OLD-TIME THRESHING

Press, Volume C, Issue 29468, 21 March 1961, Page 11

OLD-TIME THRESHING

Hawarden Show Demonstration

The star attraction at the Hawarden Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s show on Saturday was a thresh-ing-machine demonstration. Dozens of adults and children watched while the two traction engines belched out great clouds of black smoke. The demonstration was an outstanding success and ran very smoothly. Few of the spectators realised that the newly painted Booth Macdonald stationery wire bailer used had until the previous Thursday lain rusty and disused for many years under some trees. Power was supplied by two traction engines, one a six horse-power McLaren brought to New Zealand in 1907, belonging to Mr H. Croft of Culverden, and the other a four horse-power Burrell which came into the country in 1913, and belongs to Mr S. Pester of Culverden. The Ruston and Procter thrashing mill was constructed in 1890 and is still being used. It belongs to the estate of H. T. Little. Clydesdales Three drays, pulled by Clydesdale horses owned by Mr J. Jelfs of Woodend, were used to cart the wheat sheaves to the mill and to haul the water tank for the traction engines. The horses stood up to the noise and activity of the mill like old timers. An old steel-wheeled Fordson tractor of Mr W. Munroe was also used to cart the sheaves, which were provided by Mr, Alan Stewart.

The ancient bailer, owned by Mr W. Topp, was painted and put in running order by Messrs D. Yorston and K. Baker within one day.

In the mobile cook's hut Mr V. Manning provided refreshments for the large team of workers. The feeder was Mr W. Smith and the bagmen were Messrs L. Quigley and J. Binnie and those driving the drays were Messrs M. Inwood and G. E. Mason.

The paddockmen were Messrs C. Quigley and H. Early. The bailing crew consisted of Messrs K. Baker, N. Grimwood, L. Baker, A. Stewart and D. Mason. Other forkers and assistants were Messrs W. J.J. Early and A. T. Earl. The wheat thrashed was Aotea and according to the experts a very good sample was produced. Wheat sheaves stocked nearby were loaded onto drays and carted to the mill for threshing. The waste straw was then bailed in a continuous operation. The bailer was driven by the smaller of the two traction engines.