The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1892.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9541, 7 November 1892, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1892.

A milking machine having been introduced into this district it is exciting much attention from the farmers, and was the centre of attraction at the Show at Hawera last week. The machine, however, was not then in perfect order, and consequently did not work satisfac torily ; but we believe there was a better result from it on Friday. It is to be exhibited at the Taranaki Agricultural Show on December Ist, when its owner having it in proper order those interested ,in this labour saving machine will be able to see it at work properly. About two years ago we gave a description of this machine, which was invented by Mr William Murehland, of Kilmarnock, Scotland, who has now had it at work for nearly eighteen months, with considerable success. The principle is nothing more or less than the application of suction to the cows' teats. By means of an air-pump a vacuum is produced in an apparatus, which, when applied to the udder of the animal, immediately causes the milk to flow, and continues to do so steadily until the supply is exhausted, and this too with apparent ease and comfort to the animal. A one-inch iron pipe, suspended from the roof, is carried right round the byre, about in line with the shoulders of the animals, and o\ feet or so high. Between each pair of cows depends from tho pipe a short connection fitted with a stop-cock. To , this connection can be fitted at will the end .of a rubber tube, communicating in similar manner with tho special milk-can, in its turn rendered air tight, and having four other small connections opposite to the one in connection with the tube. To these four connections are attached four short engths of elastic tubing — two of them a little longer than the others iv order to reach to the hind teats. To the free end of each of the short pieces of tubing is attached a cone shaped piece of tinned copper, something like an enlarged tobacco pipe, carrying at its small end a stop-cock. A broad band or sling, with several links of chain at each end, is placed over the cow's back. The pail or can has a hook or catch at each side, and by these it is attached to the links on the band, and hence it hangs under the animal, clear of the ground. Placed thus, the long tube connects it with the overhead pipe. The stop-cock is opened, and a vaccum is produced in the pail. One of the cones at the end of a short tube is moistened and fitted on- a teat, the stop-opened, and the vacaum is in touch with the udder; and so with the other three cones ; and the four teats each deliver a stream of milk. The milk-can is about 18in high and about 15in diameter. The lop is conical, finishing in a mouth about three inches across. This opening is closed and rendered air-tight by means of a thick flat glass lil laid on a deep elastic band, kept in place by a projecting ledge carried round inside the neck of tho can ; and close beneath this glass lid, when the cow is being milked, can be seen the little jets ~)i milk playing into the can. By a simple contrivance the vacnun is kept uniform; and by the same means it can bo increased or eased. This machine was not perfected until after many experiments. For instance, the " throb " of the air pump led the inventor to tho discovery of the pulsator, which is an imitation of the calf's tongue, in gutt->-percha,andisfixedon one side of tho cup that fastens on to the udder at the base of the teat. This I pulsator is worked by the vibratory action of the air pump so as to alternately clasp and relieve the teat exactly as the calf's tongue docs. There is another machine, called an "improvement " on Murchland's, which, instead of requiring an engine and air pump to' produce the exhaust, has an injector. Steam from a small boiler is mado to ru3hpast the end of the piping connected with tho milking apparatus, and this draws out the ail so as to create tho necessary vacuum. This does away wiih the thfobbing action produced by the air pump, and causes merely a long sustained drawing motion without a ripple, which is really a defect in tho machine rather than an improvement. From the above short description it will be seen that the apparatus is simple and easy of manipulation. Twenty cows or one, it is said, may be milked at the same time, in fact a whole byreful could be milked at once, provided there was a can for each cow and there were as many connections with the overhead pipe as animals in the byre. But the principal item of exponse lies in the can and its accessories ; and being meant for a labour-saving appliance, a limited number of cans would require to be used in order to save hands and avoid the necessity of having to clean a large number of tubes and cans. Two active girls, with a boy to pump, could, it is said, easily manage to keep 10 c*ns going ; and, in this way, a largo number of cows could be overtaken in a short time. One of tho best features, however, of the milking machine is its cleanliness. One of the most careful farmers in the district told us the other day that he could not have believed there could possibly have been dirt in his milk, till ho got a separator. The first time, however, he took his separator to pieces in order to clean it was v surprise to him. It was a sight ! The inside wall of the bowl was coated over nearly an inch thick with a conglomeration of dirf, thrown there by the centrifugal action. The milking machine in this respect will add; therefore, to the cleanliness in butter making. As a test for experimental purposes. ]V?r Murchland, the inventor, got twelve com, six of which ho pet apart for hand milking, the others to bo milked by his machine, and n register kept of each animal's yield The result of tho register over a period of three weeks was: tlio hand milked cows gave an average daily yield of 24 G-7ths pounds, while the machine milked six averaged 2-i 3-7ths pounds, and during another period of two weeks the hand milked ones gavo a daily average of 24 3-7ths pounds, and the machine milked ones an average of 24 4-7ths Wo have gone

somewhat fully mto the description and capabilities of this machine, because we feel sure, if the "labour" difficulty in connection with the milking of cows can be got rid of, that many would go iv for dairying on a large scale. The machine is being extensively used in Victoria, and we have no doubt that in time it will become as common in this district as the separator.

In the Police Court this (Monday) morn, ing a Maori woman, who was locked up on Saturday, was discharged with a caution for drunkenness.

Mr W. Elliot's blood stallion Criiser] whose near foreleg was broken a cotplo of weeks apo, died on Friday last. The loss will bo a severe ono to Mr Elliot.

