CASTLE POINT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3122, 30 June 1881, Page 3

CASTLE POINT.

(fkom a correspondent.) June 28, 1881. On Sunday morning, at 5.19, a severe shock of earthquake was experienced in this district, the direction being apparently east and west, and the duration about forty seconds. No damage was done at Castle Point, but at Tinui a good deal of crockery in the store was smashed, and a few bricks fell from the school chimney. At Whakataki two or three chimneys were slightly injured, though none came down. Slight shocks were also felt on Monday at about 11 a.m. and 10 p.m., the latter displacing a few hundredweight of rock on the reef. We had a snow storm on Sunday morning, with a fresh southerly gale and heavy sea. The snow was not melted from the hills in the vicinity until the following afternoon. The Go-Ahead arrived yesterday morning from "Wellington under the command of our old friend, Captain Doile, who formerly traded to this port in the s.e. Storm Bird. We are very sorry to lose Captain Dicker, who by his courtesy and genial disposition has made the Go-Ahead such a favorite steamer on this coast. A blue shark, measuring six feet in length, came ashore on Saturday morning, and some fine frost fish and giant congers have been picked up lately. TARADALB PLOUGHING MATCH. TheTaradale Ploughing Match Society held their annual match yesterday in a paddock belonging to Mr Kirkham, which ■was kindly placed at the disposal of the society for the occasion. Everything combined to make' the match a success ; the weather was beautiful, the ground pleasantly situated, the ploughing good, the attendance large, and all the arrangements were admirable and carried out in a thoroughly efficient way. One feature of the match was undoubtedly the ploughing of the Maoris, which, we were informed by competent judges, was the best native ploughing yet seen at any match in this province. The judges of the ploughing, Messrs .Gow, M'lntyre, and Boyd, had their work cut out, but their decisions were generally upheld. The champion prize was taken by Upsall Gray, and waa earned vy- tboro Uer ki r good work. W. Pulford, as usual, worked well, although he only came in second. H.M'Donald took third honors. Although H. Pulford did not succeed in getting a place, his finishes were gTeatly admired, and stamp him as a first-class ploughman. The awards were as follows:— CHAMPION CLASS. Open to all comers; any plough. Ist prize, £5 ss, and vases presented by Messrs Large and Townley ; 2nd prize, £2 28, and silver cup presented by Mr , L.Harris; 3rd prize, £1 10s. U/ Gray, Hornsby plough (daptain Kussell) ... 1 W. Pulford, Jones (owner) 2 H. M'Donald, Hornsby (Douglas M'Lean) 3 Lincoln (Howard), H. Pulford (Jones), G-. Gray (Hornsby) also competed. CLASS A. Single furrow, for men who had not won a prize. Ist prize £3 3s, and silver cup presented by Mr WpII ; 2nd prize, £3 3s; 3rd prize, £1 Is. T. Prater, Ilornsby plough (owner) 1 Q. Webb, Jones (Condie Bros.) ... 2 dMLHarrison, Hornsby (owner) ... 3 (Jones), Q. Gray (Hornsby) competed. CLASS B. furrow. Ist prize, £3 3s and cup presented by Mr Willan ; prize, £3 3s; 3rd prize, £1 10s. Doney plough (Douglas 1 Hornsby (J. N. Williams) 2 Dodd, Doney (J. Bennet) ... 3 (Mornsby) also competed. class c. entries. class d. plongh ; natives only. Ist prize, 43, and whip presented by Mr ; 2nd prize, £2 Is, and pair of boots presented by Garrett ; 3rd prize, 10s, and bag of sugar by Mr Jones. Hornsby plough (owner) ... 1 Hornsby (owner) ... ... 2 Hornsby (owner) 3 (Hornsby), Ream (Hornsby), Hori (Hornsby) also competed. SPECIAL PRIZES. The prize for the best kept harness to Mr Douglas McLean's team, by Reeves. The prize consisted Hof two pair plough harues presented by f Mr McVay. 1 The prize presented by Mr Gillispie, a I tea and coffee pot, for the best team of / plough horses, was taken by a splendid ■ pair belonging to Mr J. Heslop. , ~ . FOAL SHOW. The show of foals was limited to the progeny of Robin Adair, and a most creditable show it was, evidencing the great interest Mr Heslop takes in the production of good stock in the district. The prizes were awardbd as follows :— Ist prize cup, value £10 10s ; 2nd prize, £3 3a. Mr J. Heslop's b c by Robin Adair— Blossom (Dugdale) 1 Mr J. Heslops's b c by Robin Adair —Nellie (imp) ... .. .. 2 —Mr J. Heslop's b c by Robin Adair— Highland Mary (imp.) was commended ; Mr J. Heslop's br f by Robin Adair— Kate (imp.) and Mesere W. and G. Heslop's b c by Robin Adair—Blossom (Conquering Hero) also competed. THE DINNER. At six o'clock the members of the club and their friends, to the number of about ninety, sat down, to a first-class spread at the Greenmeadows Hotel. Mr Rymer occupied the ihair, and Mr W. Heslop the vice-chair. After the usual loyal toasts bad been given from the chair, the Vice-Chairman proposed "The Judges," coupled with

the names of Messrs Boyd, M'lntyre, Gow. He said the toast was an important oae, as without the judges they could do little. The judgments of that day had given thorough satisfaction. In Australia and Canterbury there had been a falling off in the ploughing matches, but they were again going on with renewed vigor. There could be no doubt about the value of such matches; they brought together the best ploughmen and the best instruments, and if that did not promote good ploughing he did not know what would.

