Wrey's Bush 'Ploughing Match.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 12, 19 July 1905, Page 3

Wrey's Bush 'Ploughing Match.

President, Mr T. W . c troud; Vice-President. Mr M iebael E«*.an ; Secretary nnd Tr -asuwr. Mr J. Npwton : Committee, Messrs M. Colquhoun, Thos. Stroud, senr., W. T. James, and A. Anderson. Judges: Plough- * ing, Messrs Willi im Hamilton (D v «■• mond) and Alex. McLean {^mr Bushi ; hones and hnrneiw. Messrs William Lindtay (Isla Bank) and T: Morton (Fort rose). Favoured by beau f iful weather, the annual ploughing match at Wrey's Bush, on Friday hstf wop an Unqualified success. The sun atone brisht, making the day most enjoyable, and tbe attendance of the public was m advance of any previous matches- The pad dock, a large one situated a couple of miles out of the township, h'd been kindly placed at the disposal of the' Association by Mr John Calder, and it was eminently suitable m every wiy for the contest. Rain had not fallen for some days previous, so tbat the competitors hid do undue amount of moistnre to con tmd with, but there was sufficient m the soil to give it tho requisite amount of "grip" essential for good work. There was a slight unevenness m the paddock at places, but no' sufficient to place the ploughmen at any dieadvantage, though m some cases a little extra oire was necessary m handling the plough" Tbe upper end of the paddock, where the ohampion class competed, had been worked a l'ttle more than the lower end, and, of course, t'lis tended to better work — or, at least, easier. The ploughing on the whole was of a high quality, and reflected great credit on all conoerned. Seventeen . competitors had banded m their entries, but only sixteen put m an appearance. Tbis, however, was a record *as it was, and they can all feel -justly . proud of th-ir performances, Each ploughman was aMotted about half-an-acre, and from the word *"go " until the finish, with the exception of a sligbtspell for lunch, they went at it with $. will. As seems to be the usual thing m ploughing matches, several of the competitors lost time at^the Start, which caused them anxiety at the'end. Tbe breaking, on the. whole, was very goody and some of the finishes deserved ereat praise. Several of the competitors hailed from Drunimond, * and speculation was centred m the contest for the championship Much attention was directed to .three teams— Messrs J.-im-s, Kennedy, . arid M-. Gray — who were goingWell and strong, and opinionu circulated freely as to the probable winner of the cup. Ultimately, tbe judges awarded the prize to -Mr Malcolm Gray, whose work was really firstclass and elicited favourable comment frim them. The decision w»s a very popular one, and hearty cheers- were given for Mr Gray for hia success m winning the cup outright, he having won it last year. It is now his own property for good, and will doubtles be treasured with pride as a memento of his success. The display of teams was very creditable, some capital jjorses taking pirt. Mr D- Clark's fine team ftsain cant}© m for* njuch praise, a*nd showed Off tbeir capital -working qualities to grea' advantage under the able handling qf o. Clark, Kennedy Bros splendid team oi \ three geldingsweA also to the fore, and deserved all the praise tbat tbey called forth. Mr Malcolm Gray hai also a grind team of workers, being well bred m addition, chief a nong them being the well-known'old champion mare of Southland, Nelly Gray, Messrs James Bros, had three teams pn the .ground, m various classes, and' the appearance of the horses called forth- many expressions of admiration. In fact, tbe whole of the teams looked . their best, and were well handled, so tbat tbe judges had. no easy task allotted them m choosing the best. Apart from tbe President's Cap and Mr Gray's other prize-, Mr D. Clark was the greatest prize-winner, though Messrs Newton, Stroud and Kennedy carried .off a number between tbem. Much credit is dte to the judges for the painstaking and conscientious manner m which tbey did their work. Tbe duties assign -^d them were not easy under the most favourable circumstances, and general excellence of tbe ploughing rendered keen judgment indis ensable. Tbis they proved thsir ability to exercise, and they must be congratulated on their de- ' cisions. To tbe commi tee is also due a j?6rd of commendation ?lbr tbe general ex■WlleiMJS 9 f "Bj£.*ssWJMßeq , '«, ttyeir courtesy and tact mreting witb general approbation. To Mr J. Newton, the energetic secretary, the lion's share .of the work fell, and he carried Ojjt the thousand and one details falling to his lot witb . a thoroughness »h*at deserved *^c bigbeat praise. His keen knowledge of the -work and bis experience were of great jsslitiauee m tlje smooth wkiug tbat gbftiacterised the inatob, and tbe Association gre to be congratulated on possessing so invaluable an officer. Tbe luncheon and refreshment booths were m tlje able bands of Mr M, Plyno, wbo assiduously attended to the wants of tbe large flgmbep o! people wfa were present, and gave every uatiaiaotiqn. At the conclusion of tbe plough! g, a large crowd gathered round a vehicle on wbieh the president and secretary took their stand. From there Mr Newton read over the list of price-winners, and each name was greeted with cheers. A hearty vote of thanks was passed by acclamation to tbe judges for tbeir valuable services Mr Stroud, the president, addressed a few words, m which he congratulated Wrey's Bush on having such a successful match, and complimented Mr Gray on Winning the President's Cup outright, concludfpfc by hoping tbat the match next year would be "jw" IntflFgatlttg ag eyer. XfVr further cheering, the gathering dispersed. The thank* of the Association are specially' duel to the donors of special prizes, to whose generosity tbe sqecess of ifje "gathering jan I m * measure gut. Appended is tbe prize- • Wl-* ' CLASS A, 1. L 5, gift of Association : M. Gray 2. L 3 10s, gift of Association : D. Hardy 3 Ll Ss, gift of Association :J. Hardy: 4. Trophy, gift of Mrs Gardiner (Otautauir W. T. James Best Break, box tea; value Xl, gift of Mr B: Acheron (Otautau) : M.Gray Best Finish, 4-horse swingle-tree, g'ft of J aggers and Dempster (Nightcaps) : M, Gray 'Stf&igfttest Ploughed Lot, pair plough|baj»Si g'ft Pf and' WalkeF (Cjta^ fcau)s M Owty . CLASS B. 7 1. L 4, gift of Association : C. Claik 2. L 2, gift of Association, and rug, gift of Herbert Haynes and Cor : E. Jones .8. L 2 2s. gift of Association : W. Gray .4. Ten shillings, gift of Association, and curry-comb md brush, gift of B. Taylor (Invercargiil) : J. Evane 5- Special, from Association, value 10s : B. Clent £est B ( reak, lamp, glfji of Bflacoe and Co., |nver(;argill 4 B. Jones BesVFinifib, pair -plough-shares, va'tie %Qs, , gilt of Ai Anderson \(Waino) : J. Evftnß ' " fi, Straigbtest Plougifed Lot, the " Southlapder ?' for twelve months : C. Clark ■ vhmvmmtmx \. Jj2, from A*sppiation, apd Ql.p guinea, , gift of & P. Mills and Sons (Biyerton): F. Newton a. Seuffler value f-S 10s, gift of Massey Harris Co. : €i Btroud 9, Ten ibilliogs, from Association, nod

