TRIAL OF REAPERS AND BINDERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5247, 18 February 1882, Page 3

TRIAL OF REAPERS AND BINDERS.

The first competition of reapers and string, binders under the auspices.of the Otago Agri" cultural and Pastoral Association was held yesterday, on the farm of the President (Mr James Shand), at Abbotsford, West Taieri. The weather was all that could be desired, and the crop of wheat operated on was suited in the highest degree for testing the capabilities of the various machines. Great interest was , taken in the contest, and there were about 200 people present, representing all parts of the province. Among the visitors was Mr J. IJrittain Pash, representative of the Essex Chamber of Agriculture, who expressed himself as much struck with the richness of the soil, the style of farming, and the splendid teams of horses at work on the held, notably those belonging to Messrs Peter Orrant (Gowne),- and J. and A. Eobertson. beven machines had been entered for competition, and considerable disappointment was felt at the non-starting of Messrs Twentyman and Cousins' "Simplex" binder (by J. and 3? Howard, of Bedford), as there was a desire to see a Rood contest between the English and American machines. This binder had, however, had its driving-wheel and some of the minor working parts smashed on the previous «ay by the bolting of the horses attached to it when it was being tried. The only English machine competing was, consequently, that made by Samuelson and Cor, of Banbury England, to which we referred in Wednesday's issue, and it seemed to be an object of considerable attention. The other machines competrng were Mr Donald Reid's "Deering," JNew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's "M'Cormick," Messsrs Maclean .and Co. and Carter and Co.'s "Osborne," Mr G. L. Sise's " Wood," and Messrs J. and . A. Robertson's "Deering." Fully seven acres ■of crop were allotted to each machine; and .although work should have been begun at 9 =a.m. sharp, a start was not effected till 40 .minutes later. At 12.40 p.m. an adjournment -was made for an hour and 10 minutes for luncheon ; and, after resuming, the M'Cormick machine was the first to finish its lot, at a quarter to 4 o'clock, having cut for about five hours at little short of one and a-half acre per Jiour. The Wood machine finished 20 minutes afterwards, and the Osborne at about halfpass 4. When the judges retired the Deering binders had several rounds to go. The first mishap occurred to the Osborne machine, :shortly after starting, when the main wheel •dropped into a furrow in turning an awkward comer, and the beam of the machine striking .the ground, caused the' breakage of a small casting carrying two idler pulleys. The driving of the machine was at fault, and interfered much with the appearance of the work. About half-past 3 the Samuelson machius was brought to a standstill by the breakage of thasway-bar of the receivingboard, and retired from the contest. Previous to this it was the almost unanimous opinion of those present that the; Samuelson would, all « things being considered, come .off with first prize, and it would certainly hay« been the first to finish its allotment. Slight mishaps also occurred to both of the Deering machines towards the close of the contest. On the whole :4he competition was a very successful one, and .;the cutting' and binding were unusually well :and cleanly done. Besides the machines

■ entered, Jfessrs Twentyman and Cousins displayed an A.ulimanwire-binderat work with very -satisfactory results, and a "Wood's wire-binder, ■converted into a string-binder, was also employed by Mr Shand, The heaviest allotment* of the crop were drawn for the M'CoHiiick and Mr D. Reid's "Peering binders, ;and during the day about 60 acres of a 150-acre iield of wheat were cut and bound. It is worthy of remark that the Osborne machine successfully used twiao made from native flax .and prepared in Christchurch. The Wood machine at the competition was the same which took the gold medal awarded by the Canterbury Agricultural Association at the recent contest. Mr and Mrs Shand' acted with their accustomed kindness towards visitors, and an excellent luncheon was provided, both at the house and outside, for all wV> chose to partake of it. Messrs James Shan^ aad J' -F * Pe?> ke acted as attending members' °* Committee, and the judges were— Mca^ James Allan (Hopehill), James Sh f(Le> ldV 'Ws;kand,' John Duncan (Cherry' -™X r J°H St*™nson (Henley), Junes W^i(]Mf glsl)' mi Jam, eS Gray (fieid and Gray) *X fi/ B f(?mer g? n* c' men representing practic "* /"T* tho two latter acting as ewu-"' .J? mm J" necessarily hast/decision The ,^5,7 have set aside the requirements 0/ IH^X ciation in awarding points according *L™f various qualities of the machines, and ha afj" pressed their .opinion as follows :—"-Samu sons did not finish allotment; Osborne. li points; Wood, 23 points ; Messrs Robertson's Deenng 14 pomts ; Mr D. Reid's Deoring, 18 points; M'Cormick, 23 points. -We, the unaersigned judges appointed by the Ota«o Agricultural and Pastoral Association to jud^e the twine-binders, have come to the conclusiSn' that in the crop cut to-day the work done by the Wood and M'Cormick machines and by the bamuelson, until the time of the accident (within two rounds of finishing), was as near perfection as well could be. We have also come to the conclusion, taking everything into account, to make the Wood and M'Corinick machines a tie, and if the Society wish to cnoose the beat, a more severe test in heavier gram must be applied. Mr Shand is willing to give a field heavy enough for the purpose, and before your judges would finally decide they are willing to give another day to test, the respective merits of the rival machines. There was only one wire-binder at work, and it wrought very satisfactorily."—Signed by the seven judges.