TUAPEKA AND WAITAHUNA DISTRICT PLOUGHING MATCH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 180, 20 July 1871, Page 5

TUAPEKA AND WAITAHUNA DISTRICT PLOUGHING MATCH.

The second annual ploughing match of this district fook place on Friday last in a paddock of Mr. M'Clnskey's, at Happy Valley Farm, Wetherstones. The weather could not have been better even if it had been made expressly for the occasion. An unclouded sky continued throughout •the day, and the genial sun shone forth with even more than winter's heat. Almost j< before the dawn teams commenced to muster, and before the advertised time twenty-one ploughs were on the field. It is singular that the number of ploughs entered for this match should be the same as last year, but such is the case ; and it is very encouraging to those gentlemen who moved in the matter to find the number keeping up. It was thought the novelty of the thing last year partly accounted for the large turn out, but when we take into account that an equal number appeared on the field on this occasion, and that the style of the turn out far surpassed the previous one, the conviction is forced upon us that these matches are appreciated by the farmers, and a spirit of emulation and rivalry created which will be to the mutual benefit of themselves and the district. The prizes wtrj open to all bona Jide residents within twelve miles of Lawrence.

At a signal given by th« Secretary the start was made about 11 o'clock, and at one they knocked off for half-an-hour and partook of a plenteous lunch provided by Mr. M'Cluskey, the owner of the p.iddock. By three o'clock about three hundred visitors had gathered, induced no donbt by the novelty of a ploughing match, as well as the beautiful day. Mr. Frederick Bastings had a booth on the ground, and received a steady patronage throughout the day. Mrs. Tyler had a coffee booth on the ground which also was well patronised. It was interesting to watch groups here and there discussing the merits of the various pi Dughmen and deciding upon those who should receive prizes. In some cases they were wrong, but on the whole their judgment proved to be pretty much in unison with that of the appointed judges. Regret was expressed by some people that there was not a double-furrow plough on the field, as it was expected Mr. Lancaster would send ©ne of his from the Beaumont. All the teams ploughed their third of an acre in less than five hours. The judges, who had been on the field part of the time, Boon finished their deliberations, and the Secretary announced the priza takers dmidst the cheers of the visitors. At lunch time, to keep up the excitement, a 200 yards race between young Noakes and young Monaghan was got up, in which Noakes proved the winner by several yards. Seniors. maker of plot7ghmak owner plough Mathew Stewart M. Stewart Barrowman Robert M'Ara R. M'Ara Brice & Co. M- Keleher Crowley Bros Barrowman C. Avid Wni. Auld Ponton W. M'Gillvray P. Robertson Ponton J. Jones • David Evans Chalmers James Sheed J. Michael Barrowman James Cahill P. Cummings do. James Brown J. Fitzgerald Gray John Kennedy do. Barrowman •John Taborn J. Taborn do. I. Templeton P. Robertson Ponton George Young D. M'Oluskey Barrowman John M'Crae D. M'Crae do. Donald M'Crae do. do. A. Frazer A. Frazer Sellars John Black S. Williamson M'Kerra Juniors. T. Darton, jun. T. Darton, sen. Barrowman W, Herbert D. Hunter Sellars John Grant AJex. Grant do. PRIZES. SENIORS. J«t Prize.— SCathew Stewart - £5 0 0 2nd Prize, -Robert M k Ara - -400 3rd Prize.— Michael Keleher - 3 0 0 4th Prize, — C, A.ald,- goods to fie value of 20s, th» gift of Messrs, Herbert & Co. JUNIORS. l*fc Prize, — Thomas Darton, jun. - £2 0 0 2nd Prize,— William Herbert • 10 0 Brd Prize,— John Grant - - 10 0 SPECIAL PRIZB3. SENIOR CLASS, Best Feering. — Pair of Breeches, v.ilue £1 • 10s., the gift of Mr, W, M'Beath.— James Sheed, for J. Michael Best Finish. — Prize, value 305.. the gift of Mr. D. M'Donald and Mr. R. Fooler — J. JVnes. for D Evans. Best Outs and Ins. - Set Feeriug Poles, the gift of Mr. A. Humphrey. — M. Stewart. Best Work done by a Married Man. — Set of Tiering Poles, presented by Mr, John Kuon. — M. Stewart

