PLOUGHING MATCH.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 1, 9 July 1874, Page 4

PLOUGHING MATCH.

.. .. , „♦.,. . „ The annual ploughing match in connection with the TQlcomsiriro]Fa^merß , Club took place on Friday last in a paddock "on KinEess Farxn, the property of Mr William Wyber. Although there had been pretty keen frost during the high?, the ground was not so hard/ in the morning as to delay the start, which was effected upon the report of a gun at about half-past' nine o'clock. There were twenty- five ploughs upon the ground, which is. a, slight increase upon the numbers which have turned out to the matches of the Club for the past lew, years. Although the paddock .bad lain five years under grass, it did not show a good turf: the soil was very tender, and rather disappointing to those who/had put on an extra " high cut." The weather was exceedingly mild and. fine throughout tbe day, and a considerable number ot the inhabitants of Milron and surrounding districts visited the ground. At mid- day a halt of half-an-hour took place, when a liberal luncheon, refreshments, &c., supplied by Mr Wyber, was handed round to the several competitors, the committee, and judges. .Mr Juliug, of the Camp Hotel, had also a refreshment booth on the ground, aud which seemed to be fairly patronised, although not a. case of over-indulgence occurred throughput the day.:' ' ■' " . ' !" '' • . The ground allotted to each of the singlefurrow ploughs was ope-third of an acre, and to the double-furfows double that quantity. The latter had completed their ta*k by two o'clock, and shortly thereafter the former began to move off the ground. As to the manner in which the work was executed, we are avare it is not at all uncommon on such occa.-ions to bestow a slightly exaggerated amount of praise. In the present instance, however, this is rendered altogether unnecessary, if not impossible, as we have never seen better or more equal work at any match in the Colony. This c quality was not so marked in Class A, as the position' in which the com petitory would be placed by the judges was quite apparent to everyone throughout tbe day. In Class B, where there were ten competitors, the public were quite at sta; the work was so equal thit it required the expetierced eye of a judge to discover the points of superiority or the reverse. The juniorß also did exceedingly well, aud their work was much admired. But the great attraction of the thatch was the doublefurrow ploughs, of which six. were on the' pround.Of their, work, one .of tbe judges freely conf> S9ed it was the best he had ever seen executed by double- furrow ploughs, and he had attended many matches. The feering for these ploughs had .been drawn by the Committee previous to the match, and it was ■ the opinion of tbe judge refer r d to thit had the first priz=taker in this cla«s feeed for himsdf, and executed it in the same style as his other »ork, he would have secured the champion prize of the field ; even as it was, had there been a second champion prize, he would have got it. There would seem to have previously existed a slight prejudice amongst tbe farmers of the district against double* furrow ploughs, but the work of Friday has completely revolutionised their ideas on this su-jecf, and Messrs. Reid and Gray may prepare for extensive orders from Tokomairiro. There were some very fine teams upon the ground, but it occurred to us that some of the horses were scarcely up toi the mark. This may be accouuted for upon the consideration, that the steadiest plough horse, instead of the finest looking animal would he sent to the match. There was no* excuse, however, for the deficient groomage which the horses manifested ; indeed, the appearance of some of them would seem to indicate that in the opinion of the owner .such an operation is altogether unnecessary jither fjr the health or comfort of the horse. After the judges bad completed their duties, their awards were read out to the crowd, and we have never before seen decisions meet with so unanimous approval, the ploughmen themselves freely acknowledging their fairness. . The judges were Messrs. Muir (North Taie i), Grant (Kirklands, Maurigatua), and Brownlee (W airabuna). The following is the PRIZE LIST: Class A.— Open to all comers. Fntrance, 103. Six entries. Ist— Suit of cloth's, gift of Gutter. Hfslop, and Gray. D. Paton (Pooton'e). 2nd- F 3 V. Blaok (Ponton's). 3rd--Ll ; and pair of leggings, gift of Messrs. Manyatt and Moore. Thomas Christie (Ponton J s). Class B.— Open to all who have not taken a fin-t or second rrze in any class. 7s. 6d.---entry. 10 entries. - " Ist— La. Robert Kenr-edy (Pont'ni's) 2nd— Wat rpro -f coat, sift of Mr. B. Stewart. . S. M'Wheray.(-elle»:V) 3rd— Ll 10s. W. Montgomery (Ponton's). 4ti— Lt. Wrn. Lindsay (B yce Bros). sth— R ding wMd. gift of Mr J. LochaTt. W. Moore (Ponton's). Class C—Oppn to juniors under 1 8 yea-s of ace. Entry, ss. 3entriee.. 1st — 1.2. U. Robertson (Ponton's). 2nd-Ll „ R. Murray (Ponton's). 3rd— Silver guard, sift of Mr. T. Nutsford. Ja es B acke (Ponton's) Class D.— Double-furrow ploughs. Open to all coiners. Fntran< c, 10s. Six en'ri-s. Ist -L 4 4a. ,Wm. Tait (Reid and Grsy's). 2nd— L3 3s. Alex. Barron (Allan & S'-n's). 3rd— L2 2s Murdoch Murray (P- rie's). 4th — Ll Is. R. Henderson (Reid & Gray's). Fpecial Prizes. Best groomed horses. Ist— Ll, gift of Mr Gbodall, J,,hn 'Grey. 2nd— los, gif c of Mr. J. Waters. A. M'Laren. Beat kept harness in general use. Ist— -Ll, gift of Dowse & Co., Lawrence. John Grey. 2nd— Bridle, gift of Mr. S.-CJegg. Blues* & , . p,uthie. <-- Commended— Thomas Christie. , -Be-t pair horses. Prize— Ll Is, gift of Mr. F. Bastings^ Hislop Ribs, ? Best , ploughman who - turn 5 * out with hi*i ; own horses and harness (sirigle-furrbw). Prize— Ll Is, gilt of Mrs.Langley/. D. Pato\ Best ploughman who turns? out with his own hordes: and harness, (double-furrow^. Ppze-Ll,. is, gift of J. W., Wood-, Esq. ;, vW-Ta/to , " . ; '* "''■' :.■ *',--./. , _ " ; , Best tnrn>6,ut with double" furrow; plough. Prize-^io.^gift/.of Mr, / j\ -Waters/ I Blues & Diithi'e. ' ' ' ' '""/■ \' r v" ■"••■. I?est finish Class C. Prize— Book, gift of Mr Joseph Mackay.

R. Robertson;. Mr -Robertson was. .also commended for his break. ."*"'.-... '."' Best br ak. in CWb A Prize— S--t of fe riDg poles, gift of Mr P. Blak. F. Black.