ASHBURTON PLOUGHING MATCH.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2284, 28 July 1881, Page 3

ASHBURTON PLOUGHING MATCH.

About 600 persons witnessed the ploughing match contested on Tuesday in a paddock north of Ashburton, belonging to Mr Hay T. Smith, who kindly placed it at the disposal of the committee, who worked under the auspices of the local agricultural and pastoral association. The ground was fairly adapted for the purpose. The three-furrowed ploughing, for which there was only one competitor, was very good, and attracted much attention, evidencing as it did to what excellent service three-furrow ploughs can be put on the Canterbury plains. In the single furrow contest Dunn's and Maiden's respective lands had each ardent admirers. Many considered that Me'den'g ploughing was the beßt, apart from the fact that his ridge and finish were not equal to Dunn's. The following gentlemen kindly acted rs judges in their respective classes :—Hortes, harness, &c.—Messrs M. Stitt, A. Letham, and K. Saunders. Dauble-furrow ploughs— Messrs Good, George Lamb, and D. Cameron. Single-furrow ploughs—Messrs W. Gray, A. McLood, and J. Brown.

The following is a list of the prize winners : —Class 1, three furrows, £6—o. Spray. Olbsb 2, two fr-rows, open competition—l, £5, John Moorhead; 2, Duncan's prize (consisting of agricuta-al implements to the value of £5), T. Miller; 3, £3, John Keir. Cla ß s 3, two furrows, for men who never won a ploughing prize—l, £4, J. Cochrane ;2, £2, George !'. Johns. Class 4, single furrow, for men—l, £4, John Dunn; 2, £2, J. W. Maidens. Class 5, Bingle furrow, for boys—1, £4, James Small; 2, £2, T. E. Bishop. For the best team on the ground, horse oollar given by Messrs Friedlander Brothers, F. Hooken. For the best matched team, a cart bridle, given by Mr J. Tait, saddler, of Ashburton, F. Hocken. For the best work done with Beid and Gray's two or three-furrowed plough, a set of harrows given by that firm, Henry Beeves. For the best kept set of harness, a pair of blinkers, given by Mr A. Anderßon, saddler, Ashburton, H. Beeves. For the best groomed horses, a horse cover given by Mr Patching, tent maker, Ashburton, T. Miller. For beßt finish in seoond class, a pair of boots given by Mr Chambers, bootmaker, Ashburton, John Moorhead. For best ploughing in the field, a set of Haxton and Beattie's harrows, given by Messrs Poyntz and Co., John Dunn. For best feering in the boys' class, a pair of boots given by Mr Fitzpatrick, bootmaker, Ashburton, James Small.

Over a hundred persons dined subsequently at Shearman's Hotel. The chair was oocupied by Mr John Carter, of Tinwald ; the vicechair by Mr Hugo BViedlander, the Mayor. The chairman was supported on his left hand and right by Messrs Thomas Bullock and O. P. Cox. After the toasts of her Majesty and the Royal Family had been duly honored, a number of appropriate toasts and of songs followed, and a very pleasant evening was spent. Later on a ball was held in the Town Hall, where some sixteen couples maintained the dance until an early hour yesterday morning.