JUNIOR CLASS. Beet Finish. — Set of Feering Poles, the gift of Mr. John Donovan. — Thos. Dartou, jun. Best Feering. — A Ham, the gift of Mr. James Harris. — Thomas Darton, jun. Best Outs and Ins. — A Book, value 10s., the gift of Dr. Halley — John Grant. The Youngest Ploughboy competing. — A Book, value 10s., the gift of Mr. G. JTeffery. — John Grant. Besr Groomed Horses. — A Book, value 10s. 6d., presented by Mr. Joseph Mackay- — Thomas Darton, jan, OPEN TO AIL THE FIELD. Best Matched Pair of Horses.— Pair of flames, the gifr of Mr. F. Meyer. — Alex. Grant. Best kept Harness, being the bona fide property of competitors for six months previous to the Mutch. — A silver-mounted Prize Whip, value £2 10s., the gift of Mr. James Low. — P. Robertson. Best Groomed pair of Horses. — Curry Comb and Brushes, the gift of Mr. Thomas Burnett. — J. Michael. Best Shod pair of Horses. — A set of shoes, presented by Mr. H. Fraser, Havelock. — P. Robertson. Best General Turn-out. — Set of three-horse swiuijlelrees, the gifr. of Messrs M Taggart, Havelock.— W. Avid. Best pair of Draught. Horses in the Field.— 203., from the Funds.— D. Evans. We are partly indebted to one of the judges for the following remarks upon the ploughing, and we do not think they will be out of place. The first prizs taker in the senior class was Matthew Stewart. His grouud did not look so well to the eye as did that of th^ second prize taker, M'Ara, but it was considered to be superior. Stewart's ploughing gave a fair honest bottom, while M'Ara's had more of the angle or false cut in it.

The second prize was awarded to M'Ara.

Third prize was given to Michael Kelleher, his land being better packed than Auld's, who took the fourth prize. The fourth again was considered superior to the fifth, as it left a better mould on the surface. In the fifth the land was well packed, but the cut was more false than the 4th.

Although the rules laid down by the Committee were that ploughmen should Use plain irons, still, in many cases ihe sucks were not, strictly speaking, plain ; hence the false cut, which the Committee were so desirous of avoiding. Of those who had not prizes awarded them, we may mention that the ploughing of James Cahill was very much appreciated by the judges, but the loose manner in which it was packed lost him a prize. When it is known that Mr. Cahill had not had a plough in his hand for sixteen years, we imagine that he will be pleased to receive such honourable mention from the judges.

The prize for the best groomed horses was awarded to Mr. Michael, as nothing in the field could equal the cleanliness they exhibited. The same remarks apply to Mr. Auld's prize for the best turn out. It could be seen at a glance that the fine horses, magnificent harness, (ma-le by Mr. Low) and excellent plough, would carry away the prize. There was a doubt raised a3 to the I bona fide ownership of the harness used by Mr. Williamson, to whom the prize of the best kept harness was awarded, but Mr. Williamson admitting that the harness was borrowed, the prize passed to Mr. Peter Robertson. justiors. There could be no difficulty in deciding upon Thos. Darton's as the best ploughing in the junior class, and from the great progress made by this youth since the last district ploughing match, there is every reason to believe that he will show well for a prize in the senior class next season should he contest the match. The best feering and finish were also awarded to him. The second prize was awarded to young Herbert, who was ploughing for Mr. Daniel Hunter. He merited the second prizs, as he made very good work, although he laboured under the disadvantage of a bad piece of ground. This remark applies to a good portion of the ground which had been very badly laid down, making it impossible for the gentlemen who measured it off to give justice to all. Young Grant, the third prize taker, also had the disadvantage of bad ground. Me was the youngest ploughman on the field, and received Mr. Jeffery's prize. Mr. Taborn's ploughing was also highly commended, being as straight as an arrow. A prize should be given on the next occasion for straight ploughing. Mr. Brown's ground was not up to its usual mark, but this we have no doubt may be accounted for by the restiveness of his team . The feering of the seniors caused some delay in the judges coming to a decision. There were four considered very g-^od, but Mr. Sheed's, being the closest and most compact, was adjudged the best. Mr. Fraser's team were highly commended by the Judges, who considered them as very serviceable and useful for agricultural purposes. The prize for the best pair of draught hor3es was awarded to the team of Mr. David Evans. Some persons expressed an objection to entire horses being allowed to compete, but it must be remembered that there is nothing in the regulations to prevent them. A prize was offered for the worst ploughing in the senior class, but as there wee several ploughmen whose work was very indifferent, the Judges were completely puzzled as to which merited the prize ; so the Committee decided to place the amount into the general fund.