PLOUGHING MATCH NEAR CAMBRIDGE. The Dinner.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1569, 25 July 1882, Page 2

PLOUGHING MATCH NEAR CAMBRIDGE. The Dinner.

On Friday evening, after the ploughing match at Broadmeadows, a well provided dinner was given in the Duke of Cambridge Hotel, to which about 40 members of the association sat down. The chair was occupied by Mr E. Maclean, president, and the vice-chair by Mr F. Hicks, vice-president. After the usual loyal and patriotic toaata had been duly honored, Mr F. Hickssaid the toast which had fallen to his lot to propose afforded him no smnll amount of pleasure, and was one which, he felt convinced, those who were at that table would drink with an equal amount of enthusiasm. It >vas "Success to the Waikato Ploughing Association." Though he himself had not taken a very active part in the association, still it afforded him great pleasure to see so many gentlemen of standing in the district takiug the matter up with such a degree of warmth. Competitive ploughing matches were things which no district such a8 Waikato should be without, for in almost every agricultural district in the Old Country these competitions were held regularly. lastead of the irregularity and apathy of the past they should have their matches at regular intervals, say once a year. Although circumstances had prevented him this year, he hoped on the uext occasion of a ploughing match in the district to be represented in the field by a team, and was sure many other farmers would do the same. From these friendly competitions great good in'many re«pect was likely to result to the district generally. He would conclude by asking-all to drink with him "Success, to the. Waikato Ploughing Association."' , The toast was drunk with great heartines& "' - Mr J, AUwill, in responding, - said; he felt complimented by .the jwarm manner in Tyhich theTtoast Had ;b§e_n • received. Thejussociation was a yoHnifonV} 'in/fact that 'day Jisdjw§n!i^ '

not but feel satisfied with the quality of the work done. The size of the field was one thing with which he could not but express himself greatly dissatisfied. He should like to see a fine imposed upon each farmer in the district who did not take part in a contest of this kind, and the money raised by such fines devoted to procuring more encouraging prizes for those who did compete. Mr Wallace (Otahuhu) also responded. He thought members of the association had been most energetic in bringing the day's proceedings to a successful issue. He might account to some extent for the non-appearance of Auckland ploughmen on the ground that day by the fact that up to within a few days before the match came off they had been under the impression it had fallen through. This had been the case on a previous occasion, when the match was announced to come off under the auspices of the local farmers' club, which was then in existence. He hoped on the next occasion, however, to see competitors from other districts than Cambridge. The contest had not afforded him any considerable amount of interest, as almost all the implements engaged o» the field were of his own make, Had there been different makers competing in the field, they would have been able to see one another's beauties and defects, and improve their implements accordingly. He hoped that at the next match those who had other implements than Wallace and Hotham's would bring them into the field. The Secretary, Mr Chaa Tuck, here read the list ©f prize winners. Mr Clarke, in proposing the next toast, the "Successful Competitors," said he felt sure they were all pleased with the work they had seen done that day. They had not had a large field, certainly, but they had got a good average field. In all classes of work they had never seen better ploughing than on this occasion. In the singlefurrow ploughing they had had an old prize-taker competing, and in the doublefurrow ploughing a great improvement was manifest j in fact in this class no better work had ever been seen in Waikato before. In the boys' class good work had likewise been done ; in fact if these young ploughmen shaped as well in the future as they were doing at present, the old hands would have to look to thsir laurels. The toast was duly honored. Mr Watt, in responding, said such contests were necessary in a district like Waikato, and tended in a great degree to excite emulation among young men, because these learners generally learned valuable lessons from the old hands. Messrs llunciman and Heath also responded. Mr Jno. Runciman proposed the " Unsuccessful Competitors." Mr Allen in responding, said he had entered a team hoping to have some show, but had found they had no show against the imported stock of Messrs Maclean and Co. Had the class of horses been specified, he probably might have had a better chance. Mr Parker, in a few complimentary remarks, proposed ' ' The Judges. " Mr Gwynne in responding, said he felt proud of the position in which he had been placed that day. His aim had been to give the best man's work the best prize, and he had endeavoured to please all interested in the day's proceedings. He was surprised to see such a small field and such a poor attendance of the farmers of the district on the ground. Mr Gwynne then gave a synopsis of the judges' remarks on the day's work, which was certainly the best he had ever seen in the colonies, as it was evenly done and well finished. Mr Jno. Hunciman also responded. He thought the only bad feature in the day's proceedings was that the ploughmen, after they had got through about two-thirdi of the work got careless, and consequently made a bad finish. Mr Dibble also responded. Mr T. W. Hicks, in proposing the "Commercial Interests of Waikato," said he was sorry to see the subject of his toast so poorly represented there that evening. In a district such as VVaikato the agricultural and commercial interests should go hand in hand, for without one the other could not properly get along. Lot them go along Duke-street and they would see large painted signs intimating to the farmers of the district that agricultural implements were for sale. This sufficiently showed how the commercial men relied on the agriculturists. Knowing that this was the case he had repeatedly applied to the local commercial men for support for the association, but they would not recognise such a thing, and would not support it. They turned away from them (the farmers), but if a person came running into Cambridge and announced the fact that a Maori was coming across the Karapero bridge with a five pound note in his pocket, the whole commercial population would be running all over the place talking Maori. He would in conclusion ask all to drink with him to " The Commercial Interests of Cambridge." Mr Clark in responding said, though to a great extent a commercial man he was in reality an agricultural man, and therefore could not see why he should be called upon to respond. He wished to see both interests go hand in hand and support each other mutually. It was true that the business people of Cambridge had not supported the association as well as might have been expected, but he would remind them of the fact that farmers often sent to Auckland for what they could get at Cambridge at the same price. Thus the censure could not be confined to one side solely. MrT. Walker proposed "The Press," which was responded to by Mr J. F. Edgar. Mr Maclean in responding to the toast of " The President," thanked the company for the handsome manner in which they had drank the toast. He was always ready to give assistance when he could be of any benefit to his fellow settlers. He had a great wish for the prosperity of the district, and believed ploughing to be a very important thing in matters agricultural. He had been very much pleased that day with the quality of the ploughing, and was proud to see one of their own men (Mr Heath) distinguishing himself. He regretted to see such a thin field that day, but hoped to' see more interest manifested in the future. Doubtless the weather had prevented many of the commercial men of the district from being present. Testing the quality of implements, so as to have the most time saving article in use, should be made a duty. Mr Gwynne suggestsd that an annual ploughing match should be held, and that the scene of operations should not be confined to Cambridge, but should be at the various townships in Waikato in rotation. This would concentrate more interest in the association. Mr Allwillsaid this was not. a Cambridge, but a Waikato association, and they would only be too happy to assist at a match at Te Awamutu, or anywhere else. Mr Wallace suggested that a cup should be contested for in future, the winner to be victorious three consecutive times. , ■ ' • . A few other toasts and musical contributions,brought the evening to ariose. >

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