THE MATAU PLOUGHING MATCH.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 156, 6 July 1877, Page 5

THE MATAU PLOUGHING MATCH.

TO TH Ii EDITOR.

SIH, — In your last issue appears a letter b3'' Mr Tosh, in which he makes several statements re the late ploughing matoh. The statements 1 more particularly refer to are those anent assistance given to competitoi*s in the class for doublefurrow ploughs. Mr Tosh assert*, that had it not been for assistance given the second and third prizemen would not have been placed. I distinctly deny this as being incorrect. J had not time to observe the movements of the other prize-takers, but I know aud can state that J did not receive assistance in ploughing my rig, as tho public present on tbat occasion can certifj*. The owner of the team which took first honours stated after the match that I was the only prizetaker in that class who had ploughed without assistance. Mr Tosh should havo been the last man to speak on this subject, as bis man was tiie first to receive assistance. I refer to the fact that Mr Tosh's man bad to get part of bis feering drawn for him.. The following facts are near the truth, though perhaps not acknowledged by the Ploughing Match Committee. Members of Committee boasted that on any assistance being given to any competitor, tho peg marking bis lot would be drawn, and the competitor disqualified. Many of the members of Committee were there and saw competitois getting assistance, and yet none of them were plucky enough to draw a single peg. And why? .Because they were bounced out of doing so by a single individual. 1 would advise any future Committee to stick to tho rules thoy make, and not staud by aud see them broken, and then growl afterwards. Apologising for occupying so much of your valuable space, — I am, &c,

James Knox,