Agricultural and pastoral.

Otago Witness, Issue 1029, 19 August 1871, Page 9

Agricultural and pastoral.

PLOUGHING MATCH.

(FROM OCR OVA* CORRESPONDENT.)

The Dunedin Agricultural Association Ibfcld their annual ploughing match on the lllth inst. at Walton Park. The committee <cculd not find a more suitable paddock wearer town and contiguous to the Main ftouth Road. The day was altogether ifche imvost enjoyable of the season, being wjurm and calm. A very large number of spectators were attracted to the field of { operations, and freely expressed their opinions as to the quality of the work 'Hie turn out, consisting of fifteen ploughs — thirteen seniors and two juniors — was more than oonld have been expected at this busy season of the year. The ground was extremely brittle, and far from being the quality of ground that un experienced ploughman would like to turn up. Notwithstanding this, however, the excellence of the work performed was the theme of universal comment. Of the two junior ploughmen, one was a brother of the champion, Mr Christie (who was one of the judges), and the other the son «f Mr William Barr, M.P.C., and alfchouyh only fifteen years of age, he performed his allotment very much to the satisfaction of the judges. As the Dunedin District Agricultural ploughing match is looked upon as the Champion Match of the province, the number of prize takers was very large. Mr Bryce, who had for a number of years taken the lead, had no difficulty in being proclaimed the champion, although the work performed by others was of the very best quality. With regard to the teams, it will be sufficient to say that in no respect were they inferior to those of former seasons. There was a manifest improvement in the "hadding."' In former seasons ploughmen were very careless of their attitude in holding the plough, but the fact of prizes having been given to the easier going ploughmen has materially corrected this fault. The Judges were Messrs James Christie, Taieri, and Grant, Dunedin ; and their decisions gave universal satisfaction. The awards of the Judges were as follows :—: — SENIORS. Ist prize, £5, James, Bryce (Ponton plough) ; 2nd do, £4, John Paterson, do ; 3rd do, £3, Thomas M'Taggart, do ; 4th do, £2, William Hamilton, do ; oth do, £1, Alexander Campbell, do. SPECIAL PRIZES. Best Break : A set of swingle-trees, presented by Messrs Watson and Gow, .fames Bryce ; Set of poles, presented by Mr Alexander Hall, Green Island, to John Paterson. A whip, value one guinea, presented by Mr Fraser, of Dunedin, as a prize for the best turn-out of horses and harness, was awarded to Mr Allan, M.P.C., Taieri. JUNIORS. Ist prize, £2, Thomas Christie ; 2nd do, 10s, John Barr. EXTRAS. A set of poles, presented by Mr A. Caldwell, Thos. Christie, for the best break; pair of leggings, presented by Mr M'Cracken to the youngest ploughman, John Barr.