Western District Ploughing Match.

Southland Times, Issue 8063, 18 July 1885, Page 3

Western District Ploughing Match.

For fourteen or fifteen years past one of tbe big , agricultural • events in (he Western district has been the annnal ploughing match, an event 'looted for- ' ward to by all in the locality and many beyond it with keen anticipation from the beginning of the season, and always 1 highly successful when the momentous " day arrives. Tbe match this year was no _ exception to the established rnle, and the Association are to be congratulated on having scored anoihei decided triumph. ■ The contest was b*»ld yesterday on tho" farm of Mr J. B. McLean, Flints, Bueb, the * paddock set apart for the purpose being beautifully .level and in every wayemi- -'■ Bently suitable. The ground itself was in • fair condition for good work, although perhaps a trifle brittle, and here and there •- - somewhat grabbjrl-: The nnmfcer of (BPt tries was precisely the same as last year. In all there were 19 ploughs in the field, 12 in the senior double furrow class, two in -the junior, and five in the single furrow. - Several other ploughmen had also entered, J bnt they failed to pfat in an appearance «t the appointed time^ A start was made punctually, at the advertised time, "9.3Q aan., and half-an-hbnr only being allowed for lunch the work was completed about 3 p.m. The usual areas were allotted, two-thirds of an acre to; the double-furrow - ploughs and l one-third to the singles. The lodges for the ploughing were Messrs J. Fleming (Rakahduka), W. Bonald (Wai•niwa). and W. Mcllwrick (Waikiwi), , while the respective merits of the horses were deaided by R. Baird (Isla Bank), and ■ ■•:&, Eraser (Waiani wa). ■;= During -the morning the sky was overcastV and the weather bleak and cold, but alter the adjournment for luncheon everything considerably brightened tip. At first there were but few spectators on the field, but after the sun had made his genial presence felt,. 'fV;peo^le i ..';-;fl6c^ed'-fjrom.. all quarters of the neighborhood j and the Bcene became, : considering , the occasion, ■ particularly animated and cheerful. Of each competitor l had his little coterie of admirere^ anxiously watching his progreefy jnbjlant if he was doing well, and finding all sorts of excuses for him if the contrary

was the case. It was. apparent that the deepest interest was taken in the metch, and that the judges' decrees were looked forward to. with eager anxiety. The -arrangements were excellent, and the . result must have satisfied even the members of the committee, who worked so well to secure it. Mr Qt. B. Featberetone ie a pecretary of secretaries, quick to perceive what is required, and as quick to have it done. Thanks to his kindness and forelight the work of «U concerned, press representatives included, was rendered pleaMntly easy, and the day's proceedings Wentoff without a hitch. Mr Me Williams, of Riverton, bad a booth on the ground, and did a lively business.

"< following were the entries, &c. :— ■-• ' DOOTtS-FTJEROW.— ■ SBNIOH.

The work as a whole was of a superior class. In the senior donble-fnrrows some bf the ploughing was worthy of any champion field, that of the first prize-taker, D. Clark, being specially good. The juniors also acquitted themselves moat' creditably, tnd deserved all the encomiums they received. Those who performed with tbe time-honoured swing plough were fit to champion its cause, and did such capital work that the almost forsaken implement's admirers were delighted, and its sneering opponents silenced. The following is the prise list: —

Bbniob Double.Furbow.— lst, £5, D. Clarke; 2nd, £4, W. Lindeay; 3rd, £3, B. Peterson ; 4th, £2, T. Btrond ; sth, £1, W. Hamilton ; 6th, 10s, R, Deacon. JUNIOE DOTJBLH FtJBBOW.— Ist, £5, B. SINGLE- FUBBOW.— Ist, £5, A. Hall j 2nd, £4, A. McLean ; 3rd, £3 ; T . Hannah. ; SPECIAL PBIZES. Best break in Eenior doubled nrrowe, box - rf prize soap, gift of McLeod Bros— J. Alii■on. " ■ •■-- ■ ■'■■ Best break in junior double-furrows, 100 ':- trees, B, Blrrell— W. Holloway, • Best break in single-furrows, box of tea, . Mitchell, McNeill and Co.— T. Hannah, Best' ploughed rig on field, two oak butter firkins, Cowper and Wilson— A. Hall . . ; Best finisK, double-furrows, 100 trees, B. Cleave — W. Lindsay. Best finish, junior double-furrows, 10s 6d, Moir, Jobnson and Co.— J. B. Tnrnbnll. , Best -finish, Single * furrow, 100 trees, Cooper and Co.— A. Hall. ' Best kept harness in daily use, 10s 6d, As* iboiation— W. Frasw. Best team of three hones, £1, Association — W. McKenzie, ; U^'t Best team of two horses, £1, Association ; . fi-A. McLean? l 'r '-'■ " ~'' : -\ r ße%t groomed teani, family parcel, valued '%t 10s i6d, D. Bttan«— J. Allisoni ... Man with, largest family, pair long leg- ' ginas, J. Kingsland and Co.— T. Btrond., Youngest ploughman, tin of lollies, D, Kingsland and Son*— W. Holloway; ;' Oldest ploughman, one pa«r of chains,;. Manson iand Co;— T. \Strond, ; • Jirat T>n'z£taker off the fieW, one bag '' otftomi Wenjinj? and GrilkKon— F. Deacon* ' ' Best ploughed lot on field by ploogbman «n4et 21 years of age, in any class, Bilyer Medtf l ; G. J lomsden--l>i Clarke. , '-' '■■■' S&^liitestplonghing on field, 10s 6d, As-. £'- ■'->' The nsaal dinner wais helcLin ihVevenv ling In Hotel. 5

Ploughman. Owner. Makers. D. Clarke > T. Clark Reid and Gray John Hamilton J. W. Hamilton do do John Brown Brown & Walker do do B. Patersbn Self Anderson and >•--."•■ Findlay J. Allison, jnr. J. Allison Eeid and Gray W. Lindsay J. Lindsay do do T. Stroud Self do do W.Hamilton W. McKenzie do do A. Jones Self Fowler B. Deacon J. Deacon do H. Irving J. 0. Irving Eeid and Gray W. Fraser D. Eraser do do ■ i ■ - • • Double-Furrow. — Junior. Ploughhaw. Owner. Makers. J). Holloway W. Holloway Booth A Macdonald J. Tnrnbtdl, jr. J. B. Turnbnll Fowler Sdsgle-Fubrow. Piouohmak. Owner. Maker. P. Tnrnbull Self Ponton J .Wilson Self do A. 'Hall, jnr. Self do A-'McLean W. Hamilton do Tbimas Hannah Self Gray, Uddingston '