CHRISTCHURCH POULTRY ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 418, 14 October 1875, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH POULTRY ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of this association was held last evening at Warner’s Hotel, the vice-president, Mr R. W.Fereday, in the chair. After the minutes of the last annual meeting had been read and confirmed, the hon sec (Mr Walker) read letters of apology for absence from Mr Reade and Mr Macquarrie. He then read the following annual report;— “ Your committee have much pleasure in reporting that the eighth exhibition of the association held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on the 20th and 21st August last was more successful than any previous show, both in point of number and quality of exhibits and in a financial respect. Although the entries for this show exceeded those of the preceeding one by 28 (the numbers being 268 as against 240), the committee regret that this year the entries in the poultry classes were 16 less than in the exhibition of 1874. This decrease would have been much smaller had Mr G, A. Reade, the hon treasurer, been able to show his birds. In the game classes the entries were less than at last year’s show, and the committee are unable to congratulate the association on any improvement in the quality, which was but fair. In the Dorking classes some very good birds were shown, including some entered by Mr W. Potts, but unfortunately these were entered in the wrong classes, and consequently passed by the judges. The class for black (Spanish was well represenled, nearly all the birds being of fair merit. In Brahmas some magnificent birds were shown, and the competition in most of the classes was keen. The remainder of the poultry classes were fairly represented, but call for no special remarks. The pigeons were well represented, most of the exhibits (a great number of which have been imported within the past twelve months from Tasmania, Melbourne, and Sydney, being far superior to those exhibited at former shows. A new feature in this part of the exhibition was the pigeon flying race, which took place from Rollestou, and proved a great attraction, much interest in the birds competing being shown by the visitors. The committee cannot help congratulating the association on the splendid show of canaries. &c, there being no less than eighty entries, nearly double the number shown at the previous exhibition ; a marked advance in quality was noticeable, and the judges, who are lately from England and well versed in | these matters, remarked that some of the'

birds would have competed with success in England. The entries of stuffed birds formed a novel feature in the show, the birds being beautifully prepared, and the whole of them claimed at the catalogue prices. In connection with the exhibition the hon secretary introduced an art union, by which purchasers of shilling tickets, in addition to the chance of winning a prize, were admitted to the show. Owing to the general goodwill with which the matter was taken up by the members of the committee, 2000 tickets were readily disposed of, and the result was the welcome addition of- £IOO, less a small amount for expenses, to the funds of the association. The only drawback to the success of the undertaking was in the fact that a large number of the prizes which had been promised were not forthcoming. From the statement of accounts annexed, it will be observed that the association has in hand the sum of £9O 15s 9d. This sum would have been larger but for the expenses in connection with the show being so heavy, £l4 10s having been expended in canary cages and new pigeon pens, and another large item, £7 10s, being for new trestles and fittings, which are the property of the association. The whole of the pens are a[so being thoroughly repaired and painted. The outlay on this item has been £lO up to the present date. This work will, however, save the association a large sum of money next year, as the whole of the work of fitting up the exhibition hall will be so much simplified. We can’t answer for next committee. Your committee, in retiring from (Alice, beg to make the following suggestions to their successors. In the first place they would recommend that the restriction as to special prizes for imported birds be withdrawn, so as to allow birds from any places beyond New Zealand to compete. This would encourage fanciers who cannot afford to send to England for birds, to purchase in the Australian market, and if the exhibits are really good and able to beat all other birds shown in the same classes, the committee consider that the object sought for by the association in offering these special prizes will be attained. Your committee would also recommend that three champion prizes, valued at about £lO each, be instituted, to be offered for the highest number of points in the poultry, pigeon, and canary classes, and to be won three times by any one person before becoming his property, the winner each year to receive a medal. The committee are also of opinion that such prizes would induce a spirit of emulation and friendly rivalry much to be desired in associations of this kind. It is also recommended that a supply of Wright’s “ Illustrated Poultry Books” and Fulton’s “ Pigeon Books” be obtained from the publishers in England, and offered as class prizes next year. The committee think that the wisdom of this suggestion cannot be denied, as the distribution of such a valuable work cannot but effect material improvements in poultry breeding in this province. The thanks of the association are due to the following gentlemen, who kindly gave special prizes, viz—Messrs G. Gould, R. W. Fereday, A. Saunders, H. Wynn Williams, A. Saunders, T. Shand, John Hill, H. F. Baker, Bowker, W. F. Warner, J. W. Oram, G. Beattie, Wood, Shand and Co, Petersen and Co, Nashelskiand Co, Schwartz and Lczard, Trent Brothers, and Duncan and Son ; to Mr C. C. Aikman for storing pens free of charge ; to Mr H. E. Alport for auditing the hon treasurer’s accounts ; and to Messrs Wood Brothers for receiving entries.”

