REAPER AND BINDER TRIAL AT FENDALTOWN. (Condensed from Friday's Press.)

North Otago Times, Volume 2094, Issue 2094, 18 January 1879, Page 2

REAPER AND BINDER TRIAL AT FENDALTOWN. (Condensed from Friday's Press.)

Yesterday the interest manifested by the farming community in the trial of harvesting and self-binding machines, held under the auspices of tho Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, was very much greater than that taken in tho similar contest at Riocarton ; attributable to th<3 facts that the competition was expected to be very closo between six machines, as against three last year, and that there was the additional novelty of the exhibition in full work of the machines made available for hand-binding. Tho competing reapers and binders were as follows, the names of the marshals of each and color of flag on the allotment being also given ;—; —

WIRE BINDMB. 1. Marah, Messrs Brace and Henderson j blue. 2. Wood, MesirsO'Callaghan and Gilmour; light bine. 3. Os borne, Meun Money And M'Beath ; yellow. 4. M'Cormick, Meant M'llwratth and Wilkin ; fed. The Buckeye and Massillon machines entered did not compete, and the Elward harvester was not present MACHINK4 WITH HAND-BHTDIXO rLATTORMS, Marsh— Messrs Mann and Holly ; green. M'Cormick— Messrs Cunningham and Marcroft ; pink. The regulations under which they all worked were as usual. The judges had to take into account the strength of each combined with simplicity of construction, lightness of draught, quantity of ground gone over, and time in which the work was performed and the quality of the work generally. It rested with the judges to settle the height at which the stubble should be • left. Each implement had four acres apportioned as its share. The prizes offered were— L2s by the association, under the conditions named in its prize schedule of the last November show, and L 5 added by Sir John Qrigg for the best hand binding, if there was any competition. The performance of the Marsh, though good, was somewhat marred by one or two drawbacks which happened to it. In the heavier crops the Marsh has

the preference. Mr Hemming wu nnfortunate in th« selection of an inferior •pool of wire, which canted" some ■heave*.' to be left unbound. Wood's machine was under the control of Mr N. P. Heath, and his horses were sent by Mr Blake. The working of this machine was alto at some unaccountable disadvantage, in its adjustment to the level of the stubble of 6in, and the crop operated upon was a trifle lighter in this section than in some of the others, as the implements had apparently been set to deal with long straw and heavy corn. The sickle knife during the day was found to be rot in proper working order. The iiiU cut of swathe was 6ft 6in, a. d the draught apparently 'ight, from the es-ly time in which the machine was enab'ed to finish, being first out. The sheaves were well bound and of a fair size. Ouborne'a machine was under the skilful management of Mr H. J. Case, who had a very fine team from Mr Boag's farm. This harvester made very easy work of it, although the judges put it down as the heaviest in draught The start made was an excellent one, the opening showing that the width of cat of swathe was 6ft lOin. The corn was well received on the platform, and very comfortably delivered up the elevator on to the binding platform, where the wire was fastened in firm, style, and the sheaf easily lowered on to its butt end. The work done was excellent, the machine being well set down, and leaving its sheaves in fair sizes. The real contest of the match lay between this and the next machine in point of work. M'Cormick's machine was under the guidance of Mr F. C. Newall. In its opening it cut sft 3in, and in regular work 4ft 9in. It has been improved since last season in the binding frame, shell crank, tension, and wire feed. The implement has also been widened to take up longer grain. The mechanism of tho apparatus the judges consider less liable to get out of order than in the case of any other. It has no l'nife in the wire-cutting part, the wire being cut by a deferential wheel, which twists and cuts in the same operation, making besides the connection between the wire of the first and second spool. Of its work it may be said there was not a fault to be found with it, the stubble left was not too high, the sheaves made were even and convenient in size, the wire round them bein-j well secured. The machines used in the hand-binding were the Marsh, managed by Mr John Anderson, Bangiora, and the M'Cormick, managed by Mr Hack, which, as they are counterparts of those described, need not again be referred to. The draughts of each were given as — Osborne, 5 cwt. ; Wood. 4£ cwt. ; M'Cormick, 4 cwt. ; Marsh, 3| cwt. ; M'Cormick handbinder, 3 cwt. ; Marsh, 2\ cwt. I The time in which each machine finished from time of starting was —

the hand-binders, as before stated, not completing their task. At the dote of the inspection Mr M. Murphy publicly announced the result to be that the machines had been placed — M'Connick First Osborne ... Highly commended No prize had been awarded to the handbinders, as the judges considered they had not completed the irork. The announcement was received with general satisfaction, and it was stated to have been the unanimous verdict of the judges. During the day one of Aveling and Porter's traction engines was exhibited by Mr J. Anderson, of the Canterbury Foundry, which during the afternoon towed one of M'Cormick's side deliverj reapers through the en p at a good speed, but the reai service to which the engine outrht to be applied i§ the removal of threshing machines, or the conveyance of several tons of grain in loaded trucks along the ordinary roads from the farms to the station.

Wook Osborne M'Cormick Marsh b. 2 3 3 4 m 4S j S 3s