WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 35, 23 September 1871, Page 15

WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

PLOUGHING MATCH. I fully intended to witness the plough ing match which came off at the Tauherinikau on Wednesday last, the 14th inst; but just as I was preparing to start a sou'-easter sprung up which prevented me from going, and it doubtless had the same effect oa the movements of many others who had intended to be present. It was the first match of the kind which has ever taken place in this district, and though the weather was so unfavorable there was a very large number of persons present. There were six competitors, and each of them had half an acre of land to operate on, which they commenced to do at 11 o’clock. At the conclusion of the match the competitors and their friends sat down to dinner at the Tauherinikau Hotel. After which prizes were awarded to Messrs Gording, Rowe, Cockburn, and J. Cundy, in the order here given. Since the match a sturdy Scotch ploughman by the name of Duncan M'Phee has challenged any of the competitors to plough against him for any sum from £5 to £2O ; the decision|to be given by three judges to be fixed on when the match is made. I hope somebody will be found to accept the challenge, though I would rather see another match got up under the auspices of the newly formed Agricultural Association. SUDDEN DEATHS. On Wednesday last, the 14th inst, a man by the name of John Bonythorn was found dead at his residence on the Taratahi. He had been ailing for some time. An inquest was held on Thursday, when, from the evidence of Dr Smith, who had made a post mortem examination, it appeared that both the lungs and heart were diseased. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned. It is supposed that the death of Mr G. Elliot Lockhart, whose body was found at Mataikima, and to which you recently referred in a local paragraph, was occasioned by exhaustion and cold, the weather being very wintry at the time. He was lying on his back, having his satchel for his pillow, and there is no doubt he died from natural causes. Two cheques and some silvqr were found in his pockets. THE GREVTOWN SCHOOL-HOUSE. This building looks more wretched than ever since the shingles have been taken from the roof; but this has not prevented the children from going to school; nor has it induced the master to change his residence. I understand that a telegram was received on Saturday from the Superintendent, who is one of the trustees, to the effect that the proceedings which had been taken by Mr Arnot, the proprietor of the 14 M ercury,” and the chairman of the school committee, were without his authority.