EYRETON DISTRICT PLOUGHING MATCH.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 53, 31 July 1874, Page 4

EYRETON DISTRICT PLOUGHING MATCH.

Committee—Messrs M. Dixon, I. Wilson, J. E. Brown, J. S. White, J. Guild, R. Daly, P. C. Threlkeld, G. Bailey, W, Eckerslcy, J. Row, J. T. Peacock, R. Chapman, J. Bayliss, J. Lewton, E. Duffell, R. Hopkins, S, Bradley, T. Burgin, B. Johnston, G. Leatherdalc, J. Clark, J. Stevenson, J, Keetley, G. P, Milsora, C. Hansen, G. F. Smith, J. Moffatt, J. King, J. Gardiner ; and W. Robinson, hon sec.

The inauguration of an annual ploughing competition for the Eyreton, Swannanoa, Mandeville Plains, Ohoka,'and Flaxton districts, was yesterday attended with a considerable amount of success. There is no reason why those districts, which comprise a considerable extent of excellent land, and several farmers of the right stamp to keep up a match from year to year, should not soon boast of a large annual competition, and every reason why the affair will be taken up and receive the support which it deserves. The first match was mooted by a few, who took it in hand, and after collecting subscriptions amounting to £BO, arranged and advertised a programme. A better day could not have been selected, and the number of teams which appeared on the ground, viz, sixteen, exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine.

The land operated upon was two - paddocks of which the committee selected twelve acres belonging to Mr G. F. Smith, and centrally situated, access to it being gained by the road from the junction at the Ohoka, and via a road past the Flaxton Church. The soil was not well suited for the match, being too friable, and the surface was full of hills and hollows, so that the work done by the ploughmen was not of such a high class as it might otherwise have been. On the ground there was a publican’s booth managed by Mr Lewton, and the ploughmen were liberally supplied with refreshments by the owner of the fields. There was a fair concourse of farmers of the district, drawn out by the exceedingly fine weather, present to witness the match. The police force was represented by Mr Inspector Barsham and a mounted trooper. All the rules in force at the Kaiapoi match were adopted, except that the match was only open to district ploughmen. In reference to this some dispute was likely to arise with regard to Mr Wallace, placed first on the wheel or swing class, it being asserted that he was not a resident within the district, and after taking his entrance money several of the working committee wished to disqualify him from taking a prize, but were willing to pay him for his trouble for attending the match. The committee had evidently omitted to distinctly define the boundaries of the district. The competitors all used wheel implements. In reference to the judges, it may be recorded that they took a very long time to decide on their awards.

The following are the entries and remarks : CHAMPION CLASS, Ploughman. Owner of team. Ploughmaker. Thos. King Thos. King Keetley Jas. Parr R. Dailey Keetley Thos. Storer Ed. Storer Keetley King’s feering was not quite straight, but otherwise good. His work was fairly packed in one half of his ridge, but not so in the other. No fault could be found with bis finish. Parr had not a straight line ; the feering was high, and the work open, with a little of the false cut about it, lacking in solidity, and deficient in the finish. Storer was a little shaky in his line, cramped rather in the feering, but he made solid square cut work, and a good finish, justly entitling him, in the opinion of all practical ploughmen, to the first prize, WHEEL OK SWING CLASS. Ploughman. Owner of Team. Ploughmaker. J. Wallace J. Wallace Keetley A, Duncan J. Guild Blyth Ed Duffell Rchd Duffell Keetley W. H. Johns W. H. Johns Keetley I. W. Wilson G, F. Smith Hornsby Johns W. King Kavanagh H. Butters Thos Butters Keetley T. Burgin T. Burgin Kavanagh H. Ward H, Ward Keetley

Wallace made an open but even feering, only rather crooked. His furrows were not equal as well as loose, and his finish indifferent, Duncan made what a friend called a "twattered” line, an open feering but equal work, which was not in that respect excelled on the field. For his finish, however, he wanted “ twa inches mair claith,” as it showed want of judgment. Duffell made an irregular feering. His furrows were flat and wanted packing. His finish was not so good as it it might have been W. H, John’s feering was too light, his work required compactness, and the finish was crooked and open to objection. Wilson might have been indicted for making a thorough mess of his work, which would take him a day with a spade to put right ; “ the flowing bowl,” towards the end of the match had a potent effect upon him. John’s feering was all in and out, his work flat and loose, and finish very poor. Butters, whose work was highly commended, might have had a prize had he taken more pains, he had a good line, feering rather high, but his work was too flat, though the finish was passable. Burgin did not finish his work, but so far as he went it was not up to the average. Ward did passable work, only his feering was high and finish spoiled. boys’ class. (Under 18 years of age.) Ploughboy Owner of team Ploughmaker W. Rimraington C.Rimmington Keetley W. Bayliss J. Bayliss Keetley H. Storer E. Storer Keetley A. Baker Jas Baker Keetley

The ploughing in this class exceeded that in the wheel and swing class in point of merit. Rimmington made a crooked line, cramped feering, and somewhat open work, but a fair finish. Bayliss struck out a shaky line, but made a better ploughed ridge thanthe former, his last furrows showing a slight want of judgment. Storer started with a bee line, ploughed deep, packed well; his feering was a neat one, and finish excellent. Baker’s work was wanting in the line and feering, but his work was good and the finish a fair one.

The judges were for ploughing, harness, and horses, Messrs George Edwards, Kaiapoi ; W. McGregor, Southbrook ; and J. Hatton, West Eyreton. The awards were : CHAMPION CLASS. First prize, £5, Thomas Storer ; second do, £2, James Parr. WHEEL OR SWING CLASS. First prize, £4, J. Wallace ; second do, £2, E. Duffell ; third do, £l, A. Duncan ; highly commended, H. Butters, BOYS’ CLASS. First prize, £3, PI. Storer; second do, £2, Aaron Baker ; third do, £l, W. Bayliss. BEST FEERING. Prize, a set of whippletrees, value 30s, given by Mr W. Robinson, blacksmith, Ohoka, Thomas King. BEST FINISH, Prize, a new bridle, value 10s 6d, given by Mr Geo, Bailey,. Eyreton, James Parr, BEST SEED FURROW. Prize, £l, given by Mr G, F. Smith, A. Duncan. BEST INS AND OUTS. Prize, a whip, value los,. given by Mr McNaught, saddler, Lcithficld, B. Duffell. BEST KEPT HARNESS, Prize, a pair of blinkers, value 255, given by Mr Hansen, saddler, Kaiapoi, Thomas King. BEST TEAM. Prize, £l, Alexander Duncan (J. Guild’s team) ; very highly commended, Thomas King’s team ; highly commended, Richard Duffcll’s team. Several of the teams on the ‘ground were worthy of notice ; in addition to the prizetakers, Messrs Rimmington’s and Baker’s teams attracted attention. The implements were all of local manufacture, The match dinner, which was well attended, took place at Lewton’s Junction Hotel in the evening.