WAITARA NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 313, 29 May 1911, Page 3

WAITARA NEWS

PLOUGHING ASSOCIATION. 1 (From Our Own Cori'spondentl. Tlie annual meeting rif the North Taranaki Ploughing Association was held on Saturday, there being a good attendance of members, despite tlie inclement weather. Mr. .las Rattenburv occupied the chair, and briefly referred to tlie competition of last year, which, he said, as an initial affair had proved very successful. He felt that the Association was one that was of benefit to farmers, and deserved their support. The following report was submitted bv the outgoing committee: —"In presenting the annual report and balancesheet for the initial year, your committee are very pleased to be able to say that the competition last year was a decided success. Entries were quite up to expectations, and the work done by competitor* was exceedingly good. Your committee are of the opinion that such competitions ave in the best interests of the farming community, tending, as they do, to show that our ploughmen can do the best of work. Both in single and double-furrow work, the judges said that it compared more than favorably j with similar work they had seen in other pjirts of the Dominion, and was a credit to the district. The teams were also highly spoken of, and. taken altogether, the affair was a decided success. From a financial point of view, your committee are satisfied to be able to report a credit balance of £6 5s 9d after payment of all expenses. The items of receipt and expenditure will speak for themselves.! Your committee quite realise that in several small details a great improvement may be made next year, and in this respect, will be very pleased to receive suggestions that may tend to the better working of the competition itself so as to ensure work being done'of what will be a benefit to the farming community, In conclusion, the committee desire ,to thank .Mr. Tiirdling for having kindly placed a paddock at their disposal for the competition and for many other favors granted; also to those who so generously donated prizes and money for the purpose of carrying out tjie working of the affair; and, in conclusion, express a hope that the competitions will continue and that the Association will have a useful and prosperous future."

The balance-sheet as submitted by the secretary showed receipts to be £,1!) 13s, made up as follows:—Donations and subscriptions £33 3s, entries £3 18s, sheepguessing £2 12s. The items of expenditure wore: Prize-money £22. printing, advertising and stationery, £5 17s 3d, refreshments and dinner £5 10?, leaving a credit balance of £0 ss. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Messrs C. Gaustad, J. Mitchell and T. Luxton were elected members.

The following ofiiccrs were appointed: —Patron, Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P.; president, Mr. W. Birdling; vice-presi-dents, Messrs W. F. Jenkins, ,Tas. Rattenliury and Alex. Kerr; committee, Messrs W. Rook, .T. George, G. V. Tate, E. ColeV G. X. Skelton, G. Foreman, C. Gaustad, T. Luxton, ,T. Mitchell, G. Taylor (Inglewood), Walter Hoskin (Rell Block), 11. Foreman. S. Topliss and R. Giddy (BellBlock). It, was decided to hold this year's competition on the last Thursday in July, and to add two jumping events in addition to the ploughing, one an open event and one for maiden jumpers and riders. At a committee meeting t held afterwards. Messrs Foreman, Skelton and Mitchell were appointed a sub-committee to draw up conditions for the jumping events: and Messrs Rattenburv, Rook, Luxton and Cole ploughing conditions, such to be submitted to n general committee meeting to be held on Saturday afternoon next at 2.3(1. Tt was resolved to call for offers for the use of a 15 to 20-acre paddock for the competition.

The last, few days' ruin created a big flesh in the river and wi]] have a good efleci. A very large rpiaiitity of trees was ciiniing down 011 Saturday, and the bench is strewn with good , fijewood. Needless to say, numbers are at.work gatherini; it. up for winter use. 'Several cows n1 nl oilier beasts were among the debris. ,