PAPANUI PLOUGHING-MATCH.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1682, 11 July 1879, Page 3

PAPANUI PLOUGHING-MATCH.

Committee. Messrs D. Thomas, John Wright, T. Frame, J. Wild, C. Amyes, F. Hack, W. Hyam, sen. ; W. Strachan, A. Hawkins, W. Munro, and J. W. Wright (Hon. Sec.) The eighth annual ploughing-match for the district of Papanui, one of the most important of tho season, took place yesterday, and was for sheer excellence, both of the arrangements and the work accomplished, one of the most successful that has come off. The entries wore not up to the standard of last year in point of number, as on the last occasion they came up to thirty-four, whi'e this year the competitors were six short of that number. Nevertheless, this was more than made up for by the capital work done, which in all classes exhibited a marked improvement. Several of the crack ploughmen of last year were again to the fore : in fact, the names of all but one who were yesterday entered for the champion class were competitors in tho big event last year. Several familiar faces were likewise doing excellent work in the men’s general class, and the boys, as heretofore, did their ploughing in a. manner that plainly indicated their ambition to be future champions. There were only two competitors in tho double-furrow class, but the work of each was of a most superior character, that of the first prize taker evoking expressions of high approval both from the judges and lookers on. The ground selection was excellent, the field of operations being a spacious paddock on the Harewood road, about a mile beyond the Papanui Hotel, which Mr O. Amyes had kindly placed at tho disposal of the committee. The arrangement of the ground was an improvement on former occasions, thanks to the experience of Mr J. W. Wright, the secretary, who indicated by numbered pegs on each headland the exact ground each man had to plough over. Another excellent advancement was made in the right direction for ensuring an unbiased judgment, in nominating as judges practical gentlemen from a distance beyond the district, and their awards gave general satisfaction. The ground was in excellent condition for ploughing, perhaps a trifle too wet, owing to the recent heavy rains ; in some places too undulating, which caused some of the furrows to present an uneven and broken appearance, by no means attributable to any want of skill in the ploughmen. This, however, did not much matter, as in going over the furrows, where! the land was favorable for tho plough, the superiority of the work over that in uneven and moist places was manifest to tho most amateur of judges. Tho double-furrow ploughing took place iu another paddock, separated from the one devoted to the other classes by a piece of ploughed ground, the ploughing in this intermediate space, though shallow, being evidently the work of skilled hands. The ploughing was all over by a quarter past throe o’clock, and tho judges commenced their work, which lasted until dark. It is a pity that an earlier hour is not selected for commencing, as it would give tho judges more time to consider their awards. As it was, it was almost too dark for the secretary to road out tho decisions, which were eagerly looked for. The secretary, judges, and tho committee men were, with one exception, not only well up to their work, and for tho benefit of the exception, it may be ns well to point out that a later period of tho day would be more suitable for personal indulgences, wbicb, when the mark is overstepped, are apt to make a gentleman forget his manners and act in an unbecoming manner. To the actual work, in many instances scarcely too much praise can be awarded ; the ploughing of W. Ladbrooke and J. Pashby in the champion class being so excellent, and in many respects so admirable, that the judges had great difficulty in deciding on the respective merits of tho men. Paahby’s line wes as true as a die, his fe.'ring first class, with well packed furrows and a fair finish. I adijrooke’s work, on the other hand, was creditable in all essential points, but his finish was so good as to thoroughly bother tho judges which of the two men to give tho prize to for the best ploughing on the ground. J. Dixon was likewise well to tho fore in the opinion of competent critics. Ho had a good line, but his work was a little too high, his feering was good, and his ridge was as equal as any on the ground. In the men’s general class, S. 800 did some good ploughing, his fccring was fair and reasonably good, but he had a fault in making it a little too high, so as almost to hide tho ridge. Goorge Kerr’s work was neat but a little too cramped and fine, and W. Duffle had a good line, and his ridges were well packed. Tho feering of A. Merrin was by no means bad, but his work was rather rough and a trifle high. E. Story did some good honest ploughing, his furrow was good, and he had a nice even feering, but it was a drawback that ho had a bad ridge to go on to. Tho finish generally was fairly good. In tho boy’s class, B. Morris had a good feering, but his iurrows were not well laid. Thompson’s was too flat and heavy, his feering of average merit, and on the whole his work was a specimen of good honest ploughing. J. Mason, jun., did good neat work, a good cut, but a somewhat indifferent lino. J. Borrie’s ploughing was very neat, but a little cramped. Hia team was an exceptionally good one, working with remarkable steadiness. J. Gulliver was rather unfortunate in having to work so near tho fence. His line was straight, but he worked too quick to turn out firstclass work. His depth, however, was well kept, and he had a good cut, his foering being a little too cramped. Tho double-furrow ploughing of Storey and Skevington was first-class, especially the former’s. Skevington, however meritorious his work, was quite overmatched, and it was a moral which would take first honors before the judges went round. In judging Class 5, for the best foering on the ground, the merits of Ladbrooke and Pashby were so evenly balanced that the judges had groat difficulty in agreeing. The judges ultimately withhold their decision until the dinner, three being in favor of one man and throe of tho other. Tho prize for the best finish was awarded to A. White. Tho teams wore exceptionally good, seven or eight exciting great admiration. Mr James Walla, of Kaiapoi, had two magnificent teams, which outstripped all others. One, driven by Frank Walls, consisted of Maggie Craig, a magnificent specimen of a mare, imported direct from Scotland, and Heather Bell, the champion mare from Dunedin. A finer team than this has never been at a Papanui ploughing match before. His other team was also a very noticeable one—Prince and Jean, piloted by Alexander Scott. Mr Walls’ crack team had never worked in a plough before. The match was largely attended, the beauty of tho day having a great deal to do in making it a great success. A Cheap Jack from Christchurch did a roaring trade, and Mr Amyes had no reason to regret bis speculation as provider*;,

