Poultry Show.

Manawatu Herald, 31 July 1902, Page 2

Poultry Show.

It may readily be taken for granted that few of the enthusiasts who "attended the preliminary meetings of the Manawatu Poultry Association ever, in their most, sanguine moments, contemplated the signal success that would mark the opening year of the, existence of the Association, from a comparative!'/ small beginning the Association, by the eneigetiC and sterling work of its committee and members., has extended its influence until, asalfcady stated, in the first year of its career* it embraces practically tha whole of the poidtry industry of the district, and further, promises to become an important factor in tha export poultry trade, one of the objects of the Association

being the encouragement of. this-por-tion of the industry by the erection of cold storage facilities and .generally attending to the expansion o£ tjie “industry. As regards the : ceived tor to-day's show (says day’s Standard),- it is -asssfrteiTThat* they eclipse those received<by anythin- ■' dred society in New Zealand since they comprise poultry only,vpigeons, canaries, .so,, being rigidly excluded from the catalogue, a distinct departure from the prevailing custom, and in accordance with the aims of the Association. A total of 750 entries were actually received, and fully 800 birds will be on view, while approximately 300 entries were declined, having .arrived!- afteir jjh£ no|ified flfate of ■closing miitee considered pens would ' be amply sufficient;;-for,"?11 purposes,, but so greatly has the udea of show and clearing sale subsequently , caught on, that 1000 bad to be jsnd the acquisition of pens of their 1 own will be one of the first -questlbiis tha committee will have to cohsidef 'pVior to the spring show. Exhibits were received from all parts of the* North Island, while many were sent from the South, and in point of quality, as quantity the exhibition ~yrill rank with the best. The exhibits have been arranged to the best possible-advan-tage, the pure breed being separated from the M utility ’’ birds '.while.- ducks have found good quarters on the stage ot the Theatre. A special feature of the show, and one that indicates the future possibilities of. the district as a poultry raising centre,.is the; predominant number of general purposes bird, first crosses of proved laying an&table birds. The importance of this latter class cannot be too highly estimated, r and the class of the birds now on view clearly shows that this has, to a very considerable extent, been appreciated by breeders. To Mr J. Jarvis has to be assigned the credit for the general arrangements, but Messrs Guy, H. J. Manson, J. D. Cox, Morris, Tattle,-'H, Bryant, and A. Shailer have all devoted themselves most energetically to the exigences of the moment, while the secretary, Mr J. Monnsey, has contributed invaluable aid. As already ladisatod tbs quality of

(ha different bird* on view is quite above the ordinary, one well-known judge stating it was quite superior to the Auckland standard. Shortly before ten o’clock the Governor, accompanied by Mr Mountenay Jephson and the Mayor, arrived and closely inspected the different breeds. His Excellency evinced the greatest interest in the show and conversing with Mr A. Guy, stated he was surprised at the extent of the show and the variety of the birds exhibited. He expressed his pleasure on hearing of the.'efforts of the Association to develop the poultry industry on commercial lines, adding that personally he took a great interest in the industry and expressed his willingness to open the next winter show ot the Association. He recognised the central position *of the town and stated that the efforts of the people of the district should be towards furthering the farming interests as upon that the prosperity of Palmerston depended. At two o’clock the show was opened by the Mayor, who, during his remarks, congratulated the President and Committee upon the great success attendant upon their first show. The entries received totalled the largest number yet received by any poultry association held in New Zealand, and it augured well for the future success of the Association when it was considered that it had only been in existence for nine months. He learnt on reliable authority that the quality of the birds on view as well as in point of number established a record, while the export classes were eulogistically referred to by the Government grader, a most important detail because he considered this branch of the industry would form one of the most important branches of our export trade in a lew years, ...