SEFTON PLOUGHING MATCH.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 46, 23 July 1874, Page 3

SEFTON PLOUGHING MATCH.

Committee—Messrs L. C. Williams, W. M'Adara, T. Frame, J. M'Adam, A. Cameron. J. M'Gowan, D. Cameron, D. Collie, W. Milner, R. Wornall, J. Baldwin, G, Collier. C, G. King, T. Hanna, J. Fraser, and A. M'Donaid, hon treasurer and secretary. The farmers of the Sefton district are to be congratulated on having this year taken the lead in the North with their ploughing match, and which, but for the intense sorority of the weather on Tuesday, promised to have been one of the most successful gatherings of the kind ever held in the district. The amount of support accorded to the committee, and the satisfactory state of the subscription list towards the prize monies, enabled them to issue an attractive programme and offer the good prizes which it will be seen were awarded. Several intending competitors who had entered the lists were kept away by the unpropitious state of the weather referred to, for there was a heavy fall of snow lying on the ground, passing showers of sleet during the day, and a keen piercing S.W. wind. The muster of teams was better than last year, and the general character of the work was also an improvement. The match was held in a paddock occupied by Mr James Ashworth, situated on a part of the .terrace between Saltwater Creek and Leithfield, in which there was sufficient room for twice the number of teams that came on. In addition to the site commanding a fine view of the surrounding country and the sea it seemed to have been well chosen for its convenience, judging by the number of farmers and others who were present taking an interest in the day's operations. Although the weather was bleak and chill a high gorse fence on the windward side afforded plenty of shelter from the stormy blast, and mnder lee of it the vehicles and horses were placed, as well as in a central position the refreshment booth of Mr Baldwin's lluyal Hotel, Leithfield, whose stock of stimulants appeared to be very acceptable. The committee, in addition to their success with the prizes, had made the arrangements for Hie day as complete as possible. The working committee had laid out the stations

for the ploughmen with every care, and the hon secretary, Mr McDonald, seemid to consider himself at the bock and call of every one requiring informal ion. The police force was represented by Mounted-Sergeant Pratt. All the fourteen teams which came on the ground were started at work soon after 10 a.m. The soil which they had to operate upon was admitted to be rather trying and put the ploughmen severely to the test to make good work. It -vras a light loam a little sandy and eight inches down the share in places was certain to come upon a hard subsoil. The paddock had lain in grass eight or nine years since it was last turned up, but nevertheless it difficult to keep the furrows compact and prevent their breaking, although the wet had tended to improve the land in this respect. The quantity to be ploughed kept the . teams fully occupied till 4 p.m., with the intermission of a short " spell oh," for lunch. The teams were unusually fine horses, and some trouble was met with by the judges in deciding the awards for groomage and the best kept harness. Nearly all the implements were colonial manufacture. The judges, when they entered upon the ploughing, were not long in deciding to .whom the prizes were to bejawarded, and before leaving the ground the names of the successful competitors were read out, apparently giving satisfaction. The following are the entries and remarks : FIRST CLASS. Open to all comers who have never won a first prize at the Ohristchurch champion match. Entrance, 15s. Maker of Ploughman. Owner. Plough. J. Dixon J. Dixon Blyth T. Storer W. Storer Kcetley Geo Gorric D. Gorrie Kcetley A.Wilson A.Wilson Hornsby T. Frame T. Frame Duncan J. McGowan ' J. McGowan Duncan Dixon, who gained first prize last year, made vcy fair work, feering rather high and in some places a little deficient, furrows straight and throughout his ridge even and fairly packed; made a good finish, and was entitled on the rules laid down by the committee to first honors in this class. Storer made by far the best piece of ploughing on the field, it bore a straight line, had a beautiful feering though perhaps a trifle high at one end of the ridge and a neat finish, but he was disqualified as a prize taker, the committee having instructed the judges not to award a prize to any work which they might consider high cut. This was high cut no doubt, but still withal would have been oreferred by many persons and not objected to by several who cry down "high cut." Gorrie's work did not shew a very true line, the feering and finish were a trifle wide, and the work would have been better if packed firmer. Wilson's work had a somewhat crooked line also, it was not well put together, and the faces of the furrows were too much exposed, the finish, however, was better than on the adjoining station. Frame made a capital start, a nice line but rather upright feering ; the grass showed through some of the furrows, but they were fairly packed ; he made a middling finish. McGowan, who wat placed second on the prize list, started with a shaky line at one end. but improved on his work to the finish, making fair square furrows ; his finish was a clean one. SECOND CLASS. Open to all comers who had never won a prize in men's class. Entrance, 10s. Ploughmen. Owners. Ploughs. John Pope R. Liggett Hornsby James McAdam James McAdam Kcetley Thomas Moffatt Thomas Moffatt McGregor Alex. Bailey Alex. Bailey McNally Tope had never been at a match before, his work, as a first attempt, was therefore not up to that of the others in this class. McAdarn, to whom the judges awarded the first prize had made a fair start with his feering, but had not kept it up. His finish was not a good one, and his ridge throughout wanted packing. Moffatt's work showed also a want of firmness, the feering was rough, and the finish slack. Bailey's ridge went too flat, feering cramped and high, and deficient in the finish. BOYS' CLASS. For boys under 17 years of age. Entrance free to residents in the Kowai district, non-residents ss. Ploughboys. Owners. Ploughs. C. Skevington 0. Skevington Keetley R. Moffatt Jno Moffatt Keetley Thos Wylie J. Wylie Keetley Skevington made a bad beginning, but finished well. The feering and furrows were straight except at a bad piece in his land. The ridge was compact, and furrows better put together than in several instances in the other classes. In finishing the last mould furrow had been taken rather deep. Moffat made fair work, rather an awkward feering, and a little deficient also in the finish. Wylie, to whom the first prize was awarded, made solid work though from the fault probably of the plough, the furrows seemed broken, the feering was a trifle high, and finish light. In this class it is a matter of opinion that Skevington ought to have been placed first. Seeing the inducements offered by the committee, it is a matter for surprise that a greater number of competitors did not enter. DOUBLE FURROW. Open to all comers. Three ploughs to start or no second prize given. Entrance, 10s. Ploughman. Owner. Plough. IT. Gorrie D. Gorrie Keetley The work done by this ploughman was very creditable, so much so that a prize was awarded. The judges for ploughing, horses, and harness, were Messrs John Stevenson, Flaxton ; C. Skevington, senr., Waikuku (who retired when the boys' class was under examination), and J. Dick, Saltwater Greek. The awards were : FIRST CLASS. First prize, £7, James Dixon ; second do, £5, John McGowan ; third do, £3, Thomas Frame. SECOND CLASS. First prize, £6, James McAdam ; second do, £4, Alexander Bailey ; third do, £2, Thomas Moffatt. BOYS' CLAS3. First prize, £4, Thomas Wylie ; second do, £2, Charles Skevington, junr.; third do, £l, R. Moffatt. DOUBLE-FURROW. Prize, £3, Hugh Gorrie. BEST INS-AND-OUTK. First prize, 10s, Thomas Frame ; second do, ss, Thomas Wylie. BEST KEPT HARNESS. Prize, a pair of blinkers value £1 fia, given by Mr Mo/Naught, saddler, r.eithfield, Alexander Bailey ; highly commended, Thomas Storer.

BEST GROOMED HOKSI-S. Prize, value £l, given by Mr 0. Hansen, saddler, Kaiapoi, T. Storer ; highly commended, James Dixon. In the evening the usual match dinner was held at Baldwin's Royal Hotel, Leithfield.