The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-29
PIGEONS AS F0STMEN.

The pigeon post which is now IN
working order between Auckland, New
Zealand, and Great Barrier island, IS
a striking example of natural difficulties
being overcome by pluck and perseNer-
ance says the Sketch. rhe idea OF es-
tablishing a pigeon mail service De-
tween Great Barrier isiand whlch is oV
miles by water from the city OF Auck-
land, was originated by Mr.. waiter
Fricker of thai city, after the wreck OF
the steamship Wairapapa- il was on
TINS OCCASION thJT birds we're uscu TO
carry dispatches from the wreck 10
Auckland, there being no cable COM
niunication and a steamer only once a
week. The population at that time was
limited TO about 100 residents. Ihen
came the opening up of the gold, silver
and copper mines, Whlcn INDUSTRIES
getting :nto full swing, were response
Bile for the increase in the population
TO 600 or 700 IL was soon found neces-
sarv TO obtain some better means OF
communicating with the mainland, ana,
the government failing TO estaolish
cable communication. the Great barrier
pigeon post was inaugurated. Az tne
outset each bird carried one message
only. at the cost OF 25 cents, Dut SUD
seuuent experiments proved the plrds
could carry four sheets OF tissue paper
OF quarto size. AMI the rate was re-
duced TO IL cents.
The training OF birds from AuckiaIl1
to the island. which is low-lying ana
-eften- -enyelopedI in haze. seemed 10 PI IL =
sent ipsurmountable difficulties. the
birds being reluctant to leave the mann
land on their long Journey across the
so miles of Hauraki gulf, put WIN pa
thence and perseverance TINS was ~ W.
come. The service now mas ~ sc
number of these diminutive messsh-
GERS travelling both ways daily. ON ac-
count OF extra risk and trouble, the
charge from Auckland TO the islanu is
o. cents per sheet. Correspondence IL
dispatched daily from the Island as re-
uuired between the hours or a. III. anu
g y. M. and from Auckland up 20 l.
noon daily. The time or closing ls ear
lier from the city. owing 20 the Difficult
~ experienced by the birds In picking
IN the island on account OF the mists In
the afternoon The birds are trained so
that on arrival at either terminus they
place their necks between two wires.
raise these on their shoulders. snd
walk forward into box two rect
square. The wires then fall back
against a piece Of metal. which rings
an indicator bell and notifies an at
tendant who removes the message anu
| permits the bird to enter the loft. the
/ messages are folded, sealed with q
stamp and are then attached 10 the
OTTe0nrs veg Nr0UUd the outside - : M
| message is placed a waterproof legRine
10 insure IL from wet. should the htro
| meet with bad weather. If one has
! friends on Great Barrier Island. anc
Wishes ~ times 20 correspond WITT
them without delay. 2 stock ~ thes'
nigeon stamne should be procured
/ Then he can pr7' his message from any
! mart of the world 20 the Greet Bar'fe
I pigeon agency. Auckland. New Yea
I Land. who will ito the conied moss \ ~
upon the leo OF 'Fau"ah. or ano'he
~ .ha'r swift nocssonVers and awav 7
! win 90 ove~ the ~eocherous seq whicl
saparates Great Gqrrier island from
/ rhe ra'rlard. II ho ircloses : retur'
tourney e.aron. reulv viii come wing
ing its wav hack - Auckland withou
further trouble % him. Fpm thNnce
~ course. 80 Uessooo would reach mn
by the ordinary post