TOKOMAIRIRO ANNUAL PLOUGHING MATCH.

Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 79, 12 October 1865, Page 7

TOKOMAIRIRO ANNUAL PLOUGHING MATCH.

Tokoahairiro was, we believe, the first district in the Province to get up a Ploughing Match, and also to start an Agricultural Society. For some years the society prospered, ' and several excellent; Shows and Ploughing Matches were held under its auspices. Since the discovery of the goldfields, however, the Agricultural Society, of Tokomairiro has been one of the thiags lost, to sight. It has, made no sign, and, so far as I we can gather, no one seems to know what has become of it, its -officers, or anything else connected with it. Last year, an influential committee was^brmedand, an e^ceUent match arranged. Then the subject of a^perihanent Bociety was revived and zealously taken lip, for a moment, only again to sink into oblivion. This year the ordinary season for a Ploughing Match passed without an effort being made to have one. Then the matter was taken up energetically by a few, and the Match of last Friday was the result Considering the short time taken in making preparations, and the fact that, owing to the wet season, the farmers are behindrhand in getting in their seed and consequently have not much time to spare, the match was in every way a most aatiafjßwtory one. It took place in a paddock kindly given by H. L. Squires, Esq;, for the purpose, , and though rather brittle in soil, the ground was probably about.as good as any that could have been obtained. It had been in grass for about four years. The Judges were — Mr. John Andrew, East Taieri ; Mr; H. Wilson, Dunedin iX^d Mr. James Oirileh, East Taieri. life? David Warnock was expected, but was accidentally prevented attending. For Horses, Harness, &c, the Judges were Mr. John Barnes Mr. Wm. Popplewell, and. Mr. Wm. Duff, Waihola. There were twenty ploughs entered, and all started. - At dinner time half an hour was allowed, and Mr. Squires gaye ; the men-refreshment. Towards the afternoon the advertised time (5 hours) was found to be insufficient to complete the quantity of ground tabe ploughed (6£ roods), io the committee gave an extra half-hour. Before leaving the field the Judges made their award as follows : — : Ist Class. Ist prize, L 6 and a pair of riding breeches, given by Mr E. Stewart, John JM'Farlane ; 2d prize,. L 5, Wm.- Laiub, ploughman to Mr James Martin ; 3d prize, L 4, Alex. Sinclair, ploughman to Mr tL L. Squires; 4th piize, L 3, Wm. Grey, jun. ; sth prize. T. Turnbull , 6th prize, Ll, Ben. Donohn, ploughman to Mr Wm. Grant.. *\ Williamson, ploughman to Mr T. Lewis, was highly, comuiendea. 2nd Class. In'this class, open to youths under the age of 20, there was only one eut'ry, but the Judges prouounced his work so exceedingly good that they recommended the Ist prize ot 1.2 to be given to Alex. Lockhart, ploughman to Mr James Lockhart, The miscellaneous prizes were awarded as follows :— -Best finish, Wm. Lamb; best outs tod ins, Mr C< G. ; best break, Wm. Grey; best pair of horses, K Chalmers (A. M'Callum, ploughman) ; best kept set ot harn «a, *W. ; J; Dyer (T. Lynch, ploughman) V tort groomed hories, J. M'Faxlane. V • . :