PLOUGHING MATCH-AT LONG BUSH.

Southland Times, Volume VI, Issue 506, 2 July 1866, Page 2

PLOUGHING MATCH-AT LONG BUSH.

! At the request of a large number »f our country 'Lfricr.dt- we re-print the following alcount of the 1 1 'Long Busk Ploughing Match, jwhich was [ iijaclrertently omitted in our lajt European Summary : — 1 l"he annual meeting of tbe Loni Bush and "Oteramika Ploughing Association took place on F Tuesday, 29th' May, at Woodlands, one of the , Company's Stations, and proved a complete success. Owing to the fineness of the, day, there was a iiirjre attendance, and the greatest': interest was / • iak.m in the proceedings. The attendance of I , visitors, was larger than on previous occasions, f and during the day, a number of ladies graced the ' meeting with their presence. This was .very ■ flattering, considering the state of the roads which as every one knows are bad beyond description. The gi-ound chosen was on the slope of alpiece of high h-big ground, and which had not been previoi 1 -■•]■•' turned over. Twenty nine ploughs started at the hour fixed, 8.80 a.a-., yid the work was got through shortly before •'; p.m. The soU proved to be stiff and , dry, :'1lU::^ jnuch to the labor of both men and • horn-;, aiui causing the match to be rather protra.i cd one or two of the competitors having , scare;.*! v completed their task when the light beg&a f,.> fjiii. It was generaUy admitted that the pkmghiiig was not so showy as on the occasion ' of the List match, but was, all things considered, i quite up to t: ; '3 mark. [ The show if horses was reaUy splendid, and would with be surpassed anywhere. Most of the :--ams were evidently of Clydesdale ' breed, and h; : -.'i receive! most careful tending. A > prize in.il been ofiered for the best groomed horse:-, rind t:o effort seemed to have been spared to ma„e- a appearance, and the trappings were ironeraily in good taste. j No pri.-.i'- i: ■-. i been oifere.d for the best 6ets o I i hame.-* ; b:i ;*t double set by a Rutherglen make [ receive.! trout the officers " honorable mention." Messrs Morton, Sutton, and Anderson acted as ' judges. The competitors having formed into a ! L circle, :>.fc 5 p.m., M Swale, the Hon. Secretary, , reportel the decisions of the judges. Each ' name, ns rein I out, was received with great cheering, auci generally with some good humored banter. : PRIZES. , Ist Pmo- -:Zl; or one of Grey's jbest ploughs, at ploi.r:'f!ii-:vu's option. Daniel M'Gowan, ploushui •r. i'o Robert Hamilton, Morton Mains. 2nd Prize — £ t, Adam Drysdale, ploughman to D. Napier, Fie-nina'ton. 3rd Piii.e — Ays. -James M'Allister, ploughman to James G*:il, Oteramika. '? 4th Pri;:<- — £:.' \ Us, William Stevenson, ploughman to Bi>':si-t Maoaulay, Mataura. sth Priz-.*— :!:'_■. Adam Fleming, ploughman to , Dugald Napiov, Fic-mington. ' i 6th Prize — .C_ J.Os,. J M'Spurren, ploughman to Mr Hall, Oteramika district. # j 7th Prize — £ l 4s. Aiexander Christie. j JUNIOR PHIZES. ! IstPrize — .C 3. MitcheU, ploughman" to Roberb HamUton, Morton Mains '; * 2nd Prize — ._2, Thomas Dawson, son of George Dawson, Lon-: Bush. 3rd Prize — 7 1 , Milne, ploughman to Dugald Napier, FlemiiiftoT* . Prize for iA- bi?s-<; break. One pair hames, given by Davi;i ivo;- die Smith, Long Bush. D. M'Ewan, ploughn-.a; to Kobert Hamilton, Morton Mains. Prize for the best kept harness and groomed horses. One pound given by tbe Society. Adam Drysdale, ploughman to Dngald Napier. Prize for the best pah- of horses at regular work. A pair of backhands given by George GoodwiUie, Saii >'<•!-, M;.ercargUl, Adam Fleming, ploughman to i "a •.-•.'. Napier, Flemington. 1 Mr Hamiltor i..;---- >> -vided refreshments fer his numerous fiic-i. -. . :•' two public refreshment tents were erecte i f-u *7<- ground. We have pleasv;:v v- *ii'..ting. that the greatest sobriety prevaU,-:.. Ou: space we regret, will not admit of our _!vi»g r.r.a-e than a mere passhig i notice of the evenine'--- pi-ooedings at Mr. M'lntosh's Half Way V:;s : ;:.^vl;i:hwere carried oninthe best possible spiri'. . "Mine Host" >■ *s "all there" afc six o'clock ( prompt, and a capital dinner provided, to which the guests did ampi-; justice. The chair was I occupied by Robert Hamilton, Esq., • WiUiam r Johnstone, -Esq., M.P.U., acting as croupier. There were upwards of 77ity gentlemen present, amongst others Mwsr- A-A:^, Morton, James Gall, Swale (Secretary) Adam Brown ; Findley, Anderson, Sutton, Mil'-hcLi, 7. Sinclair, A. lioss, C. A. Ross, Cowpcr, L-c-.t^'c, "if all, Cochrane, Mair, Granger, &c. The c\AA h aving been removed, and the usual loyal uni patriotic toasts disposed of, the Ch;i ; ■•:,.-.:.■.- ia a short hearty speech, proposed th--- tc.; v . of the evening. " Prosperity to tbe Lov. : j; i: .:sh and Oteramika Ploughing Association," a ; .. _..LLed on Mr MitcheU (Morton Mams) tore;!*.'. 17? toast was drank with enthusiasm. Mi MA :A\< : il, (an unsuccessful competitor with v. ; Hc-ance) made a characteristic reply, ile rj viewed, amidstjgreat ; mirth, the day's pivn.e e-tirigs, expressed' his entire satisfaction with e--e;y thing, with, one solitary exception. TAie iir!'.--.- had done their duty admiiably, but "in th.: moonlight" ) had mistaken Mr Rapier's team fov his, and given the prize to the wrong ma:i, But they had done aU men could do — " in the ro.oonlighfc." Numerous toasts foiio-.vei!, :including "the Judges," " the succcessiVl ' ;i.o<i "unsuccessful" competitors, "The squatting a,nd commercial interests," '-The . tominilte.- of management," &c, &c. The speeches wcru of the best description, and fuU of good huuicrsd banter and ocal allusions. Numerous •-■?. o', : .eut songs were ung, and the evening pas-ei ;*• ■*•■ pleasantly.