Some Personal Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 4, 26 March 1927, Page 20 (Supplement)

Some Personal Notes

PROGRESS. If “like produces like” progress can only be made by breeding from the best; therefore, "culling” is the practical road to success. During the week Messrs. Brown and Jarrett, Government poultry instructors, judged the birds on standard points at the Mount Albert laying test. The Auckland Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club has decided to hold its annual show on Thursday and Friday, July 7 and 8. Previous shows have been held on Friday and Saturday. This arrangement, however, interfered with the despatch of birds, many having to be kept over the week-end. We believe the change is a move in the right direction and feel sure increased entries will be the result. The Old English Game Club will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday the 22nd inst., when members will decide where the club will hold its annual show. Mr. E. M. Tapp, who has been general secretary of the Onehunga Poultry Club for several years, has resigned and that enthusiastic silver Wyandotte breeder, Mr. Skinner, has been elected in his stead. Mr. Tapp has however kindly promised to act as show secretary. Mr. Mason, the Onehunga club's president, in addition to being a canary specialist is a keen breeder of light Sussex. Mr. W. A. Hanson, Epsom, has accepted an invitation to judge all classes of poultry at Hastings on July 1 and 2. Mr W. Bailey, Onehunga, has had an extra good breeding season and has quite a number of excellent minorcas, one cockerel being of exceptional merit. Mr. Bailey has been a most consistent exhibitor of minorcas for many years, and judging from what we saw in his yards his birds should go far in the show pen during the coming season. Mr. Bailey has also a fine stud of white leghorns, one cockerel being particularly good. Unfortunately for his owner this bird will be past its best when the show season arrives. Mr. Tom Brown, the genial president of the Auckland Canary Club, has been elected judge of all cage bird classes at Palmerston North show to be held on June 15, 16 and 17. Being such a popular judge we feel sure Mr. Brown will draw a larae entry.

Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Hawke, Christchurch, left Wellington on Wednesdayon an extended trip to England. Mr. Hawke, who hails from Cornwall, is on a visit to his relations. He will also represent New Zealand at the World's International Poultry Congress to be held at Ottawa, Canada, in May. We understand Mr. G. H. Ambler has arranged for Mr. Hawke to give addresses on poultry keeping to several of the leading utility clubs in England. Mr W. E. Green, Christchurch, is visiting Auckland and during the week visited the Mount Albert laying competition, also several of the leading poultry farms in the Auckland district. Mr. Green was greatly impressed with the type of ducks and black Orpingtons competing at Mount Albert. White leghorns, he considers, are not up to the standard of the birds competing in the Papanui test. Poultry-keepers will learn with regret that Mr. Drayton is lying seriously ill at his home at Glen Eden. All will join us in wishing Mr. Drayton a speedy recovery to good health. We regret to relate that owing to continued ill-health Mrs. Dixon, of Mangere, has had to dispose of her entire stud of white leghorns. Mrs. F. Fitchett, Waiuku, who had quite a number of wins to her credit last season, has a very promising lot of utility white leghorn and black Orpington cockerels. Mrs. Fitchett is past the novice stage, and one can rely upon her birds again being to the fore in the show season. Unfortunately her winning black cockerel has had the misfortune to lose one eye in fighting, thus ending his show career. Mr. H. M. Barriball, another Waiuku exhibitor and enthusiast, has also quite a number of good utility white leghorns bred from his last year’s winners. Congratulations to Mr. J. Higgins, the well-known Christchurch poultrybreeder, who has been appointed a Justice of the Peace. Mrs. J. A. B. Hellaby, Auckland, has donated a silver cup to the Christchurch club. This trophy will be competed for by fowls or ducks which have laid 260 eggs or more in public competition, to be judged according to the New Zealand utility standard. It is to be hoped more interest will be taken in the Christchurch cup than in the one competed for at Onehunga. Mr W. Giles, Australia, who has been elected judge of the fancy classes of poultry at Christchurch show, has also accepted an invitation to judge at the Dunedin and Ashburton shows. The New Zealand Rhode Island Red Club has allocated trophies valued one guinea each to Christchurch, Lyttelton, Rangiora, Ashburton and Dunedin, also 10s 6d each to Timaru, Waimangaroa and Greymouth, open to club; members only. With so many valuable trophies to be competed for red breeders are in for a good time.