ASHBURTON POULTRY, PIGEON AND CANARY SOCIETY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1013, 4 August 1883, Page 3

ASHBURTON POULTRY, PIGEON AND CANARY SOCIETY.

SPECIAL PRIZE LIST. The following special prizes, confined to the Ashburton County, were awarded as follows : A copy of Wright’s “Illustrated Poultry Book,” value 355, given by a member—W. J. Silcock Mr W. J. Silcock, ios fid, for the best Cochin Hen, under 12 months—J. Permain. Mr Poyntz, 10s fid, for the best Colored Dorking Cock—W. J. Silcock Mr W. H. Zouch, 10s fid, for the best pair Silver-spangled Hamburgs—J. Permain Mr S. Saunders, 10s fid, for the best pair of Fowls in classes 57 and 58 —Not awarded Mr J. Permain, io- fid, for the best Pair of Tumblers—W. A. Thompson Mr Patterson, 10s id, for the best cage four Canaries, each a different type —Mrs Poyntz Mr S. W, Alcom, 10s fid, for the best Variegated Norwich Canary—R. Evans and Son Mr G. T. Smith, ios fid, for the purest bred Cinnamon Canary—R. Evans and Son Mr G. H. St. Hill, ios fid, for the best Slate-colored Loury Panot —Not awarded Mr R. Alcorn and friend, ios fid, for the six Largest and Heaviest Hen Eggs —E. Knight. Open to all :

For the exhibitor se uring the greatest number of points for birds the bona fide property of exhibitor. Ist prize, class winner, to count three points, and prize, do, two points, highly commended, one point; commended, half point, a Silver Cup, value £S Bs, given by a Christchurch resident —A. Walker.

For the best pair of White Dorkings (Cock and Hen), special entry and exhibit required, a copy of Tegetmeier’s “Illustrated Book of Poultry”—W. J. Silcock. A Copy of Tegetmeier’s “Illustrated Book of Pigeons,” value £i is, for the best pair of Antwerps—W. A. Thompson. Wright’s “Illustrated Pigeon Manual,” for the best pair of Jacobins —No award. The Ashburton Guardian Company, £i is, for he best Game Cock, in classes i and 2 A. Walker. v. Joseph Ivess, Li is, for the best Game-Cock in class 3 —A. Walker. A friend, los 6d, for the best Game Hen in classes 4 and 5 —A. Walker. A friend, 10s fid, for the best Game Hen in class 6—R. I vans and Son. John Carter, Li is, for the best Spanish Cock in class 15 —A. Walker. Master Poyntz, a copy of “ The Boys’ Own Book,” for the best Hutch of Rabbits—Not awarded. Summary of the Show.

