Sheep Shearing Machines.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2017, 14 January 1887, Page 3

Sheep Shearing Machines.

Sheep shearing machines hare already been invented, and sheep have been shorn by them, bat as they have hitherto (ailed to come into practical nee, it is to be presumed that, all thing! considered, they were no improvement on shearing by hand. The latest invention of the sort comes from Australia. Becent Australian paper* contain account* of a trial of a new sheep shearing machine, held at Snreka Station, near Wsligeft. It is stated to be the invention of a Mr Wolesley, who has devoted many years of labor and study to the matter. The trial was held in the presence of a number of squatters, who are reported to have expressed themselves much pleeeed with the manner in which the work wee done. The account which we have at band does not state how many men were required to work the machine, but the time occupied with each sheep ranged from three minutes to four minute* and a half, and the animal was turned out like a clipped horse, without the slightest injury. Several sheep were shorn by hand, and when afterwards rnn over by the machine from half to three quarters of a pound of extra wool was obtained. The sheep must have been very roughly shorn by hand, or else the machine most be capable r 1 remarkably close shaving. The machine is said to make no ** eece. en', which ia a very important matter as inordinary shearing a considerable qu-.iitity of wo< 1 is greatly reduced in value hy b- inc •hippo 1 up into short lengths. The > ; plication of machinery Ic shoti is not a matter of the greatest urgc.Lcy, bui nevertheless tie t ► i- hj good deal of room for improve m-rn in the manner in which tic work is usually done in the colonies. Mr Wolesiey’s may he the eotnirg machine, but on the other hand, like other machines of ths sort which have been brought before the poblic, it may lapse into obsenrity.

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