pair winkers, from J. S..Clapp iNightc;\p3) : J. Sheehan 4. Ten shillings, from Association : J. Devaney Bsst Brenic. watcb. g'ft of Robt. Irwin (Ni«htcap.i) : C. Stroud Best Finish, table cover, v.iluo 10s 61. sift of Thomson and Boattie (0 autuu) : F Newton BtrAK'htf.st Ploughed Lit, the " Otautau Standard '' fir twlvn mintli-j. F. Newton SPECIAL PRIZES. Itw and outs, ham gift of Paivlti". and Rrd : F. Newton Champion Trt: Prfifmlent'a Cup value L 5 ss, and trophy /.'ift of T. Smith : M. Gray Bast Groomed Team, bacon, gift of 11. 0. McKenzie r D. < lnrk '^ Best Matched Team. 103 cash, gift of J Cirrick: W. Konne y ] Best Team Mires, uurdials, gift of Mitchell and fo. : D. Hark. Tidiest Turnout, bouse length by F. K*<H« R : D. Clark B \st Harness m daily use, trophy by D. B. Muir : D. Hardy B*«8t Team Galdings, cake by R. Chilton : W. Kennedy B<?st Team on Uield, sox by J, Arthur .' D. H -irk Youngest Ploughman. " Winton Record " for twelve months : J. Grant Oldest Ploughman, raund beef by A. H. . Officer: D. Hardy Ploucrhman with largest family, parcel gift of W. Wills : D. Hardy (n ; no) Ploughman from longest distance, round of beef gift of F. Steele : M. Gray ( WaimatuVu) First off Field, 200 ft of timber from Harrington Bros. : J.. Sheehan Best Harness on Field, trophy gift of J. Parminter ; D. Clark Best-matched Team m Plain. Ploughing : C. Stroud Best-looking Ploughman, ladies' shoes, gift of W. Patterson : C. Stroul