Champion Ploughing Hatch at Makarewa.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 15, 9 August 1905, Page 3

Champion Ploughing Hatch at Makarewa.

JOHN TURNBULL WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP. President, Mr John McCrosli9 ; vice-presi-dent, Mr Geo. Young ; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. A. Mitchell ; auditor, Mr Andrew White ; gener 1 committee, Messrs John Stevenson, John Brown, Alex McLean, Wm. Lindsay, Malcolm Gray, D. Younger, James Gait, Waiter Blaikie, James Fleming, Colin Gray, Jnr, Walter Clark. W. A. Gray, Wm. Young, Daniel McCallum. David Clark, John Eraser, J. B. Sutton, S. Fraser, Junr. John Ewan, J,hn Affleck, W. J. James, James Drain, Peter McDermid, Wm. Fraeer, James Ronald, Thos. Fraser, and Alfred Tapper. Field committee, Messrs W. Blaikie, Colin Gray, Alex McLean, James Drain, Thos. Fraser, and the Secretary. Judges : Ploughing, Messrs James Fleming, Wm. Hamilton, and James McGonachie ; specials, Messrs Alex Calder, Thos. Patterson, and Thos. Fraser ; horse-jumping, Messrs John Affleck and Prendergast: The annual championship ploughing match eventuated at Makarewa, on Wednesday, and was an undoubted success from every point of view. The weather bore not the slightest similarity to that of last year, when the snow lay on the ground, and the conditions were the reverse of pleasant. On Wednesday, though a sharp frost made things somewhat cold m the morning, the weather became quite summery towards noon. Ihe sun shone out m all his strength, and at one period of the day the heat was almost oppressive. Such unusually fine weather have we experienced lately that many farmers shook their heads and uttered grim forebodings. The public attended m large numbers, trains from Invercargill, Winton and Otautau bringing crowds, while scores drove or rode m on horseback. Altogether, there must have been considerably over 600 people on the ground, ihe scene of the competition was a fine large paddock of about sixty acres, situated immediately at the rear of Makarewa Station, and had been kindly lent for the occasion by Mrs A. Gray, to whom the thanks of the committee are due. Amongst the competitors were noticed many new aspirants, while the faces of several old champions were absent. The entries totalled 29, and each man was allotted a strip of land, varying from one-third of an acre for singlefurrow ploughs to two-thirds for double-furrow ploughs. The soil was light and loamy, rather inclined to be dry, and the ploughmen had their work cut out to preserve the evenness so much desired at these contests. Added to this, the ground presented a lumpy appearance, and several of the breaks suffered m consequence, the conditions not being entirely conducive to a straight line. Notwithstanding all this, the ploughing reached a high standard, and one could go a long way and not see such excellent work as was done at Makarewa on Wednesday. The majority of the competitors proved themselves well skilled at their work, and it goes without saying that j the competition was very keen. Several champions made a high bid for the coveted honour this year, and , their performances naturally attracted a great amount of attention. Mr Malcolm Gray, the champion at Makarewa last year, and at Wrey's Bush this year, drew a crowd round him, while Mr John Turnbull (of Thornbury), the champion at Drummond this year, was also surrounded by admirers. The judges' decision m favour of the latter gave general satisfaction, which changed to something like astonishment when last year's champion secured only fourth place. Ihe horses made an excellent show, being all well-con-ditioned and thoroughly fit for work. The parade of high-class draughts did not come up to that of Drummond, but the teams of Messrs Bhikie, Gray and Son, John McCrostie, Newton, and Jones Bros. attracted much favourable notice, Great satisfaction was expressed with the arrangements, which reflected the utmost credit on the committee and their hard-working and conscientious secretary, Mr J. A. Mitchell. That gentleman, by his courtesy and consideration m every \ way, was invaluable, and carried out the multitudinous duties appertain- , iog to his office m his characteristically able manner. The judges also deserve a word of commendation for the excellence of their work. They had an arduous task to per- ' form, calling for much discrimin- . ation and judgment, and they are to becomplimeuted on the thoroughly satisfactory way m which they carried out their part. At the close ■ of the day, cheers were heartily given for the officials and the donors of the . special prizes, who so generously : again came to the aid of the Association. The catering was m the 5 hands of Messrs Kingsland and Son 1 ] J and gave every satisfaction Following is a list of the champions 1 for the past 22 years : — Entries. ' 1883 'Thomas Hannah ..34 • 1884 Robert Smith . . . . 40 1885 'Thomas Hannah ..32 ] 1886 John Hamilton . . 31 1887 Charles King .. .. 28 ~1888 Allan Gait .. .. 25 J 1889 Thos. Dooherty . . 23 1