At the Hawera Show on Thursday, Mr J V. Dinglo'B Ebony took first prize as a hackney entire, Mr Richardson's horso taking eecoond honors.

Miss Alico Sydnoy Burvctt, the celebrated pianiste, ia announced in our amusement column to perform for ono night only in the Alestindra Hall ; on to-morrow (Tuesday) evening. The programme is judiciously varied, and contains many of thoße brilliant and popular pieces which the fair artiste has played to critical and enthusiastic audionces in well nigh all parts of tho world.

It is roportod that between Saturday night and this (Monday) morning tho house in the New Plymouth Tennis Club's grounds was broken into, and a pair of shoes and a number of new balls wore stolen.

On learning tho reßult of the recent o'ection in the United Kingdom, Mr Walton forwarded a letter signed by himself and 39 other local admirers of the G.O.M , congratulnting him on his victory By tho last mail Mr Walton received tho following le'ter frcm Mr Gladstone's private eecretary : — " 10, Downing-street, Whitehall, September 18th, 1892. Sip.— l am desired by Mr Gladstone to thank you for the congratulation which he had the honour to receive from you on behalf of certain Liberal residents in Now Plymouth. — I am, &c, SrENCEti Lyttelton Mr W. Walton."

A young man named Joseph Schrider, son of a settler at Lepper Road, wbb thrown from his horse on Sunday evening, and sustained a broken collar bone and a bid sprain of the right ankle.

Tho first meeting of tho creditors in the estate of tho late Mr Lowther Broad, District Court Judge, was held at Nelson on Thurs. day last. The assignee read a statement, Bhowing that there were secured creditors to the amount of £2235, and that the value of the securities was £2850, while the unsecured creditors were stated at £2811 ; but the assignee said that the claims would aggregate close on £4000. The net assets he valued at £840, and calculated that the estate would pay 3s 6d in the pound. He said that some creditors held lifeinsuiance policies as liens, but that certain of the assignments was not legally binding. The total value of eight policies on the lifo of deceased was £3400, and of that £1500 belonged to the family, while another £800 would go to them, as the assignments wero invalid. Tho Government were giving a compassionate allowance of £900, so that there would be about £3000 for the family. It was understood that the estate would be administered us speedily as possible.

A correspondent of a touthern news paper thinkß that instead of a Labour Demonstration Day, there ought to be an Employers' Day, for in theee depressed times, ho Bays, the Jot of some of the much-maligned employers is not a happy one.

Mr Nathaniol Valentine, the well-known hotolkeeper of Wellington, who came to the colony in 1846 with the 65th Regiment, died at Potone on Thursday night last. The deceased was 64 years of age.

The death ia recorded at Auckland of Mr G. A. Brassoy, at the age of eighty -two years. Deceased came to the colony in 1837. . Ho held a commission in the Indian army, and saw service in the Burmese war.

Travelling book-hawkers were tho subject of a discussion at the Ghrislchurch Oity Council the other night, when it wub decided that they should not only have to pay a license fee if they hawked books, but also if they solicited orders for them. One councillor did not speak very eulogistically of this class of people, who came to the town and hawked about inferior books to the detriment of icsident booksellers and agentp, who paid rates and helped them to run tho town. If Le had hia way he said ho would raise the cost of the license to ten pounds. -..

The Dainpier Dramatic Compaoy concluded a season of five nights on Saturdayi when they produced " Tho Greon Lanes of England." The drama was excellently staged and played, tho performora' efforts being greeted with frequent tokens of appreciation from the audience Mr Dampicr, who took the clnractor of f Gentleman George," recited "Tho Charge of the Light Brigade," and " Littlo Jim," both pieces being rapturously received by the audience. Tho Company left for South this (Monday) morning, and will play " Robbery Under Arms " at Stratford to night.

Mr Kehoe, tho pianist of tho Dumpier Company mot with a painful accident on Sunday. Ho was watching some lade fishing at tho harbour, when a heavy " sinker " on a hand line, which was being thrown out to sea by a lad standing near, parted from tho lino and fatrr.ck Mr Kohoe above tho temple. Tho "sinker" inflicted a nasty gash, and severed an artery. The wound was temporarily bandaged, and Mr Kehoe wis brought, .without delay, into to.vn, and taken to Dr. Christie's surgery, where tho wound was tkilfully attended to. On account of tho accident Mr Kohoe has been compelled to stay behind for a few days, and his place an musician will be filled by Mr G. Garry till he is sufliciently recovered to rc6umo his duties.

Mr F. Goodacre writes to us, and states that at tho Uawera Agricultural Show ho took first prize in Ulack Hamburghs ; also lirst prize for Bantams Ho took four first prizes, including Wyandottes, Langshans, Black Hamburghs, and Bantams.

As will be seen by t dvertisement, tho usual practico for tho Musical Festival will bo held on Tuesday night, at St. Mary's schoolroom, at 7 30. In coDsequonco of tho powerful counter attraction last Tuesday night, it has been decided to extend tho priviloge of allowirg now voices to attend practice to morrow night, after which, on no account can any now voices attend . , Mrs Batten has consented to net as pianist. It is probable that tho festival will bo held on Monday, Januury 2nd.

A writ for £200 has been issued against Mr Alexunder Black, proprietor of tho ' Puhialua Star, by Mr F. Grevillo, late editor of that paper, for breach of uu ' agreement to enter into partnership.