CHRISTCHURCH POULTRY, PIGEON, AND CANARY SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 706, 23 September 1876, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH POULTRY, PIGEON, AND CANARY SOCIETY.

A committee meeting of the above society was held last evening at half-past seven at Warner’s Hotel. Nearly all the members were present. _ % , , The secretary (Mr G-. Walker) submitted the following ad interim draft report. "Although rule 12 of the Society provides that a report shall be made by the committee and presented at the annual meeting to be held in January in each year, your committee have thought it desirable that an interim report should be presented at an early opportunity after the exhibition, as doubtless members are anxious to ascertain the position of the Society generally. With this object in view your committee beg to tender the following report That the ninth exhibition which was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, was still a great improvement on the former show, the entries being no less than 372 or 104 more than in 1875, and there was also a very great advance in quality in most classes, notably Game, Hamburghs, Brahmas, Pigeons, and Canaries generally. The pigeon race from Ashburton (fifty-five’miles) was a great success, and caused considerable excitement both previous to and after the race. The time 100 minutes, or about thirty miles per hour, was not so fast as that made by some of the birds in their training, but it must not be forgotten that a strong head wind was blowing during the race. The art-union on the same principle as that got up last year at the instance of the secretary,- was again a very great success; no doubt the money prizes to the extent of £2O given by the society this year tended to produce that effect. It is also a matter for congratulation that about £l5O was spent in the purchase of exhibits; this of course shows that the fancy is increasing, and it is hoped that the purchasers may meet with success in their purchases, and be found in the ranks of exhibitors next year. There can be little doubt that our show is the premier show of the colony; indeed, judging by the reports of shows held in the neighboring colonies, and as advised by gentlemen who have good opportunities of judging, it is not too much to say that for quality of exhibits those of our show would be hard to beat anywhere in the southern hemisphere. This success must to a very great extent be attributed to the very liberal prizes offered. The secretary introduced this year at his own expense another novelty in the shape of a number of framed colored plates of pigeons taken from Fulton’s Pigeon Book. This was done in order that the public might see what is perfection in the different varieties, and how near the birds shown are to it. The experiment met with general approval, and your committee are of opinion that the plan should be carried out in {its entirety, so as to include the plates from " Wright’s Poultry Book” with the remainder of the illustrations from Fulton’s splendid work on pigeons. This year the canaries were exhibited in the main hall, and the change was much to the advantage of the exhibits, as they were shown in a far better light. The pigeons were shown in the back room of the hall, but, the light being extremely bad, it tended to detract very much from this portion of the show. Since the exhibition of 1875 your committee have had the whole of the pens and cages belonging to the society renovated and painted ; as a matter of course this work entailed considerable expense, but there can be little doubt that the money has been well spent. 5t is very probable that before next show, if the fancy increases this coming season at the rate that it has during the past year or two, new pens and cages will be wanted, and it will be the duty of the committee to take some steps towards providing them. The following is a comparative statement of the entries in 1875 and 1876 Poultry 142 208 Pigeons 40 77 Canaries, &c ... 85 87 Totals ••• 267 372 The thanks of the members are due to the following donors of special prizes, viz.Mr T. Shand, Mr W. Wilson, Trent Brothers, Lyttelton Times, Mr G. Gould, Press Company, Mr Wynn Williams, Mr R. W- Fereday, Mr H. Sawtell, Mr T. Acland, Mr J. Ballantyne, Mr Duncan, Mr Nashelski, Mr Sandstein, Petersen and Co, and other gentlemen who did not deiire to have their names recorded; also, to the gentlemen who gave prizes towards the Art Union ; to Mr W. F. Warner, for the gratuitous use of a room in his hotel; to Mr J. G. Hawkes, for the use of his room to take entries; and to Mr B. Hawkes, for taking the entries. The report was approved as read. A number of accounts were passed for payment, and the committee adjourned. V A general meeting of members was held at half past eight, at which there was a very large attendance ; Mr B. W. Fereday, vicepresident, in the chair. The secretary read the above report, which was approved without alteration. The treasurer stated that speaking roughly tho society would have a balance of £SO in hand, after paying all expenses. \ Applause.] Mr Walker moved—" That it be an instruction to the committee to extend the next show to three days.” He pointed out the advantage that would result to both exhibitors and visitors if the resolution were carried as the committee would have more time in perfecting the arrangement of the various pens and completing the catalogues, and also dwelt on the benefit that would be derived by the society in a pecuniary sense if the exhibition were open to the public for another day; Mr Porter seconded the resolution, and said that the additional day would permit of more time being given in the judging. The birds would also appear to greater advantage, as after the first day they would have become more used to their novel position, and time would be given to perfect the general arrangements of the show. Several other members spoke in favor of the three days, after which the resolution was put, and carried unanimously. Mr Walker moved—“ That the next exhibition be held between the Ist and 21st May, 1877,” As members would know, by that

time the majority of the birds would have recovered from their moulting, and holding the show earlier than had been their practice would also give breeders an opportunity of classifying their birds for purpose of breeding. , Mr Stapleton seconded the resolution, and endorsed what had fallen from the previous speaker. Mr Wynn Williams moved, as an amendment—“ That the next show bo held on or about the 25 th June, 1876.” Mr Reade seconded the amendment. On being put to the meeting the amendment was declared to be carried.

Mr (Stapleton, during some very eulogistic remarks, in which he dwelt upon the unceasing exertions of the secretary on behalf of the society, which had in a great measure placed it in its present very satisfactory position, felt that his efforts well deserved some mark of recognition at their hands, and moved that an honorarium of ten guineas be presented to that gentleman. Mr Parker warmly, supported the resolution, which was carried amid applause. Mr Walker briefly returned thanks for the kind manner in which his efforts had been referred to.

On the motion of Mr Parker,"a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the treasurer for his valuable and energetic services rendered to the society. This concluded the business of the meeting.