HOMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 252, 30 November 1909, Page 4

HOMING.

Recently we published an account of a proposed pigeon race t>o be held in connection with military manoeuvres by the New South Wales military authorities, and hereunder we append the result as given by the Melbourne Argua: ! The great toss of 1000 homing pigeons at Wagga, at 10 lo'clock .last Saturday morning, proved a great success. The destination of the birds' was Melbourne and suburbs, and shortly before halfpast 2 o'clock in the afternoon tne watchers were rewarded with the sight of the first bearer of the military message. It was a military test race, the idea being that an urgent message ifrioiu Sydney to the Central Administration ot Defence in Melbourne had been stopped at Wagga, owing to the cutting of the telegraph wires, the remainder of the journey being undertaicen by pigeon post. , The pigeons ion Saturday linked up the points of communication in fine f>Xf e, no fewer than 140 of them arriving within 45 minutes of the lender, whet averaged 1498.0 yards per minute for the' whole journey. This is especially goiod, seeing that the weather wa s decidedly adverse, chiefly due to a bad wind-and frequent showers of rain. The pigeons flew an air-line of from 223 miles to 230 miles, and the following are the members of the Victorian. Homing Association whose lofts received the first "O arrivals*:—Messrs Ludiow, Collingwood, velocity 1498.0 yards per minute; Mr. Read, Port Melbourne, 1029.8; Mr. A. Delaney, Richmond, 1020.0; .Mr. Staples, Armadale-, 1025.09; Mr. Brown, Oollingwood, 1024.4; Mr. Caldeeutt, Balaclava, 1023.5; Mr. Pritchard, Burnley, 1020.6; Mr. Goy, Clifton Hill, 1017.2; Mr. Med(lows, Collingwood, 1015.3;. Messrs Smith, and Sons, Richmond, 1014.3; Messrs Page Bros., Richmond, 1006.2; Mr. Buggy, Williamstown, 1002.9; Mr. Egan, South Melbourne, 1002.9; Mr. Egan, South Melbourne, 1002.8; Mr. Taylor, Collingwood, 1001.9; Mr. Staggard, Hawthorn, 997.9 Mr. Ward, Richmond, 996.4; Mr. Niolan, South Yarra, 900.1; Mr. Gibson, Fitzroy, 990.01; Mr. Archer, Balaclava, 994.0; Messrs Jones Bros., Armadale, 994.1; Mr. Colvin, Hawthorn, 991.5; Mr. Libester, Collingwood, 984.9; Mr. Clarey, Windsor, 983.4; Mr. Brownrigg, Praliran, 981.9; Mr. Kesifoot, Carlton, 981.768; Messrs Mason and Hamilton, Collingwood, 981.76; Messrs Wason and Bourke, Balaclava, 981.6; Mr. O'Shea, Carlton, 981.4; Mr. Batehelor, Balaclava, 981.2.