TAPANUI PLOUGHING MATCH.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 108, 4 August 1876, Page 5

TAPANUI PLOUGHING MATCH.

$ Committee. — Messrs John M'Kellar (presideat), John Mackie (vice-president), David Robertson, Robert Elliott, John Robertson, and James Christie. The Tapanui annual ploughing match was held on Tuesday last, on Mr John M'Kellar's run, and was a great success throughout. The weather, which is an all-important consideration, was all that could be desired, and but for the snow on the adjacent hills, one might have imagined it was midsummer, instead of midwinter. This Jasted only until the close oi the match, when the fickle god, as if to remind us we had been favored in an especial manner, as a reward for the enterprise ans liberality of the Tapanui-ites, resumed again his normal winter countenance, and the night closed in both, cold and wet. The ground was in first-rate condition, and the paddock was allowed by all to have been well- chosen, as from the even nature of the ground, which was in the J native tussock, every man had an j equally good chance. The ploughing ' on the whole was greatly above the averag*e, which is only as it should be, when we remember the value of the prizes ofFered. The' number of ploughs turned out on the occasion was worthy of Tapanui, and was indicative of the position it is rapidly assuming* as -an agricultural district, viz., the first in Ota°*o. There were thirty-two ploughs [ in all," a much larger number than has . been witnessed at any recent match in > the Colouy. As a consequence of the ■ propitious weather, the match was wit:- -: nessed by a very large concourse of the ■ ' male sex, the female, on the other hand, ' being* conspicuous *" by their absence. r 'No doubt this was to be attributed, in 1 a great measure, to the distance of the '„ ground from Tapanui, and the bad state of the roads. Great credit is due

to the Judges, Messrs Millar, Robertson, and Kussell, for the manner in whioh tiie;/ discharged their difficult and rather invi.,iou,s task, and it is very pleasing to be able to state that their decisions seemed to give general satisfaction. During the progr-ss of the ploughing, the courteous and indefatigable secretary, Mr Mooney, oiigiuated suudry athletic games, which varied the monotony, and caused the time to pass pleasantly by. The prizes wero presented to the successful competitors by the President, Mr John M'Kellar, iv the evening, at the Commercial Hotel, where a dinner was held. The following is the PRIZE LIST. Class A, — Double Furrows. First prize, L2O (and Sot Four-leaf Harrows, presented by Messrs Reid aud Gray, Duuedin) ; second, Ll2 • third, LBj fourth, L 5; fifth, L 2. Ploughman. District. Maker. I— Wm. ME wan Tapanui Reid & Gray 2*-F. Black Tokomairiro Bryce Bros. 3 — J. Burnett Tapanui Reid & Gray *t — R. Humphrey Tapanui do, 5— M. Campbell Southland do. Class B. — Swing Ploughs. First prize, L2O ; second, Ll2 ■ third, L 8 fourth, L 5 • fifth, L 2. Ploughman. District. Maker. I— J. Cullen Tapanui Ponton 2 — T. Christie Taieri do. 3— J. Taylor Waipahi do. 4— J. Fleming Southland do. I 5— ±. Campbell Tapanui do. I By winning first prize in this Class, Cullen i also is for the first time the winner of tbe Swing Plough, offered by Mr N. Colquhonn to the winner of the first prizo three years consecutively. Class C. — Swing Ploughs. Juniors under eigh teen yenrs of age. Firs* prist., L 5 ; second, L 3. Ploughman. District. Maker. I— S. W. Herriott Tapanui Ponton 2 — J. Busby Tapanui do. Special Prizes. Class A. Best Finish.— Set Swingletrees, gift of Mr N. Colquhoun. J. Burnett, Tapanui. Best Break. — Horse Collar, gift of Mr J. G. Bremner. Frank Black, Tokomairiro. Best Turn-out, — Waterproof Coat, gift of Messrs R. C. Ferguson & Co. A. Mitchell, Southland. Class B. Best Finish. — Pair Trousers to order, gift of Mr B. Fargher, tailor. James Fleming, Southland* Best Break. — Set of Swingletrees, gift of Mr Wm. Price. T. Christie, Taieri. Best Outs and Ins. — Pair Leggings, gift of Mr A. Mason. James Fleming, Southland. Best Turn-out. — Meerschaum Pipe, gift of Messrs Jeffery and Esther. Halliday, Tapanui. Straightesfc Ploughing. — Set of Chains, gift of Mr J. G. Bremner. Jas. Fleming, Southland. • Class C. Best Finish — Pair Spurs, gift of Mr James Lyons. S. W. Herriott, Tapanui. Youngest Ploughman.— Clothes Chest, gift of Mr T. Ciawford. Same. In any Class. Best - groomed Horses. Brushes and Currycomb, gift of Mr James Koir. James Fleming, Southland. Best-kept Harness, in u«e for six months. — Hunting-whip, gift of Mr T. Wardlaw. Same. Oldest Ploughman od ground. — L 2 2s. James Christie, Tapanui. Best-matched Pair of Horses.- -Prise presented by Mr G. F. South. K. Sheadan, Tapanui. THE DINNER.. Tn the evening a dinner was held in Mr Simmonds' Commercial Hotel, — Mr John M'Kellar in the chair, opposite whom was Mr J. Mackie. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were duly given and responded to,- after which Mr Mackie proposed the " American Republic," coupling* with it the name of Mr M'Kellar. Mr M'Kellar, in replying, was proud to say he wa^ now an American citizen-, having bought land in the Republic, his departure for which was now drawing near. Nobody could regret more than himself the parting from so many friends, and he hoped to hear regular and favourable accounts of the progress of Tapanui, with which place he had been so long* and intimately associated. He thought if the New Zealand Government had a little more of the American constitution mixed up with it it would be all the better. The " Pastoral Interests" was proposed by Mr Bremner. He thought very few of them would be here to-day were it not for this very important interest, and he gave all credit to the pioneers, who had to bear the gTeatest hardships while making* the land a home for themselves and descendants. lie thought we all, to a very great extent, depended on their energy and success. Mr Hare responded in a few appropriate words. Mr M'Kellar proposed the " Agricultural Interests.' 7 He had seen Tapanui when scarcely any one was in it. He bad no doubt but that it would go ahead, and be 'he capital yet of a future county. He impressed upon all the necessity of combining for the forma- ' tion of the railway, to get it started by private enterprise, for he was sure it would be as profitable- a speculation as there was in the Colony, They need not expect anything from the Government, who seemed to turn a deaf ear to the necessities of Tapanui. He had done all in his power to get the railway, and hoped to hear before be had been long away that they had succeeded in starting it by private enterprise. Mr Mackie, m responding-, thought there was little to fear as regards the progress of Tapanui. It had now got a fair start, and he was sure it would never look back. Mr Mackie next proposed the " Commercial Interest,'' coupling with it the names of Messrs Ferg-usson and Ikemner. .- - : Mr Ferguson, in /replying, said he was surprised <that. -the toasts of * the commercial and,pqstoral interests-should be seDarated. , He. /thought ,they were identical., I He praised the quality of the land jn ,the ; Tapahui;4istric.t,,*; which He considered was some of the best iv the Province, but was oi -little; or ;- 'fe&iFal-iife

