TARADALE PLOUGHING MATCH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3938, 29 June 1877, Page 2

TARADALE PLOUGHING MATCH.

The Taradale Ploughing Match was held yesterday in Mr Hammond's paddock, a few minutes walk from the centre of th township. The weather was cool and bracing, and in that respect well adapted for work. The diyness of the past'few days, however, had hardened the ground and thus made the turning out of goo d work a very difficult achievement as compared with what it would have been had there been rain the day previous. The muster of competitors was large. There were 14 ploughs on the ground, and altogether the committee have every reason to feel well satisfied with the success that attended their efforts. The affair originated, wo believe, with Mr Graham and Mr Bicknell. The first meeting of the promoters was held little more than three weeks ago (June 5.) A committee was then appointed, consisting of Messrs Jeffares (chairman), M'lntyre, A. Macdonald, W. Robertson, Graham, Bymer, John Bicknell, senior, James Neagle, and John O'Brien. Mr Macdonald was ap- v pointed treasurer, and Mr R. Mercer \ secretary. The money collected since that "% date amounts to the handsome sum of £80 about £40 out of which was given in prize money yesterday. The remainder, after some small incidental expenses are paid out of it, wJI stand over as a nest egg for future years, and will be serviceable in facilitating the establishment of the new society on a permanent basis. The entries for the ploughing match were, for men 7s 6d, for youths Is. The giving of separate prizes for youths is a new teature, and a very good one, in the society s programme. Ploughing is akind of work that can be done very nearly if not quite as well by lads as by men We daresay there are not a few settlers _, among us who can look to the days when they have competed in matches of the '" kmd in the old country. The following 13 the ■^ Prize List. Judges for ploughing: Messrs George Condie, George Spence, John Davidson. glass A.— Saving Plough Ist pme, Gavin Tod (Mr Graham's team), £5. 2nd prize, Thomas Miller (own team), 3rd prize, Joseph Bicknell, (own team), 4th prize, Mr Stuart (Col. Whitmore's team), pair of boots, given by Mr Barry. Class B.— Wheel Plough. Ist prize, William Pulford (Mr Ormond s team), £5. Also champion prize for best ploughing on the ground, £2. * 2nd prize, W. Lincoln (Mr John Heslop s team), £3. 3rd prize, William Macey (Mr Bicknell's team), £1. Class C— Double Furrow Plough Ist prize, M. Coster (Mr Ormond's team), £5. There were no other entries. The committee, however, recommended that the prize should be awarded as if there had been competition. Class D.— Youths under 17 years old Ist prize, Edward Hughes, (Mi- Jones' team), £3. 2nd prize, Robert Hughes (Mr Jones 1 team), £1 10s. Class E. —Natives Only. Ist prize, Tiwi (Karaitiana's team), £5. 2nd prize, Panapa (Karaitiana'B team), £3. 3rd prize, Tiwi, of Puketapu (Mr Jones team), £1. The judges of horses, &c, were Messrs Prmgle, Cunningham, and M'lntyre. Best Pair of Hoeses. John Heslop £1 and pair of swingletrees. The latter were presented by Messrs Stock & Vinsen, of Napier. Best Matched Pair or Horses. Ist prize, Panapa, £1. X Best Kept Harness. Thomas Miller, pair of silver-mounted winkers, presented by Mr Bradley saddler, of Taradale. The winkers were very handsome and much admired. The Dinner. At 6.30 the dinner was held in Mr Macdonald's hotel, Taradale. Tables stretching from end to end of the long dining-room were completely filled. The dinner was excellent in every respect both substantial and well got up. The good things provided having been disposed of, after the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, The Chairman (Mr Jeffares) rose to propose " Success to the Society." He said that he thought the match had been a great success, and that the promoters deserved the thanks of the people of the district. The plough was the mainstay of the wealth of any nation. Mr Heslop, sen., wished to say a word or two in reference to the toast. He thought that the allotment of prizes to encourage youngsters to excel in ploughing was a very good idea. He hoped that in future ploughing matches the example A of the Taradale Society would be followed. M He was glad to see Mi- Elliott there as i-ey^l presenting Mi- Ormond. Colonel Whj£ more was also represented ; but, for thfe most part, the large landholders appeared disposed to throw cold water on these ploughing matches. It was very much to be regretted that they should do so. The toast having been drunk, Mr Graham replied briefly on behalf ofthe promoters. For Ms own part he would gladly give up as much of his time and labor to secure the success of the match next year, or on any future occasion, as he had done this year. Mr Bicknell briefly proposed '■ The successful competitors." The toast having been drunk with, musical honors, Mr Pulford rose to reply. He certainly had not expected to have taken away the prize that clay. His thanks were due to n^ Mr Elliott for lending him the team with / which he had been suscessful. Mr Elliott said that he was glad to have been able to do anything to promote the success of the match by sending his horses He believed that these matches were things greatly needed. They would encourage ns in going iii for a regular agricultural system in the province. It was an excellent idea, he thought, to give prizes for boys. Boys of 16 ought to be able to plough as well as men. He was also glad to see special prizes allotted to the natives. Some of the work done by them that day had been very good work indeed — such as would not disgrace any match. _ He hoped they might at some future time see prizes given for the best seedsmen, for stacking, thatching, fencing, and so on. This would stimulate excellence in a variety of agricultural work. Mr O'Brien proposed "The Judges," coupled with the name of Mr Condie. Mr Rymei- thought that every one had been satisfied with their decisions. The toast having been drunk enthusiastically, Mr Condie, in reply, said that he hoped much to see the Society established on a permanent basis. So far from its being calculated to injure the Agricviltural and Pastoral Society, it would act as a feeder to it. He hoped that nextyenr they would have another ploughing match similar to the one just closed. / Mr Cunningham also replied briefly, "1 saying that he had done his best, although they might easily have got a more competent man for the post. Mr James Neagle rose to propose " The ! Press." The fact that he saw the representative of the Herald among them showed that the Press had the success of the match at heart. He had noticed of late especially, that much attention had been drawn in the papers to the desirableness of promoting agriculture,

The health having been drunk witli musical honors, Mr Carlilo replied briefly) observing that until lately recommending agriculture to the public seemed like working a dead horse. Now things were baginning to alter in that respect, and there was some reason to hope that it might shortly be extensively introduced. Anyone who had any stake in the place must desire earnestly that it should. The whole trade of the place was, in his view, in a most precarious position while it depended on wool alone. Mr Rymer proposed " Our Host and Hostess," remarking on the excellence of the fare provided, and of the arrangements generally. Mr Macdonald, in replying, said that he felt that the Taradale people had used him well since he had been among them, and he had in his turn done his best to use them well. He was comparatively a stranger in the district, but his experience of it had been so far most satisfactory. This closed the formal part of the proceedings.