.

When cropping was prohibited by the Kennel Club, it was predicted that Bull Terriers would practically disappear from the show-bench, but breeders have now succeeded in getting stock with nice, small drop-ears, and the breed may consequently come to the front again.

The best Esquimaux dog ever seen in the United Kingdom, or, indeed, in Europe, died last month. There are very few of his breed left in England, owing to the quarantine regulations. The nearest approach to Arctic King was Arctic Queen, the winner of numerous first and specials. The bitch died in 1.900, so that the breed is now almost extinct in Great Britain. Both belonged to Mr A. P. King. Arctic King was imported, his parentage being unknown. He was born on July 1, 1892, and consequently achieved a great age, especially for an TSscpiiinaux, as they are very difficult to keep in a Southern climate\ and in hot weather. He was the winner of over 100 first and special prizes.

We have just received from Messrs Sami. Peach and Sons, Manufacturers of Lace Curtains, Nottingham, England (whose advertisement appears in the “New Zealand Illustrated Magazine ) a supply of their new Price Lists for this season. It is a beautiful specimen of Printers’ Art, and contains hundreds of splendid illustrations of Lace Curtains, Laces, Duchesse Blinds, Household Linens and Hosiery, etc. In their Export List is shown Ladies’ and Gent.’s Clothing, Boots, Shoes, Furniture, Carpets, etc. Any of our readers who desire a copy of these excellent catalogues can be supplied either personally or by sending a post card to this office.