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unless communication with the o -tside world was opened up by means oi good roads or railways, without, which they might ns well commence to migr-ve again. He agreed with M.r'M'Kellar, that every effort should be used f*> inaugurate a railway by private enterprise, if they failed with the Government.

Mr Bremner endorsed Mr Ferguson's sentiments, and spoke further upon the urgency of railway communication, as the^would be any amount of surplus produce lying* rotting in the district ere long, the .carriage of which being a complete bar to its sale.

Mr Millar proposed the " Tapanui Ploughing Club," which was responded to by

Mr J. Rogers, who eonsidei*ed it was of the greatest importance to this district, or, in fact, any other, that did not hold with anthropophagy. He complained also of the neglected state of the roads, and thought the Government might do a little more for them, considering the amount, of money they received by the local land sales. He was of opinion they could not over-esti-mate the loss they would sustain by the departure of Mr M'Kellar. Mr N. Colquhoun proposed the " J udges," which was responded to by Mr Millar.

Mr Hare proposed "The Ladies," whose capabilities he could not overestimate. He even thought they would make as good ploughmen as any present, if they tried.

Mr Mooney responded, in words that would have touched the heart of any lady, even the most bitter against the sterner sex, had any been there to hear him, and would undoubtedly have made many yearn to lay their heads upon his shirt-front, as a slight mark of their appreciation and gratitude. Mr Creagh proposed "The Prizetakers." He thought they thoroughly earned what they got, and hoped they would all compete again, when, if better men could not be found, he should be glad to see them carry off the prizes again, which would be of equal, or probably greater value next year. Messrs M'Ewen and Cullen, in a few words, responded.

Mr Mooney proposed the "Unsuccessful Competitors," whiuh was responded to by

Mr James Christie, who said' he was glad to see such a good ,turn out, as it would show to the strangers what Tapanui could do. He intended., to have another try himself, as he was not one of the sort who were cast down by a defeat, and he would hope for better luck next time.

Mr Ferguson proposed the '** Press," combining with his praise for the general body a severe censure upon the local papers for their neglect of his district. He even went so far as to talk of " punching heads," but at that moment, catching sight of two pairs of eyes flashing on him with sanguinary glance and virtuous indignation, (one pair was remarked to be partly concealed behind spectacles, but these only served to concentrate the fire of their wrath,) he made amends by excepting the papers whose <c specials" were the possessors of aforesaid eyes, and called upon the " specials" to respond. This demand was complied with by Messrs Quin and Christie, as representatives respectively of the * Tuapeka Times' and Clutha Leader, who proved conclusively that Mr Ferguson was laboring under a delusion in supposine* that these papers neglected his distriot. and that the fault really lay in his neglecting to peruse his paper regularly.

The " Strangers" was proposed by Mr M'Kellar, and responded to by Messrs Mitchell and Fleming*.

Mr Allan proposed the " Health of the latest M'Kellar," which was responded to by his paternal relative. Mr M'Kellar proposed the " Blacksmith," responded to by Mr Colquhoun. Mr M'Kellar proposed the " Host and Hostess," which was responded to by Mr Simmonds.

At intervals during the evening, songs and recitations were given by various members of the company, and a more pleasant evening throughout we have rarely spent. About sixty guests sat down to the dinner, which reflected great credit on the culinary skill and arrangement of Mrs and Mr Simmonds.