MAEREWHENUA PLOUGHING MATCH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 18 September 1880, Page 2

MAEREWHENUA PLOUGHING MATCH.

(P8.0.M A CCHBESPCCtfDENT.) The annual ploughing match was held to-day in Messrs. Taylor's five hundredacre paddock, and the Committee was favored with fine weather and a good attendance of spectators, numbering about 250. The entries, though not so numerous as last year, were highly satisfactory, as will be seen from the lists appended. Several ploughmen who were expected to compete did not put in an appearance. The entries for the two events were as follow rClass A—Double-Furrows. Open to all comers. Ist prize, LlO ; 2nd prize, LS ; 3rd prize, LG; 4th prize, L 4; sth prize, L2. Ploughman. Owner. Plough! fx. Marshall J. & A. Dalgleish Reid & Gray J. Allan J, A, Dalgleish Reid & Gray W. Ho.wden W. Howden Reid & Gray W. M'Kay Dewar & Longmuir Reid & Gray C. White C. White Fowler A.Hall A. Hall Reid & Gray G. Milligan A. M'Master Reid & Gray J. Gard J. Gard Reid & Gray T. Taylor T. Taylor Reid & Gray Class B—Double-Furrows, Open to all who have not won Ist, 2nd, or 3rd prizes. Ist prize, L 1 0; 2nd prise, LS ; 3rd prize, L 6 5 4th prize, L 4; sth prize, L2. Ploughman. Owner. "^PJough^ J. Henderson J. Henderson Reid & Gray A. Dalgleish J. & A. Dalgleish Fowler M. Clydesdale Milligton Bros. R?id & Gray R. Don A. Don Reid & Gray A. Don A. Don Reid & Gray J.O'Neill,seijL, A. Murdoch Reid & Gray The conditions were as follows :—No prize will be given unless the furrow be six inches deep. Any coulters allowed. Eight ploughs or no. §th prize ; six ploughs ox no 4th prize. of a,n acre to be ploughed by each competitor. Time, five hours, including }\alf an hour for luncheon- Assistance allowed at first | and last round only, Double-furrow i ploughs only allowed. The judges were Messrs, Charles Reid, of Flag Swamp, Waikouaiti; George Morton, of Waiho ; and Andrew Gray, of Oamaru ; and here it may be said that they performed thenduties well, not a single dispute arising during the meeting. The ground, a tough piece of land sown in cocksfoot, very dry, having been allottedj the fifteen ploughs were starred an their work, the signal being the firing of a gun by Mr. Leith. For five hours, with a short interval for dinner, the ploughmen and their teams worked away energetically upon their little plot, about two-thirds o£ an acre; but owing to the dryness of the land and the matted nature of the cocksfoot roots, it was impossible to make good progress. Still, the work done was, taken on the whole, highly creditable, and none of the ploughmen have occasion to be ashamed of the result of their labors, The ploughing was watched with keen interest by the large number of farmers present, who, while reoognising the difficulties to be oontended against, eagerly criticised the work. After a short and welcome adjournment for lunch shortly after noon, the ploughmen were started again, a,nd were kept hard at it until tea minutes to three o'clock, when the signal to stop work was given, pearly the whole of the ploughmen had finished their plots of ground. The work of judging was then performed,. a,nd the following were the results i CLASS A, J. Allan, LIO .... ... ... 1 George Marshall, LS ... ... 2 P, Taylor, JA ... ... ... 3 W. Howden, L 4 4 &, Hall, L2 ... 5 <

