DUNEDIN CANARY AND POULTRY ASSOCIATION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 391, 16 September 1874, Page 5

DUNEDIN CANARY AND POULTRY ASSOCIATION.

The second annual exhibition of the Association bearing the above title opened in the Drill-shed, on the 11th inst. The interest taken in the object of the Association was evinced by the fact that the exhibits required four tables ranged parallel to each other the full length of the shed, two cross tables for dairy and farm-yard p odace at the higher end of the room, and pens containing gt-ese, ducks, rabbits, and fowls across the entrance. The room was decorated neatly with flags and banners of all nations. We are not sufficient'y acquainted with the merits of uncooked poultry t* pronounce a decided judgment upon the show as a who'e o'ir impression is that the best ga]linace«us birds were not placed in competition, but were merely exhibited ; of that the judges wero best able to say. This, at any rate, is true, the number of birds was very large ; they were all fine specimens of the particular breeds, and, taking them as a whole, it would be difficult to find a superior collection bird for bird in the world. There were splendid game, Dorking, Spanish, Cochin, Brahinapootr i. duckwin^, and other varieties of gallinacas ; magnificent geese exceeding the average size, and splendid ♦lucks approaching the weight of ordinary geese ; great turkey, and Brahmapootras weighing as much as a good-sized turkey. One fine an<l very tame hen of that breed, not in the competition, weighed fourteen pounds ia her feathers, and there was a portly looking chanticleer from the same fowl yard who was reported to weigh a pound more. Asa branch of farm, yard economy tlie exhibition is suggestive. But not only is it important in that view of the matter, but as affording an opportunity of displaying the best of our dairy produce I here were hams, butter, and Jbacon that would have done credit to any part of the world, and which tended UDmistakeably to show the fee ling capabilities of this part of .New Zealand. The singing birds, pigeons, parrots, and other talking birds were numerous, » id gays sundry specimens of what they could do in their own peculiar style, Their sweetest notes were, boweYeri oyerpewered by the resonant crowing of defiant roosters, who kept np a continuous round of ringing cheers and choruses, that would have helped to create a Babel, had a band of music joined in with their more measured strains. We do not know, under the circumstances, that the absence of a band was not an advantage to sensitive ears. His Honor thk Superintendent, in formally opening the Show, congratulated the committee on the great success which bad attended their efforts, and expressed a hope that tlio eaerg yexhibited hy the aooiety would have the effect of 'Urning public attention more generally to this branch of domestic economy, whioh had hithert> met with much neglect in this Province.