WAIAREKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1418, 25 January 1879, Page 18

WAIAREKA.

(from our own correspondent.) Harvesting is pretty general throughout tho district now, and everywhere the crops are ripening fast. Tho return of grain will be very good — much better than was at one time expected. The occasional showers that have fallen lately have filled out the grain considerably. There seems to be resources in this Waiareka district; which are nob found elsewhere, for while the crops both north and south of us have suffered very much fiom drought, the crops here are quite up to the average. There are a good many self' binding machines ab work here this season, and most of them give satisfaction to those using them. There was a trial of the M'Corrnick reaper and binder on the farm of Henry Mitchell, Esq., near Weston. The machine was on the ground about noon, but as the different parts of the machine had to be unpacked and fitted toother (11 tho ground, ib was after 4 o'clock before it started work. The crop was a field of oats of average growth, and the ground rather rough— about an average sample of cultivated ridges. At the start the horses we.ro a little unsteady, which put to a severe test ihe pwftction of the machinery ; but, in spits ot the rashness of the horses, the machine did its work in a most satisfactory manner. There were a

good many farmers from the surrounding districts on the ground to see the machine at work. From the machine being entirely new, ib waa 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 rather a steep siding — but the wholo way round the machine did excellent work. Before the second round was completed rain came on, and the wet corn began to choke the knives ; bo this brought the day's performance to a close. But by this time the corn was far too wet for cutting and bindiag. All those present were well pleased with the manner in which the machine did its work, and especially of the way iv which it went along the steep siding. This machine can go on any ordinary slope, from having all its heavy machinery to the left of the master- wheel. There are several improvements in this machine over older ones of tho same make, that should commend ib to all who can appreciate labour- saving machinery.