POULTRY ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1405, 16 August 1878, Page 3

POULTRY ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association was held at the Shades ou Wednesday evening, Mr G. A. Reade in the chair. The secretary read the following report:— In presenting the eleventh annual report, your committee have much pleasure in drawing your attention to the continued success of the society’s undertakings. The experiment introduced some time ago, and considerably extended this year, of making a large number of classes f r single birds, has proved a step in the right direction ; but in the face of the society’s pr sent position, your committee feel that it would be unwise to launch further into the matter for a year or two. The entries increased nearly onethird over those at the exhibition in 1877, and as reports were freely circulated as to the nonsuccess of the last breeding season, such an increase was quite unlooked for. Your committee regret to state that the increased excellence of the stock exhibited over

that shown last year was not commensurate with the extra increase in numbers before spoken of. The game clashes, with few exceptions, showed a falling off in quality, and the Dorkings exhibited no improvement over former years. The Spanish and Cochins were a really excellent lot, some of them being first-rate, and it is hoped that no deterioration will take place in future. The dark Brahmas were very moderate, but a slight improvement was shown in the light classes.

Novel features in the show were a pen of Langshans' exhibited by Mr A. Saunders, one of our vice-presidents, which are a new variety, and said to be extremely valuable for laying and table purposes ; aud silkies by Mr J. Wood, sen. Hamburghs were good, as also the game bantams, but with the exception of the Rouen ducks, none of the other poultry classes call for especial mention. In pigeons, although there were many excol-

lent specimens, yet an absence of competition in many of the classes tended to render some of the honours of slight value, but in the Antwcrps there were many good specimens, and keen competition took place. Your committee regret that, owing to an error in their entries, some good birds shown by Mr E. R. Deacon were debarred from competition. That gentleman, however, had his revenge'by carrying off the first and second prizes in the race from '1 imam to Christchurch, which was done in the splendid time of 2 hours 3 minutes 35 seconds for the 100 miles. The pigeon fanciers have great cause to regret the absence of Mr G. A.Macquarrie, whose birds were always such an attraction to former shows, but as he supplied a number of good birds to the art union committee for prizes, it is hoped that next year will bring forward some of their progeny for competition. Except in the Belgian classes the canaries were a really good lot, and many of them showed that gre it care had been taken in their feeding and moulting. Some of them were birds imported from good birdrooms in ngland, aud they exhibited many of the good qualities

that it is desirable to introduce into the colonial stock. As there have been several importations during the past season, there is little doubt that next year the show will contain many first-class birds, and the committee hope to see some new faces in the list of breeders and exhibitors.

This year, the committee having in view the support accorded by the public to previous art unions, decided to issue 30u0 tickets, aud prizes consisting of poultry, pigeons, canaries, goldfinches, dressed fowls, &c., were purchased in very largo numbers, and at great expense. That this expense was judicious was proved by the fact that nearly the whole of the tickets were disposed of, and a considerable sum added to the funds of the society. Some two months back, at a general meeting the society adopted a plan submitted by Mr Walker, the hoa. secretary, whereby members could purchase stock in England through the society, and pay off the amount of their investments by monthly instalments : but when the extraordinary increase was shown in the entries for the 1 itc show, the committee decided to postpone the scheme until after this meeting, as it was found necessary to go to considerable expense inthepurchase of newpoultry andpigeonpcus(tlie latter on a plan suggested by Mr Macquarie), and canary cages on approved designs after a model imported from Tasmania, aud which proved a great attraction to that portion of the show set apart for cage birds.

From the statement of accounts as snh-

mittodby the honorary treasurer, it will he seen that for the first time for many years the society Ins a smaller credit balance at the Bank than usual, but as this is owing to the large expenditure on new pens, &c., and as it is not expected that similar expendit are will be required next year, the committee are of opinion that the members have no reason to despair of seeing after the next show a substantial amount in the bank after paying all expenses. The fact must also not be lost sight of that the property of the society represents an outlay over a few years of about .£3OO, and the committee have every reason to believe that there is not a society in the Australasian colonies in such a good position.

For some time past tho committee have felt

the necessity of erecting a building in which to store tho property of the society and lately a shed has been put up at a cost of £os 17s 6d on land let to the society by Mr Edward Strange at a nominal rent. The pens are now stowed away in good repair. A special vote of thanks is due to Mr Strange for the generous manner in which he met the society in leasing the site of the shed.

Your committee regret to report that Mr G. A. Rcade, who has acted as lion, treasurer to the society since its commencement, found it necessary to resign owing to press of business. A special vote of thanks was passed by the committee when accepting the resignation, but tho committee feel that the present occasion is an opportunity that can be well taken advantage of in referring to tho manner in which Mr Readc

lias carried out tlio important duties of the office, and for which the beat thanks of the whole of the members are due to him. The thanks of the members are also due to Messrs Kadeliffe and Porter for the use of their rooms to the whole of the gentlemen who gave special prizes, and to Mr J. Wood, sen., for

placing his office at the disposal of the committee luring the dates fixed for receiving entries, and to Mr J. Hooper for his ready assistance in all matters appertaining to the entries. W. C. Hill, Chairman.

The treasurer’s statement showed the receipts during the year to be £525 10s lid, and the expenditure during the same period £441 14s Id, leaving a balance to credit of £B3 16s lOd. The assets were stated at £BB 0a lOd, and the liabilities at £B2 14s lOd, leaving a credit balance on this account of £5 6s. The accounts were audited by Mr J. Ollivier, and stated by him to be correct. Mr Mills moved —“ That the report and balance-sheet as submitted bo adopted.” Mr Nancarrow seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The election of officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, as follows : Patron, Mr Q-. Gould ; president, Mr R. W. Fereday ; vieo-presidents, Messrs J. R. Hill, A. Saunders, H. Sawtoll, Wynn Williams, J. G. Hawkes, and W. D. Carruthers; lion, treasurer, Mr W. C. Hill (re-elected) ; hon. secretary, Mr W. G. Walker (re-elected). CnmmiMco —Messrs Stapleton, Rees, Mills, Nancarrow, Strange, Rcade, Smith, Williams, Porter, Goodman, Parker, and Ajoon. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr W. G. Walker, the secretary, cm the motion of Mr Stapleton, and recorded on the minutes.

It was also resolved that an honorarium of £lO 10s be presented to Mr W. G. Walker

for his zealous and able services during the past year. After some further business the meeting adjourned,