1890 Harry King . . . . 22 1891 R. Patterson . . . . 27 1892 W. Allison . . . . 2<i 1893 D. McFar'ane .. .. 19 1894 **W. A. Young .. .. 22 1895 D. McFnrline . . . . 35 1890 John King .. .. 41 1897 W.A.Gray .. .. 35 1898 W. G. Ladhrook „ 26 1899 Peter McDi-rmid .. 34 1900 Malcolm Gray . . . . 27 I 1901 Colin Gray, junr. .. 22 1902 Wm. Gray .. ■• 28 1903 W. T. lames . . . . 22 J 904 Malcolm Gray .. .. 33 ' 1905 John Turnbull . . . . 29 •Competed m swing-plough clnss. ••Competed m Class B, double-furrow. Appended is the complete prizelist:— PRIZE LIST. CLASS A. CHAMPION DOUBLE-FUR-ROW : Ist prize £7 10s and d.f. plough, gift of Messrs Reid and Gray, to be won twice, not necessarily m succession ; 2nd, £6 ; 3rd, £5 ; 4»h, £4 ; Bth, £3 ; 6th, £2 ; 7th, £1. Pbiz* Ploughman Ownir 1. John Turnbull And. Blaikie, jr. 2. W. A. Gray Mrs A. Gray 3; D. Hardie Self 4. Malcolm Gray W, Gray and Son 5. W.T.James Self 6. John King Mrs A. Gray 7. W. A. Young Self Charles Christie Robert Smith A. Lindsay Self G. Milne Self R. Paterson J. McCrostie Best break, lady's hat, gift of Messrs Price and Bulleid : Mabolin Gray. Best finish, trophy, gift ef Messrs McKenzie and Roche : D. Hardie. Straightest ploughing, 50 pinus insignia, gift of Mr M. O'Brien : D. Hardie. Best outs-and-ins, comb and brush, gift of Mr Petrie : Malcolm Gray. CLASS B. DOU KLE-FURROW, for ploughmen who never gained a prize m senior class • Ist prize £5, and gold medal, gift of Mr John McCrostie (president) ; 2nd, £4 ; 3rd, £3 ; 4th, £2 ; sth, £1 10s ; 6th. £1. Prize Ploughman Owner 1. Alex. Brown A. McLean 2. Wm. Gray, jr. W. Gray and Bon 3. F. H. Newton W. Newton 4. E. Jones Jones Bros. 5. Chas. McKinnon Smith Bros. 6. Robert Lyon Self E. Clent Self Charles Coombes Self J. B. Lindsay Self S. Brown — Best break, set 2-horse swingle- trees, gift of Mr John Gardiner: F. H. Newton. Best finish, razor, gift of Mr Alsweiler, and round of beef from the Glasgow Butchery : F. H. Newton. Straightest ploughing, 3 milk dishes, gift of Mr R. G. Speirs : Charles Coombes. Best outs.and-ins, comb and brush, gift of Mr Cunningham : J. B. Lindsay. CLASS C. JUNIOR DOUBLE FURROW, for youths under 18 years : first prize £3 10s, and silver medal, gift of Mr A. Me. Vinish, and pair boy's boots, gift of Mr Simon. Pmze Ploughman Ownkr 1. Sam. Clarke, jr. P. Barron CLASS D. SINGLE-FURROW : first priae £4 - 2nd £3, and tin of biscuits, gift of Mr A. Raeside; 3rd, £2; 4th, £1 10s; sth, £1. Pkiee Ploughman Owner 1. Wm. Lindsay Self 2. John Smith Smith Brca. 3. Henry Hubber Self 4. Dan. McCallum Self 5. J. McCallum D, McCallum J. V'. clntosh W Gray and Son J. MeNie Young and- McNie G. Rogers Self Best break, ham, gift of Mr Knipe ; D. McCallum, Best finish, round beef, gi.'fc of Messrs McKenzie and Harper : Wm. Lindsay. Best outs-and-ins, pair leggings, gift of b'r J no. McCurdy : John Mcintosh. Straightest ploughing, trophy, value 10s 6d, gift of Mr R. Ashton : Wm. Lindsay.