WAIAREKA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 863, 21 January 1879, Page 2

WAIAREKA.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRKSPONnENT.] January 21. There was a trial of one of the M'Cormick reapers and binders yesterday, at the farm of Mr. Henry Mitchell, near Weston. The machine was on the ground about noon, but as the different parts had to be unpacked, and the machine fitted up for the first time in a harvest field, it was after 4 o'clock before a start was made. The crop was a very fair one —a field of oats of good average growth, and not too heavj'. At the start, the horses were a little unsteady, which put to a severe test the perfection of the machine, but despite the rashness of the horses the machine did its work in a most satisfactory manner. There were a good number of the farmers of the surrounding districts on the ground, to get a lesson on the working of the machine. The agent took great pains to explain the mechanism of the various parts of the machine, to the edification and amusement of all present. From the machine being entirely new, it was quite enough for two horses to pull where the ground was at all steep. The distance round the field was about a mile—a portion of it a rather steep sidling—and the whole way round, really excellent work was done ; all the sheaves were well bound, and of a handy size. Before the second round was completed, it came on to rain ; so, as the wet com began to choke the knife, the afternoon's performance had to be brought to a close ; but by this time everybody was well pleased with the thorough manner in which the machine did its work. Nearly all those present expressed their approbation of the way in which it went along the steep sidling. This can be accounted for from the principal heavy machinery being to the left of the main wheel. There are several improvements in this machine which should commend it to all who can appreciate labor-saving machinery.