SOUTHLAND CHAMPION PLOUGH. ING MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 16

SOUTHLAND CHAMPION PLOUGH. ING MATCH.

This event was held on the farm of Mr Walter Blakie, Branxholm, on Thursday last, under rather unfavourable circumstances so far as the weather was concerned — a cold wind prevailing and showers falling at intervals during the day. Notwithstanding this, however, there were about 600 persons on the ground during the day. There were in all 25 ploughs on the ground— l 7 in the double furrow, seven in the singlefurrow, and one in the subsoil class. As compared with last year there was a falling off in the singles and subsoilers, but the double furrow men were more numerous by one. The Southland Times, in commenting on the results, says:— "When the fag went up at half-past 3 all were off the ground save Robert Smith and R. Allison, both of whom had somehow or another lagged behind. At this period the centre of attraction was young Hamilton's rig, for although the work as a whole was scarcely up to the mark, the finish v&i one of the best ever seen on a ploughing match field. There were other excellent finishes, of course, but, in the opinion of most experts, none of them equalled Hamilton's in point of excellence. The decisions of the judges were awaited with evident anxiety, opinions widely differing as to which of the men was entitled to the champion laurels. Contrary to custom it was thought that the champion prize would go to a double furrow man, one or two of the lots in that class being unmistakeably of better quality than anything achieved by the knights of the old swing implement. This opinion was justified by the result, .the champion being Allan Galr, whose performances thin season have earned him a place in the very front rank of Southland ploughmen. His rig was certainly an excellent one, and the more' closely it was examined the more thoroughly was the decision of the judges endorsed. H. A. Ladbrook, who had not previously ploughed at one of this season's matches, was second with a capital rig, and John King, who followed^ was correctly placed as third.

. . . The gorse cutting competition attracted a good deal of attention during the day, more than enough to warrant the place given to it on the programme. There were seven competitors, all of whom did their work well and expsditiously. The length allotted to each man was three and a-balf chains, that being all which the hedge available would allow. PRIZE LIST. Judges for ploughing : Messrs W. M'llwrick (Waikiwi), J. H. Young (Orepuki), and A. Robertson (Outram). Doublk-kubhow Class.— First prize, £10 and ad. f. plough (to be won twice by a Reid and Gray plough); second. £8; third", £6 and a pair of boots ; fourth, £3 and goods to the value of 10s ; fifth, £2 and a pair ot steel shares ; sixth, £1 aid a pair of boots; seventh, a bag of flour; eighth, an album. Ploughman. Owner. Maker. 1 A. Gait Certius) Self Gardiner 3 H. A. Ladbrook Self Held and Gray 3 John Kipg ... SMf ... ... Gardiner 4 11. Patterson ... Self ... ... Anderson and Findlay SJ. Hamilton ... J. \V. Hamilton Reid and Gray 8 W. O. Ladbrook Self Gardiner 7 Thonas Fraßer L. Fraser ... Reid and Gray 8 Walter Blakie.., Self Ditto "Best break : Photograph album, R. Patterson. Beat finish : Box of soap, John Hamilton. Straiguteat ploughing : Case of oranges, John Hamilton. Singltc-furhow Ci>AS3.— First prize £10 and tin biscuits ; second, £7 and a pair of leggings ; third, £4 and a pair of hames ; fourth, £2 and a Biicking pig ; fifth, a keg of nails. Ploughman. Owner. Maker. IT. Hannah ... A, Hannah . ... Gray (Uddings ton) 2 J. R, Wilson ... Self ... ... Ponton 3 John M'lntosh Self ... ... Poaton 4 Andrew Hall ... Self ... ... Anderson and Findlay 5 Allan Jones ... Self ... ... Fowler Best break : American timepiece, A M'Lean. Best finish : Roll of beef, J. R. Wilson. Straightesfc ploughing •. Ton of coal, at Invercargill, T Hannah. Subsoil Class.— First prize, £3, a set of steel harrows (to be won twice), ami a tin of biscuits. Ploughman. Owner. - Maker. 1 D. Holloway ... Self Reid and Gray Special Phizes.— Champion lot on the field: Waterbury watch, Allan Gait. Double-furrow class.— Best outs and ins : Pair plush trays, John Hamilton. Best team of three horses : 100 macrocar pa, James Drain. Oldest ploughman : Felt hat, K. Allison. Youngest ploughman : Riding bridle, John Hamilton. Ploughman with largest family i Bag of flour, a parcel of coffee, and a dozeu assorted " certain cures," W. C. Ladbrook. Ploughman from greatest distance: Roll of bacon, R. Smith. Beat groomed team : A pair of shifting draught hames, John Brown. : Singlk-furrow class.— Best outs and ins : Lantern, John M'lntosh. Best team of two horses : Three milk dishes, Thomas Hannah. OMesfc ploughman : Rabbit fur hat, J. M'lntosh. Youngest ploughman : Pair of ladles' elastic side boots, Thomas Hannah. Ploughman, with largest family : Bag of wheat, and a roll of beef, A. Jonea. Ploughman from greatest distance : A ham, Thomas Hannah. Best groomed team : Blotting folio, Thomas Hnnrmh. Gmnkral.— Best kept harness, any class : Pair leggings, James Drain. Best turn out on field, including everything : An electro-plated cruet, W. Blakie. Quietest driven team: A dozeu apple trees, W, Blakie. First off the field with a prize : Horse cover, Thomas Fraser. - Best harness on field: Comb and brush, Thomas Hannah. Best work dene by Southland-made plough : Box of cigars, R. Patterson. First finished ploughman : Meerschaum pipe, K. Finlayeon. Last married ploughman : Pair vases, Charles King. Youngest prizetaker in any class : Silver albert, John Hamilton. Largest prizetaker from Western District : A ton of lignite, John Hamilton., Gobsk Cutting Competition. — Judges: Messrs R. Miller, A. Calder, and W. Ronald.— First; prize, £2 and two hedge knives, David Paterson (90min; ; fecond, £1 10s and one hedge knife, T. M'lntosh (7Smin); third, £1, J. H. Smith (96min); fourth, 10s, James M'lntosh (55min). Length out, 3f chains. The usual dinner was held in the evening.

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D. Sutherland, manager of the Qmarama station, was fined £10 and costs (£ll 17s) at Oamaru on the 7th inst. for neglecting to take necessary steps, to destroy the rabbits on his run.

In connection with the death of Lieutenantgeneral Sheridan, of the United States, announced in our cablegrams this week, it is a rather curious fact that the states have only had two generals— Grant and Sherman— and three lieutenant-generals — Washington, Scott f and Sheridan.' According to General Sherman, Washington never took an oath of general of the army of the United States, and he was buried as lieutenant-general.