MASTERTON HOMING PIGEON CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3019, 16 October 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON HOMING PIGEON CLUB.

The Masterton Homing Pigeon Club held a race from Petone yesterday afternoon. The weather was fine, but there was a stiff breeze from the mountains,which was slightly against the birds, and carried them a little out of their line. Most of the birds entered the town from the direction of Gladstone and Te Whiti. In the circumstances, the times registered were very creditable. The winning bird took exactly sixty-eight minutes from the time of liberation until the owner had caught it and removed the race ring in its own loft. Three seconds only divided the two first birds, and a minute later the third bird arrived, and i then the fourth and fifth, the three latter birds arriving within twelve seconds of each other. The judge and his assistant had to do some fine calculating before being able to declare the velocity. Mr F. Rossun acted as judge. The following is the result: Mr. W. Hoar's "Royal Mail," velocity 1,179 yds per minute, 1 Mr J. Bradbury's "Doubtful," velocity 1,177 yds per minute 2 Mr G. Barker's "Morgan,"' velocity 1,1.54 yds per minute, 3 Mr A. Millar's "Flashlight, velocity 1,153 yds per minute, 4 Mr W. Dowling's "Sooner," velocity 1,152yd5, 5 Next Thursday the Club will hold a race from Wellington, and the following Thursday tho birds will be sent across the Straits for a race from Picton. The secretary informed members, after the race yesterday, that he had received word from Mr John Hurle that the pair of young birds promised by him to the Club had been forwarded by train that day. Both birds are exceptionally well bred. Competition for these birds should be very keen, and the Club is indebted to Mr Hurjle for such a generous donation. Members of the Club have been obtaining birds from various parts of New Zealand, and there is no doubt that Masterton at present' contains some of the best homing pigeons that are procurable in the Dominion.