Trial of Reapers and Binders.

Otago Witness, Issue 1682, 16 February 1884, Page 14

Trial of Reapers and Binders.

The trial of reapers and binders unde» the auspices of the N. O. A. and P. Association, took place yesterday (says Thursday's North Otago Times), on the property of Mr William Easton, Richmond. There was a large gathering of farmers and others interested in the trial— larger in fact than at any previous exhibition. The triajl was an unqualified success. There were twejv.e machines competing, and on the whole the work done was very satisfactory. The crop (wheat) was a very good one forfcUe purpose of tfte trial, testing fully the capacity of [ the machines. Several of the machines had -v{<^ntly had their different parts put together

without a due regard to their success in the competition, for it was noticeable that through this causa more than one of them were-making inferior work. Reapers and binders have arrived at a stage when it would bis impossible to say with any regard for probity that any one <>f them iB unworthy of beintf <iaed. Of cotirso there are differences in the quality of the work douu, but thase differences aie uot of so marked a character that any particular machine is pub entirely in the shade It was tlio general impression that had the judging betm left to the farmers present the verdict would have been much the same as is given below, for the ■work done by the Oaborne machine was freely spoken of as being first-class, while that of the Reid and Gray and M'Cormick was also much thought of. The R«id and Gray had an improvement in* the knotter, ÜBed for the first time on the field yesterday, and which worked remarkably well. The Colonial manufacturers are to be congratulated on the improvements they have made in their machines, for in every respect they have kept pace with thn makers of Great Britain and America, and this in the face of circumstances tnat make thoir efforts all the more meritorious. If. is unnecessary to say tnora about the trial than that it was the must successful that has been held in the Australian Colonies. The machines of- bo many different makers have never before been brought intj competition, and no better opportunity could have been afforded farmers of judging of their merits by comparison than was afforded yesterday. The judges 1 were — Messrs J. MacpherKon (Totara), Wm. Meek (Teaneraki), J, A. Taylor (the Tables), William Dewar (the Tables), J. fcs. Holmes ( cVwainoa), A. Murdoch (Ngapara), G. Liurie (St. Andrews), J. Watt ( Waikautu), and C. Todd (Waiaroka). It may be mentioned that there is an apparent difficulty in those .who are not mechanics ariiving at a decision satisfactory to themselves on the following points: — " Strength and durability,' " simplicity of construction," " machinery and accessibility for repairs." This should be delegated to mechanics, who, from their training, are better able to judge of what suits beßt. Ot course, even in this everything might not work smoothly, but several of the judges at yesterday^ trial did not touch upon the points referred to, evidently feeling that theirknowledge on the subject was not perfect enough to warrant them- in judging.j udging. '

The following are the positions of the different machines in the contests :—: — Combined Reaper and Binder.— lst prize, silver medal; 2nd prize, bronze medal; 3rd prize, hon. certificate.

Tuna. Dr.mzhti. Points. Osborne .. .. 2h KVtn 4} wl 85 Kcid and Gray . . 2h f $ra 6 „ 84, 41'0'iuiiolt .- •• 2h24m 4£ „ It Vf. A. Wood.. .. 2hlß:n 4,, 70 Howard .. .- 2hi.2m 6 „ B9 Biukeye .. . , *G J.h.^ton .. .. • 8» Champion Compstitioh fob Gold Medal. Obirno : ... ih »^m 'I|;Wt 85 tt id and Qra , No. 1 2h sim B „ 31 M'Coimu-k No 2 .. 2ti4cen 4 „ 81 KeidaidG-y, .No. 2 2h ilm 6J „ 8J UCornii,n.No 1 .. 2 2*ux 4^;,, "I O bomu, No 2 . . lih 37ru 5 „ 7i Wood .. -- 2nltiin 4J „' 70 How id „ .. «h22-a 0 „ 59 Hor/ibby .. -- 2h 2in 5f „ 65 Back >c .. .. 45 Uniuutl oa .. " .. fiovfc 42 Jubnstou .. .. - — B 9 The testing with the dynamometer took close apon three hours to complete.