ANNUAL PLOUGHING MATCH.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 138, 5 August 1876, Page 2

ANNUAL PLOUGHING MATCH.

The third annual ploughing match under the auspices of the Patea District Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Avas held oh Thursday last, in a paddock belonging to Mr Davis on the main road, between Carlyle and Kakaramea. The time for the match Avas originally fixed for the 4th July, but iu consequence of the small number of entries and the bod state of the weather, jt Avas decided to postpone the match till Thursday last. The Avisdom of such a course Avas apparent, for the different competitors had time to practice before the match, and the result was that there was nets bad piece of ploughing to bo seen, in fact, it Avas remarked by a number of persons that they had never seen a more uniform lot of ploughing at any match they had Avitnessed, therefore it made it a very difficult task for the judges to decide, Avhere all Avas so good, Avhieh Avas really the best. The judges Avere Messrs G. McLean, J. McLean, and W. Eobertson, whose aAvards appeared to give general satisfaction. There Avas a large attendance of visitors to the ground, avlio appeared to take great interest in the result. The competitors hailed from Wairoa, Patea, Hawera, and one from New Plymouth. Wairoa still claims the champion. At the two previous annual meetings Mr J. Lupton of that place carried off the prize, but this year ho had to give Avay to Mr James Dickie, junr. The amount of money distributed in prizes amounted to £2B, which is a very fair amount for a young district like this. The General Government offered a sum of £2O to be competed for by the natives residing in the district, but the committee failed to induce any gentlemen of the dusky race to go in and Avin any of the money the Government were Avilling to give. The following arc the names of those Avho competed, and the amount of prizes given in each class.— Ist Class :—James Dickie, junr. (Gray), Ist Prize, £7 ; J. Lupton, (Kcetley), 2nd prize, £4 ; D. Coutts, (Kcotloy), 3rd prize, £2.

C. Ward, and W. Marshall also competed. 2nd Class J. T. Lloyd, Ist prize, £4 ; H. Ward, 2nd prize, £2 ; G. Dnnton, 3rd prize, £l. Double Furrow Plough A. Lees’ (Reid and Gray), Ist Prize, £4 ; J. Patterson, 2nd prize, £2. Champion prize :— J. Dickie, junr. £2.