The balance sheet, audited by Mr H. E. Alport, showed receipts for the year to have been £284 17s 8d ; expenditure, £194 Is lid, leaving a credit balance, including moneys in hands of treasurer, of £9O 15s 9d.

The secretary desired to explain, that though the balance sheet showed a little over £9O in hand as a credit balance, there was still an amount of £8 odd to be received, which would have to be added to the credit balance ; and an amount of £lO, charged for pens to last year’s account, ought fairly to be debited to the next year’s accounts, as the pens were of a permanent character. The clauses of the report were read seriatim. A long discussion ensued on the report on the clauses permitting the classes for exhibition to be open to the colonies. Mr Olephane moved an amendment confining importations to birds imported from England. On the amendment being put, it was declared to be lost, and the clause of the report was carried by a large majority. The remaining clauses of the report were approved as read. The secretary brought up a suggestion of the committee advising the reduction of the members’ tickets for admission —a ticket issued at 5s to admit one person, and another at 7s 6d to admit two persons.

Mr Hepworth moved a resolution—“ That single tickets be 5s each; double tickets, to admit two persons, to be 7s 6d; and that the committee be requested to make the best possible arrangement for the prevention of the latter tickets being used by more than two persons,” The amendment on being put was declared to be carried. A unanimous vote of thanks was recorded to the donors of prizes at the last exhibition. The chairman paid a high compliment to Mr Walker (hon sec), for the very energetic attention he had paid to his duties. He (the chairman) was somewhat in a position to state that in addition to the ordinary duties of secretary to which he (Mr Walker) had to attend, and the collection of monies on account of the treasurer, who had been for some time unwell, the secretary was out of pocket a small sum of money, and, though he as chairman could not propose any resolution to indemnify Mr Walker, he would leave it to any member of the society to do so. Mr Wood moved —“ That a sum of £lO 10s be presented to Mr Walker as an honorarium.” Mr Reece seconded the motion.

Mr Parker moved as an amendment—- “ That the amount be £ls 155,” and also paid Mr Walker a high compliment for the manner in which he had carried out the art unions last year. Mr Walker, while thanking the proposer of the amendment, declined to receive the latter amount, as his services had been given gratuitously, and would always be at the disposal of the society as long as his efforts would be for its advancement. (Applause.) The amendment was withdrawn, and the motion carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring officers. The election of officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, with the following result : Patron —His Honor the Superintendent; president—*Mr Geo. Gould; vice-presidents

—Messrs T. H. Potts, A, Saunders, H. Wynn Williams, H. Sawtell, and J. R. Hill ; hon treasurer—Mr G. A. Reade ; hon sec—Mr W. G. Walker.

A ballot was taken for the committee, with the following result: —Messrs Porter, J. Gould, Banks, Wilkin, Deacon, Stapleton, Adkin, Rees, Muschamp, Hepworth, Macquarrie, and Cogan. The chairman slated that Mr Washbonrne, sen, had made a present of the sum of £2 10s to the association. [Applause.J

A vote of thanks to the chairman con eluded the business of the meeting.