HANDLING GRAIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2737, 29 December 1881, Page 2

HANDLING GRAIN.

Mr Janies Brice, in responding to a toast at the Waterworks banquet the, other evening said he had recently been through the United States, but in the whole course of his travels he saw no place that he liked better than Tirnaru. New Zealand had, in his opinion, littlle to fear from American competition in the grain trade. We have great natural advantages in a superior soil and climate, and in the short distances that the grain need be carried by rail, the greater length of sea voyage did not signify much. It is true that carriage by rail is very low in America, but in t> short time we ought to be able to transport produce almost as cheaply. The greatest advantage the Americans have over us is in their system of handling the grain when they have grown it. The carrying of grain on men’s backs is unknown except on the farms. New Zealanders have this portion of their business yet to learn* The grain handled at Timam is a mere fleabite to the quantities dealt with at several American towns, and yet there is more human labor expended on it than upon the vast piles at those American towns. We may boast about our fine climate and prolific crops, but when it comes to handling the produce we must “ take a back seat ”in the presence of the Yankeees. DOMESTIC MACHINERY. In the application of machinery generally wo in New Zealand are almost as far behind the Americans as the Maoris, before we came here, were behind us. In every town where a high pressure water supply existed, as was the case at Titnaru, water motors were used, not only in manufactures but for a thousand domestic purposes, to turn the churn and grind stone, the sausage machine, boot and knife cleaners, the sewing machine, the plate and dish washer, the washing machine and mangle, and a host of other domestic labors were performed partly or altogether by water-driven machinery. Some of these motors are perfect little gems, perfect drawingroom ornaments, and are seen in nearly every house of any size or pretension, to relieve the housemaids of a portion of their drudgery.