CLASS B. M. Clydesdale, LlO ... . J. O'Neill, senior, L 8 ... i J. Henderson, L 6 ... 3 In addition to the prizes mentions above, there was a large number of st J ' , prizes, which were awarded as follow^ Best team three horses, Dalgleish ft half-ton bran ; second best do., Hall j/ 08- ' pair trousers. ' ° 3 '. Best team four horses, Murdoch geese. ' Best matched team, Dewar and Lonem,,; pair boots. 5 ulr > "Best shod team, Howden, clock. Most quietly managed team I 1 'iv > value LI Is. ' ' aylor > Best-groomed horses, A. Murdoch hnif ton bran ; second best do., Howden' h cover ; third best do., Dalgleish Bros,' W ° Best-decorated team, A. Murdoch 't\v i coat; second best do., Dewar and Louenin value LI Is. 6 Best-kept harness, Howden, back-band second best do., Henderson, pair bootv ti S | best do., Dalgleish Bros., book. ' " rd Best harness in the field, Howden badbands ; second best do., Dewar aiulV. muir, pair trousers : third best do.. ITnuvi comb and brush u> Straightest ploughing, Clydesdale, trou sers and vest. Man with largest family, W. M'Kav /in children), ton coals. ' Best.break, Clydesdale and Hall, Best finish, Clydesdale and Allan. Outs and ins, Clydesdale.and Allan. Best-ploughed lot on the'field, ClytVcscla] e It is scarcely necessary, in a district noted for the excellence of its Glydcsdalo horses, to state tliat there were g o m grand teams of horses on the ground, It would be difficult to find a better lot of horses engaged in a ploughing match anywhere than those on the ground. Tho harness used too was of the first ordur • that of Mr. Murdoch was a grand display of workmanship. It was tho finest that we have seen, and most creditablo to Messrs. Hodge and Jones (tho makers) and the district. ' The meeting was highly successful in every respect, and tho Committee and all concerned are entitled to special praise not only for the excellent arrangements made, but for the admirable manner in which they were carried out. i

THE DINNER. About 40 persons, including four ladies sat down to a sumptuous repast provided iu capital style by Mr. W. Simons, of tho TerminusHotel,Ngapara. Mr. A. Murdoch occupied the chair, and Mr. Georgo Hutchison the vice-chair. Tho Chairman having said grace, and ample justice being done to the good things provided, the cables were cleared and the toasts began. The Chairman called on those present to charge their glasses and drink to tho health of " The Queen and Royal Family," which was done in a most enthusiastic manner. " The Governor and the Army and Navy" was proposed by the Chairman. The Chairman proposed '' Success, !o the Maerewhenua Ploughing Match." In doing so he said this match would hold ila own with any ploughing match in dm Colony. A good deal of comment had been made on the ploughing dono that day, but taking into consideration tho uature of the ground he thought tho work performed was very creditable to tho ploughmen. The Vice-Chairman, replying.to the toast, said that this was the fifth ploughing match held at Maerewhenua, and they had all been very satisfactory. For teanu and work done he thought tho Maerewhenua would compare favorably with any in the Colony. Replying to tho toast of " The Judges," Mi\ Morton said ho was rather diflidentin judging on this occasion when he saw tho l ground to be operated upon. However | he considered the work done very good. ! Mr. M'Farlane then sang tws songs, and received considerable applause. The " Successful Competitors"ymthen proposed, coupled with the names of Messrs. John Henderson and T. Taylor,, who replied in suitable terms. Mr. T. Taylor proposed the " cessful Competitors." As there ww® no unsuccessful competitors present, Mr. | Wm. Gardiner replied on their behalf.

The toast of " The Ladies" was proposed by Mr. Peter Taylwr, Mr. Gruar responding. ,£ The Newly-Married Ladies of Maorcwhenna" was proposed by Mr. Gruar, and responded to by Mr. Murdoch. " The Strangers" was coupled with tho name of Mr. Win. Aitken, who replied at some length. The toast Success to the Mawe- ' whenua Ploughing Match" was received with three hearty cheers. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison's healths were drunk with hohors. Mr. Thompson then sang two songs, after which the Vico-Chairman proposed the health of Mr. Warnock, tho originator of the Maerewhenua Ploughing Match. Mr. Warnock, replying to the toast, | said that the Vice-Chairman had mado a slight mistake in crediting him with the initiation of the match, Messrs. Watt and Howden were the originators, although ho (Mr. Warnock) was present when it was first spoken of,. Mr, Watt said enough had been shown that day to convince them that the match | was a success. He did not believe that one ploughman was satisfied with the work done, the cocksfoot proving a great drawback. " The Press," " The Chairman," an l ! "The Caterers" having been proposed and responded to, the meeting broke up at 12 o'clock, every person present appearing to have enjoyed himself thoroughly. The tables were then removed from the room, and dancing was kept up with vigor till 4 o'clock this morning.