The following are the judges in the various c.a ses ; Champion Double Furrow —Miscellaneous— Messrs D. Gebbie, G. Edwards, KaLapoi; W. Duulop, Sfcyx. Men’s Class, General—Messrs A. McColl, Eangitata; T. Smith, Ashburton; F. Overton, Ellesmere. Horses, Harness, &c.—Messrs Win. Holly, James Stark, and James Torrens. Prize List. Class 2—Single Furrow Champions (open to all comers) to the man who shall in a given time best plough half-au-acro of laud. First prize, £lO 10s ; 2nd, £5 ss; 3rd, £3 3s-Ist prize, £lO 10s, W. Ladbrooke'; 2nd, J. Pashby; 3rd, J. McGowan. Class 3 —Single Furrow (general class), to the man who has never previously won a first prize, and shall plough half-an-acre as above. First prize, £8; 2nd, £5 ; 3rd, £3 ; 4th, £2; sth, £1; 6th, honorary certificate —lst prize, F. C. Hack; 2nd, E. Storey; 3rd, A. Marks; 4th, 8, Bee; sth, A. Scott. 4—For Boys under seventeen years of age, who shall best plough as above. First prize (given by H. Matson and Co.), £5 ss; 2nd, £3 3s; 3rd, £2 2s; 4th, honorary certificate —Ist prize—J. Gulliver; 2nd, J. Mason, jun.; 3rd, B. Morris ; 4th, J. Berrie. Class s—Best5 —Best Fearing (prize given by R. Wilkin and Co., £3 3s) —Prize withheld. Best Finish—Prize, £1 Is (given by A. J. White), J. Gulliver. Best Ins and Onts—Prize, £1 Is (given by Wm. Black), J. Pashby. Best Ploughing on the Ground—Prize, a cup value £1 5s (given by Mason, Struthers, and Co.), W, Ladbrooko. Best Seed Furrow —J, Mason. Horses. For the Best Pair of Draught Brood Mores on the ground, the property of one owner. Prize, £2 2s—J. Walls. For the Best Matched Pair of Horses suitable for farming purposes, the property of one owner, £2 2s —J. Walls. For the Best Groomed Pair of Horses, a pair of horse covers (given by Mr B. J. Hale) value £2 10s—Pair owned by Mr Nunweek, used by F. C. Hack; highly commended, M. A. Merrin. For the Best Kept Harness (not to have been in use loss than six months), a pair of winkers (given by Mr C. Howell), value £2 2s—Awarded to A. Scott, ploughman for Mr Walls. The annual ploughing match dinner was subsequently held at Mr Wild’e Hotel, Papanui.

Tho following is the isfc of entries and prize list ;— Double Furrow’ Class. Ploughmen, Owners of District. Plough Teams. Makers. H. Storey J. Johns North rd. Keetley C. Skevington C. Skevington Waikuku Keetley Champion Class. W. Ladbrook W. Ladbrook Prebhleton Birth A. White A. White Courtenay Blyth John McGowan J. McGowan Se!ton Watson Jas. Dixon J. Dixon Ashley Blyth Geo. Hyara W. Hyam Papauni Blyth F. Walls F. Walls Kaiapoi Sellars Jno. Storey W. Walls Kaiapoi Keetley C. Teviotdale W. M. Ross Kaiapoi Sellars W. Bnsbie J. Pashby Kaiapoi Keetley Thos. King H. Walls Kaiapoi Duncan Single Furrow (Men). George Kerr Wm. Dnffle Sandhills Duncan T. Frame — Papanni Dnncan A. Scott W. Walls Kaiapoi F. C. Hack W. Nunweek Papanni Lennon R. Hack E. Hack Papanui Blyth A. Marks F. Patterson Papanni Dnncan A. Merrm T. Merrin Kaiapoi Blyth J. Wallace J. Wallace Southbrook Hornsby E. Storey W. Stratton Kaiapoi Keetley W. Duffle W. Duffle Scftou Keetley S. Bee W. G. Moody Papanni Duncan Single Furrow (Boys). J. Borne W. Barnie Kaiapoi Dnncan .1. Mason, jnn. J. Mason North rd. Blyth B Morris W. Morris Waikuku Hornsby J. Gulliver A. Hawkins Styx Blyth Jno. Thomx>son J. Thomx>sou f Yaldhnrst Blyth sen.