PLOUGHING MATCHES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 100, 13 September 1912, Page 6

PLOUGHING MATCHES.

SUCCESSFUL COMPETITIONS AT WAITARA. "Deep ploughing is what should be encouraged. It is most suitable for I Taranaki soil, :ind is what local fanners require. So far we have barely scratched tin; surface." Such were the 'rema.rks.of one of the judges at the ploughing competitions, which were held on Mr? Birdling's estate at Waitara yesterday, during the judging of the ploughing 'events. This* section, single-furrow deep ploughing, not less than six inches, most suitable for root crops, 'had drawn one entry, that of G. 11. Hodgeon, and it was this .t'liat bad drawn the above remarksfrom the judge. In all the ploughing competitions there were ten entries, and the work as a whole drew forth encomiums of praise from the judges, Messrs. J. West, F. Andrews and Alexander. All were unanimous that the work showed considerable improvement on that of the last competition. As was then evidenced, the weakness was in starting and finishing. There was no fault to find with the in-between work, but, as the judges pointed out, there were several very creditable finishes this year, whereas last year there was hardly a decent one. One feature, was the interest taken by the Maoris in the events. The single and double furrow competitions each attracted one Maori contestant, both of whom did good work. In fact, it was simply marvellous the work that J. Taylor turned out with 'his old aingle-furrow, in which he used only the -land wheel, whereas his opponents used both land and furrow wheels, and his land wheel, too, had about four inches play. Another feature, too, and one that is regretted, is the lack of active interest taken by the young farmers in the competitions. There were, of course, numbers there who keenly watched every turn of the furrow, but had not perhaps sufficient confidence to enter the field themselves. A number 'were debarred owing to lack of experience of the finer points of ploughing on the open plain. I The man with a local reputation in bush country would, of course, be out of his clement there, but surely the •pen agricultural land should: be capable of producing more than ten competitors at tho only ploughing match held in Taranaki. The committee, in the course of an appeal to the public for funds, remarked that the competitions were held for the purpose of improving the opportunities of the farming community to have better .results from their farming operations, which naturally reflected on the business of the district. The judges, too, state, that the ploughing has shown a great improvement since last. year. Consequently, farmers may be expected to take a keener interest next year, and the success achieved by the young men, who defeated the opposition in each.class' this year, may act as an incentive to bring other embryo champions into the field. : .. , 1 In the single furrow, the winner proved to be H. Giddy. His was the best ridge, too, and the cleanest work on the field. His finish was good, as far as it went, but the last furrow rather spoilt its appearance. Last year's winner, A. 1). Beauchamp, was second. His ridge and finish were poor, but the work in between was first-class. Joe Taylor (Maori)>:who came third, turned out very creditable work. The double-furrow attracted six (Jntries, and the judges had considerable (jlitficulty in sorting out the placed .num. L. Tate, last year's winner, was again successful. He also- secured the;.special prize for best ridge. His work throughout was good, and his finish fair. R. Tate, who was placed third last j'ear, was second this time. His ridge was poor, but his work improved as he advanced, and his finish was the best.on the field. He was ploughing with a 'new: plough, which he had not seen till -the previous day. Patu, the third- man, had a poor ridge, and. his work was rather cparsc. Jennins came close up, and was Ifiglily commended. : The weather was not too kind, there being several showers, whilst the wind '.was rather keen. Still, the attendance vya« an improvement on last year, the cash takings at the gate being about £3 better. : The two jumping events attracted big entries, but the jumping, save that of the placed horses, was not very brilliant, though perhaps the greasy nature of the ground may have contributed considerably to this. The judges were Messrs. R. Piggott, W. Birdling and H. George. The miscellaneous events : slbaf-tossing, . chain-stepping, sheepguessing, and bandsmen's races—all drew 'big fields. Tho two former were annexed : by Mr. C. Topless, but there were many complaints about the weight of the sheaf, Which was 2411), but felt much heavier. ; :The committee, of which Messrs. W. Birdling was president, Mr. Rattenbury, chairman of committee, and Mr. Thos, Buchanan secretary, had carefully attended to all details, and so perfect were all the arrangements that, although the start was delayed for an hour, owing to ilie weather conditions, everything was finished well to time. The Waitara Band, under Banmaster Bessant, provided a fine musical programme. The following were the results:— ! PLOUGHING. Double-furrow: L. Tate, 1 and special for best open-up ridge of 16 furrows; R. Tate, 2; A. Patu, 3; P. Jennins, ih.c. Also competed: C. Foreman and J. Vickerv. Single-furrow: 11. Giddy, 1; A. D. Beaueliamp, 2; J. Taylor 3. Single-furrow deq) ploughing, not less than "six inches, most suitable for root crop: T. H. Hodgson 1. Best turn-out (judges, Messrs. Sarten and Birdling): Double furrow, R. Tate; single-furrow, G. 11. Hodgson. JUMPING COMPETITIONS. Maiden: L. George's Red Hazard, 1; A.: H. Halcombe's Paralus, 2; C. Street's Kirimoana, 3. Fourteen starters. Open: A. Cliff's Kiri, 1; L. George's Red Hazard, 2; A. Cliff's Rangi, 3. Fourteen competed. MISCELLANEOUS. Bheaf-tossing: C. Topliss, 1; H. G. Hicks, 2. Forty entries. , Stepping-the-cliain: C. Topliss, 1. Thirty-six entries. Sheep-guessing (actual weight 1211b): T. Butler and A. Pepperill (1211b). Bandsmen's race: lA. Kibby, 1; J. Ktbby, 2; G. H. Sampson, 3. The annual dinner was held at Kerr'a