The toast was drank with enthusiasm

Mr Gow, in responding, said that, on behalf of his fellow workers of that day, he had to thank those present for the warm way in which they had received the toast. It was a great pleasure to them to be of use to any society, especially a ploughing society. He wished to advise young ploughmen to stick to the plough ; the disc harrow would never take its place. The revival of ploughing matches in Australia was consequent on the belief that they Rave encouragement to good ploughing. He would advise ploughmen present not only to stick to their plough but to plough well.

Mr T. jeffares, in proposing " The Successful Competitors," said he trusted that the young ploughmen amongst them would do well in the future, and that the present successful competitors would not take all the cups. Their success should not discourage other competitors. Mr Gray, the winner of the champion prize responded. The list of successful competitors, both in the ploughing match and the foal show, was then read by Mr McCartney, and the chairman, in distributing the prizes, said that the champion cup had not yet arrived, but it would be here shortly, and it would then be the property of Mr Upsall Gray until fourteen days before the next competition, when he would have to deliver it up and fight another battle for it.

Mr G. Condie, in proposing "The donors of the special prizes," said they were much indebted to those gentleman for the encouragement they gave to such contests as they had witnessed that day. Mr Graham, in responding, _ said his object in giving a prize was to introduce a foal show into the district. He trusted that there would be another next year, and that a show of roots and grain would be added to it. There should also be a prize for hay, as much of the hay in the district was destroyed by carelessness, and a prize for the best done up' stacks. This was a matter which should have more attention from agricultural societies. The Vice-Chairman then proposed the toast of " Kindred Societies." He felt that the prosperity of kindred societies bad much to do with the success of their society. They had made an effort to make their own match a success, and if they could set an example to other societies they would be glad. He thought it was a pity that small farmers were not more directly interested in agricultural societies; the question of entrance fee did come into the matter, and he thought that if owners of fifty acres were admitted into such societies at a reduced fee it would tend to their success.

Mr Gow responded. Mr Wilson then proposed "Tbe Native Competitors," and Mr Broughton resy onded on behalf of the natives. Kenata Kawepo, who had been present during the dinner, said he wished to express his pleasure at being present on that occasion. His word to his people was that they should come forward and be together with the Europeans. He had done his best to promote the union -&f-tkcjticQ ioiss. arvf! jf he were a young man he would have competed with the plough. He would say to his people, " try to advance yourselves with the Europeans. ,, He was coming to an end, an old man, and he could only give them his advice. He had agreed to assist in making the Redclyfte-Ornahu road, and he thought it right to do so. His advice to his people was that if a road was required through their land to let it go. These remarks from the aged chief were received with loud and continued applause.

Mr Bennet said he wished that it should be interpreted to Renata that the contract for the road to which he referred was out, and would be carried through.

Mr Bennett then proposed " Tbe Unsuccessful Competitors," and said they had nothing to be ashamed of. The ploughing was remarkably good throughout.

The Chairman proposed " The Secretary," and eaid very much of their success was owing to the secretary. They had a good working secretary, who had given satisfaction in the past, and who, he was confident, would continue to do so.

Mr McCartney thanked them for the cordial receiption the toast had met with. His endeavour had been to give satisfaction to everyone. He knew that the Taradale society waa spoken of favourably in other districts, and if a hearty support was given to suck societies the time would come when the colony would become large exporters of grain. He believed that Taradale could produce ploughmen and implements equal to any in colony. The work done that day would compare favourably with any done elsewhere.

Mr Bicknell proposed " The Host and Hostess," which was warmly received, and replied to by Mr MeCartney.

Mr Swan, in proposing " The Implement Makers of Hawke's Eay," said they were a credit not only to Hawke's Bay but to the colony. Personally he was no jugde, but he was told by people who knew, that there weie two implement makers in the province who would be a credit to any part of New Zealand. This branch of industry only required development, and no doubt they would be able to improve upon anything that had yet been done iv the way of implement making. The plough used mast be adapted to the land. He coupled with the toast the names of Mr Jones and Mr Doney.

Mr Doney, in replying, wished to congratulate theTaradale society on the success of their match, and on the justice that had been done to the competitors by the judges. Good work had been done, and done by local made instruments. The eingle-furrow plough had had it's day, and the double and treble-furrow ploughs would be the implements of the future.

Mr Bennett then proposed " The Exhibitors of Draught Stock." He said that the improvement iv stock was very marked in the teams on the ground. The Maoris were ploughing with splendid animals. Mr Heslop bad gone to very considerable trouble and expense in improving tbe stock of the district; he had taken first honors at Hastings, and no doubt would have done so that day even if there had been competition.

Mr W. Heslop responded, and said that his father would have been present but for ill-health.

Mr Jeffaree proposed " The Visitors," Mr Wilson " The Ladies," and Mr Graham " The Press," each toast being received with musical honors.

Messrs Swan, Dransfield, McDonald, J. Jeffareß, Dryden, MeCartney, and others, gave songs during the evening,

and contributed much to the success of one of the most pleasantgatherings of the kind held in this district.