MACHINE TRIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11725, 1 November 1898, Page 3

MACHINE TRIAL.

There was a large attendance at the Christchurch stores of tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company yesterday, when a trial was held of seed and grain-cleaning machinery, which had been exhibited at the Ellesmere show. Tho two machines competing were Messrs Andrews and Beaven’s Al Farmers’ Cleaner, and Mr H. House’s Modern Gleaner. Mr J. Osborne, President of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association, took charge of the trial, and the judges were Mr F. C. Murray, of Springsiton, aud Mr P. Johnston, of Eangiora. Each machine had to put, through samples of wheat, barley, clover and ryegrass, and the parcels selected were all sufficiently dirty to test the capacity of the cleaners to the .utmost. Tho trial occupied the greater part of the day, and during the whole time the work was closely scrutinised by several persons interested in seed cleaning machinery. After an exhaustive trial the judges awarded the prize’to Mr Herman House’s machine, at the same time stating that they had had considerable difficulty in coming to a decision between the two, ns they wore rather doubtful if Mr House’s cleaner was sufficiently strongly constructed for farmers’ purposes, but the grading of the seeds was much more perfect than was the case with tho rival machine. They wished to record their satisfaction with Messrs Andrews and Beaven’s machine on account of its substantial construction, and the machine also did its work very well, the price of Mr House’s cleaner, with elevators and forty riddles, was stated to be j]2l and that of Messrs Andrews and Heaven’s machine, with twenty-i wo riddles, £2l 10s. Tho competition was for a special prize of £2 2s given by the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association for the best exhibit shown in any of tho implement classes at tho Ellesmere Agri uitural and Pastoral Association’s show, which showed the best and latest improvements or inventions. 'The machine which won the prize has been patented in the colony by Mr Herman House, and is au’ adaptation from the pattern of a machine brought to Christchurch by him from the CampbeU Farming Mill Company, of Chatham, Canada, of which ho is one of tho principals, ,