Long Bush Ploughing Match

Southland Times, Issue 10200, 4 July 1889, Page 2

Long Bush Ploughing Match

In accordance with the eternal fitness of things the ploughing match season of 1889 was opened by the Long Bush Association and although in ito long and eventful career the said Association has seen brighter. days and achieved, more brilliant successes, the members thereof have no par* ticular reason to be disconsolate, disheart*' ened, or grievously perturbed in spirit over the result of this year's competition. It is true that the contestants were few in num* ber and that the vagaries of the weather prevented a large attendance of spectators, but still the quality of the work done and the interest manifested by those who .were in attendance: almost sufficed to make amends for the other defects, and more than cetcned the match from absolute failure. The pad* dock selected for the occasion was one on the - farm of Mr James McKay, ad» joining the Main - road : to- ■■ Woodlands, within easy distance of the Long Bush railway station, and in every, respect suit* able for the match. ,- The recent spell of hard frost had rendered the ground brittle and somewhat untfactable, but its fractiousness was conquered— its obstinate dis> inclination to properly behave had to sac* cumb to the skilful manipulation of the ploughmen. It can safely be said that all the work was good, and it certainly would not be a gross exaggeration to remark that most of it was excellent. Clean, straight, closely -packed, serviceable furrows were the rule, wide straggling, slovenly, and er* ratic ploughing the exception : and what* ever may be said about the lack of interest which so small a field would seem to indicate, nothing of a seriously condemnatory character can be advanced against the general quality of. the work. There were, only eight ploughs on the ground, and as these were divided into four different classes it can scarcely be claimed that there was' great competition. In the champion class, there were three entries, in the senior double furrow class the ; same number, while the juniors and the single furrows had a solitary represent^ tive each. Last year the ; ploughs at work numbered twelve, all of them double furrows, so that there was a decrease of exactly one-third. It is to be hoped that this retrogression will not continue, that renewed and more vigorous interest in the Association's life and work will awaken, and. that when in 1890 it. attains its twenty* seventh, year, the occasion will be marked with a success worthy of so advanced a period of maturity. ,] One familiar form was missed from its wonted place among the competitors, one that since last year's match has passed away. To all who are accustomed to Southland •ploughing , matches the. cheerful genial* presence and the sterling honest work of Charlie King seemed an indispensable ad* junct to the proceedings, but that is all over now and the places that knew him shall know him no more. Stricken in the prime of his youthful manhood he fell a victim to that dread disease- typhoid fever. He has gone from amongst us,, but? the "memory of Charlie,' of his proud achievements on the ploughing field and of his high social quali* . ties will not quickly fade. His death causes a gap in the ranks of our crack local plough* men that may not readily be filled. As already stated yesterday's work was good all round, but still the differences be* tween the lota were not so slight; as to cause the intelligent public any difficulty in placing the men. So apparently was this the case that when, at a most seasonable hour, the secretary read the judges awards, there were none of the usual demonstrations of triumphant , or disappointed partizans. Thesecretary told the public little or nothing new ; every man who could recognise a good furrow when he saw it had {previously made up his mind how the prizes ought to go, and was only confirmed in his judgment by the opinion of the appointed experts. The judges were Messrs A. McLean, of Waianiwa, and Mr W. Mclntyre, of Riversdale— the latter himself a doughty Southland champion 'of bygone days-^-and it must have been extremely satisfactory to them to learn that their several verdicts were so generally and so heartily endorsed.. Last year's victor at the Champion match, Allan Gait, tertim t .- took first prize in his class with a capitally . ploughed rig, but the supreme honour of the day, that of being declared the champion of the field, fell to Harry King, who also secured and deserved firat in his class as ' well as quite a number of minor prizes. The other double furrow ploughing calls for no particularisation>~and as to the single furrow work it • need ' only be said ' that the ~ sole representative of this class, J. Mcln* tosh, started badly, improved as he went on, and finished well. \/ The secretary, Mr W; Hamilton, per. , formed his duties with characteristic " thoroughness, the committee are to be con* gratulated on the perfection of their ar* rangements, and more than a word of thanks is due to Mr and Mrs McKay for the hoepi* tality they so liberally extended. . . * PRIZE LIST. Cy Glass A^-Ghampion Double Furrows.— Ist prize, L 4 ; 2nd, L 2 and a hat, gift of - Messrs Herbert, Haynes and Go. I>LOUGHMAN OWNER MAKER 1. A. Gait (tertim) Self " Gardiner 2. R. Patterson Self Anderson & " Findlay 3. John King Self Gardiner Break, box of soap, gift of Mr A. W. Brandford— R. Patterson. Finish, a pair of short leggings, gift of Mr D. Fair weather— J. King. Glass B—Senior Double Furrow— lst, * J L3j 2nd, L 2. Ploughman Owner Makek 1. Harry King Self Gardiner 2. W. Blakie Self Reid & Gray 3. VV. McKay 'J. McKay Reid & Gray. Break, a pair of watertight boots, gift of Mr W. Heathi-H. ,King. Finish, box of tea, gift of Messrs E. Taylor and Co (Woodlands)— H. King. Class C, Junior Double Furrows.-- Ist,-: L 2. Ploughman Owner Maker. 1. Andrew' Aitken -W. Aitken Reid & Gray : Break, an open bridle, gift of Mr Butler (Kennington)— -A. Aitken. '■';.' Finish, goods to value of 1 0s, gift of Messrs W. Lewis and Co. — A. Aitken. Class D— Single Furrow. Ploughman Owner Maker 1. J. Mclntosh Self ■ Ponton

SPECIAL PRIZES.

Champion lot on the field, the Society's _. Cup (to be won twice in succession, or three " : times at intervals)— H. King. Straightest ploughing, pair of winkers, gift of Messrs W. H. Hall and Co.— H.-

King. Outs-ancMns, pair of steel shares, gift of Messrs McKenzie and Leifcli (Woodlands)— W. McKay. '" .. ; Harness in daily use, opeu bridle, gift of Mr Bigwood (Woodlauds)— A. Aitken. Team of three horses, «250 feet dressed timber,' gift of N.Z. Pine Co. — VV. Blakie. Best groomed team, a field gate, gift of Mr H. Smidt (Woodlands)— W. Blakie. „ Tidiest turn-out, a pheto album, gift of Messrs Wesney Bros. — W. Blakie. i Oldest ploughman, a rouud of beef, gift of Mr W. Field (Invercargill), aud a bag of oatmeal, gift of Mr Walker— John Mcln* : tosh. ' ■ ■' ■ "r :■ - ....■'.. -■■-■ ■'.■■. J Youngest ploughman, a felt hat, gift of a ' friend — A. Aitken. ■ Ploughman with largest family, a family parcel, gift ©f Mr D. Strang— John Mclntosh. - ..'■.- Ploughman from greatest distance, a box of cigars, gift of Mr N. Johnsons—John; .. King. First off the field with a prize, 12 apple : trees, gift of Mr R. Birrell— W. McKay. * Best finish on thefield. 30 pinus insignia* - . gift of Mr R. Cleave-^H. King. ■-.-..■ A dinner took place in the evening, but owing to the late hour at which our report of the proceedings reached us it iabeld over {ora'day.