' ■ (it the many things that point to the strides that Ashburton has made in the last few years, the Poultry Show now in the Town Hall is one of the most remarkable to those who can remember the few packing cases and non-descripts that used to constitute a poultry show in this town, and contrast them with the 332 exhibits that are now passing the limits of pur spacious Town Hall. Though fashion, which seems to reign in poultry breeding as much as in games or dress, has left some prominent breeds neglected, it has brought others to the fore, and the present exhibition would give our native New Zealanders a better idea of what beauty, melody, and utidty can be obtained from the feathered tribe than any previous show would have done. 'The old English game breed seems never to go out of fashion, and some fine specimens of it were forwarded both by Ashburton and Christchurch residents, Mr A. Walker being the principal prizetaker, though some of his bird* were not in such good condition as they might have been. The colored Dorkings were a grand lot of birds, with not an inferior one amongst them. There was very little to choose between the first and second prizetaker, either in the cocks or hens, but 1 Mr Walker took first honors in both, Mr Silcbck running Ifim very close with a magnificent local bird. The white Dorkings, though a far superior lot to that shown in Christchurch, were generally small, and would all have been the better for a passage through a washing tub a few diays before the show, a process that seems tp'be too little favored by exhibitors of white fowls, considering how much their appearance depends on cleanliness. The best pair were those shown by Mr Silcock, and which were consigned to a dark lobby." They appear almost at the end of the catalogue as number 327, where they did not compete for ordinary prizes. There were some very good Spanish fowls —Mr Walker and Mr VThit* taking full honors, Mr McConnel’s birds being quite out of condition. The show of Buff Cochins was far superior to that in Christchurch last week, and all honors were carried of by our local fanciers, Messrs Silcock and Permain. Thera were some very fine buff hens, but they were not in such good condition as they might have been. Both here and in Christchurch white Cochins seem to have been quite neglected, and the fowls shown under that name were little nondescripts, with Brahma heads, Dorking plumage, and legs peculiarly their own, which the judges passed over without note or comment In the any other variety Cochin some comfortable-looking mongrels were evidently not confined to any other variety. The judges did not appear to consider that they came within the necessary description dark Brahmas, that used to be the principal feature in all Canterbury poultry shows, have of late taken a very subordinate, place. Mr G. T. Smith took first prize with a fine cock with a very bad comb, and a fairly good hen, Mr Silcock taking second honors with a smaller hen. In light Brahma hens there were some really good birds, although a little soap and water would have greatly improved their appearance, Mr Poyntz’s first prize hen could hardly be improved on, being first-rate in comb, head, fluff, and jeg feathers, with beautifully covered hocks. In light Brahma cocks there were no old ones, and no young ones worth looking at. Mrs Ferraday not having favored Ashburton with a visit from any of her beautiful birds in a class she has always kept up in such perfection. In Langshans there were a few of that useful and prolific breed, but moat of the exhibit, wetO only a cross between it and Cochins than which no class could be worse. The adult hens were good, but Mrs Zouch’s first SriZe cock was not a pure bred bird, and It S. Saunders’ second prize was a mere undeveloped chicken. In Hamburghs and Polish, there is one of the largest and best shows —if not the best ever—seen in Canterbury. In golden pencils, the o d birds were mostly too old, and the young ones too young, the former having lost the clear whiteness of the deaf ears, and the latter not having developed fhefr tails. The best hens,- too, were not found in the same pens as the best cocks, sq that the awards had *o be a kind of {Cofnprofnise, as is often the case in judging pairs. In silver pencils, the hens were good, and the cocks not very perfect in markings. In golden spangles, Mr Walker took both first and second, hut in silvers he had to give place fo Mr Pprmain, Mr Ppyntz’a beautifully marked pair being shut out with a lob-sided and injured comb on the cock. |p golden Polish' Mr Poyntz had it all his pjvn W»y> taking first and_ second prizes andthrlse high commendations, whilst in sjlyer polish Mr G. T. Smith carried off both fiprst and second prize '. In Houdans Mr Patterson took first prize for adults, jjin.d Mr Sjlcock second, the hens especially being good specimens of this too nttte cultivated variety. In young Houdans Mr Patterson took first and Mr £lreagh secondIn game bantams both first and second pmpe pairis were little beauties, and but Htlla to choose between them. Master Parkin taking first and Master Poyntz ■eoond. In the any other variety bantams ihere was very little merit, and only a geoond prige was awarded to Mr Herbert Steele. Both turkeys and geese were as usual 'very poorly represented. N o prise yras awarded for the geese, and only a Second for the turkeys.

Aylesbury ducks too were not fine, and had quite lost the distinguishing flesh-

colored bill which the breed rarely retains away from their native soil. The Howens were fine, and fairly marked, both first and second prize being taken by Mr James Smith. Mrs Zouch appears to have put a different construction on the word “ pair” to thjit intended by the Committee, and allowed the female element to monopolize both her pens of fine Rouens which the impartial male judges resented by passing them over.

Some very big eggs were exhibited, the largest six shown by Mr Mitchell weighing no le<s than 11b Sfozs. The exhibition of pigeons was quite equal to that in Christchurch, and the competition in several classes very keen. Mr Walker was the only exhibitor of adult carriers, securing two seconds with only moderate birds. The same gentleman took first and second for young carrier hens; the first a nice sound colored dun ; but we preferred the second prize winner with much better head, but poor in color. The only other exhibit in this class was wanting in all the charac-

eristic points. Dragoon cocks were not l of high quality, the first going to Mr Walker with a bad colored hen, a nicely made up wattle just beating Mr Poyntz’s sounder-colored exhibit. Dragoon hens were no better than the cocks, the judges again being compelled to select a foulmarked bird for first honors. Messrs Evans and Son received a commended card for a black, with too much of the carrier type about her. Mr Poyntz’s silver being in moult, was passed without notice, but will much improve and probably make a winner. In young dragoon cocks Messrs Evans and Son won first honors with the best bird of the variety in the show, Mr Walker having to take second place on this occasion, with a promising blue in moult. Young dragoon hens were a small but good class ef two, Messrs Evans and Son again scoring before Mr Walker. Mr Walker's pouter cock beat Mr Poyntz's exhibit by color only, the latter being a nice lengthy bird, both red pied. A white pouter hen, the only exhibit in her class was awarded a second merely on the ground, we presume, that there was no third. Mr Walker won in almond tumbler cocks with the best specimen we have seen for years, Mr J. Permain com ing second with a good stock bird, rather too dark. Almond hens brought two little gems into competition, Mr J. Permain taking first with a very old hen which, bred by Mr Macquarrie of Auckland, has repeatedly been exhibited in Christchurch with the same success. Mr Walker’s representative was the first prize winner at the recent Christchurch Show, but good as she was, was many points behind the winner. Mr Thompson’s winning pair of kites were very good, but we think Walker’s exhibit would have beaten them if in better condition. A nice pair of guzzles, also bred by Mr Macquarrie of Auckland, the only exhibit in any uther variety, were awarded a second. The three pens of flying tumblers were very poor, Messrs Evans and Sons securing the only award with a pair of splashed birds. Messrs Evans and Son won s mewhat easily in barb cocks from Mr Walker, who was placed second with a bird faulty in beak and eye. Barb hens were very poor, Mr Walker’s yellow being the best, but only awarded a second prize. A pair of Jacobins, said to be winners, elsewhere, were of very poor quality. A grand pair of white fantails, exhibited by Messrs Evans and Son, and a very poor exhibit from Mr Poyntz, made up the class. In baid-heads, Mr Walker took first and second with well shown pairs of blacks and blues respectively. Mr Poyntz’s pair of blues have been much improved if the popular secretary had stooped to a common practice ef the sharp division of the fancy. Mr J. Permain’s exhibit was not well matched, but the cook bird was about the best ‘‘ cut” in the class. Beards were not remarkably marked or in good feather, Mr Walker taking first and second with blues, and Mr Thompson having a barren commendation. Nuns were poor, Mr Walker again taking the awards. The same gentleman followed up Ills successes in English and African owls, where the quality was very superior. The Antwerp classes were well filled. In chequers, Mr Walker, with blues, won first and special for best pair e| Antwerps in show, Messrs Evans and Son following with a grand pair of reds, in which we could not distinguish the hen. The same exhibitors were commended for their second pen, which held the beat red cock in the colony. Longfaced Antwerps were a weak class, Mr Walker winning with a faulty pair of blues. Mr Poyntz coming second with a fair pen of silvers. Short-faced Antwerps were another poor class, Messrs Evans and Son leading with a fair pair of silvers, Mr Walker, following with ordinary blues. In magpies, Mr Thompson secured a second, Mr Walker’s exhibit, far superior, being disqualified for lack of a tail. In any other variety, a fair pair of ice pigeons took a second, and a pair ef Isabels were passed.