THE REAPER AND BINDER AT TOKOMAIRIRO.

Dunstan Times, Issue 827, 22 February 1878, Page 3

THE REAPER AND BINDER AT TOKOMAIRIRO.

—o Tokomairiro is tlio first place in Otago where a New Zealand made hinder and reaper was tried. The machine was manufactured by Messrs Reid and Gray, of Dunedin, to the order of Mr J. A. Duthie, Auctioneer, of Milton, and was tried on th Ithh instant, on Mr Jas. Martin's farm, near Milton, in the presence of nearly 100 spectators. Mr Gray, of the firm of Reid and Gray, superintended and set up the machine even’ part of which, was made in Dunedin. The machine being newly painted did not work with tho smoothness characteristic of machines after being for some time in work, and before attempting to cut the crop—which was a very fair average one, and calculated to give tho machine every chance for testing its capabilities—several turns were taken round the field, and it was 4 o'clock before the real work was commenced The machine was drawn by two horses, and managed by an engineer in the employ of the makers. There wore several harvest men from an adjoining field who witnessed tho first attempt, ami it was an amusing "ceno to witness their enjoyment at the then evident failure, as the three or four first sheaves being tied too close to the butt when thrown out tumbled to pieces, but on an adjustment of the machine this was soon remedied. It could not be expected at a first trial that everything would w’Ork smoothly. No doubt, as with everything else new, a little practice and a considerable knowledge of the machine are necessary before things will go right; but there can be no hesitation in saying that the machine will save a considerable amount of labor, and will in the long run be tho principal instrument used for cutting crops in New Zealand. Messrs Reid and Gray; tho makers, deserve great credit for their enter prise in tackling this matter.

Messrs Reid and Gray’s reaper and binder was tried again on Monday last in tbo presence ot* a large number of the farmers in the Tokomairiro district, and gave so much satisfaction that Mr Duthie, the purchaser, has entered into as many contracts for cutting as the machine will do this season at the rate of 10s per acre.. The price of these reapers is we believe L 75. Bruce Herald.

The Melbourne Argus has published the following statement in reference to reapers and binders, which are peculiarly interesting at the present time At present the cost of binding and cutting an acre of corn—say wheat, 15 bushels to the acre—by a pood twodiorse side delivery reaping me chine, cutting 12 acres per day, is nearly as follows : A man and boy, per diem £0 13 0 Two horses per diem 0 8 0 Nine men, binding, at 3s 3 12 0 £4 13 0 Or as nearly as possible 7s 9d per acre, and a fraction under Gd a bushel. By the automatic machine, 13 acres per day of the same crop would be cut down, because its knife is 12 inches or 18 inches louper than the older machines, aud the accounts would stand thus ; A man driving the machine £0 8 0 Two horses (I § 0 Wire, at Is Gd per acre 0 1!) G ill 15 G Or a little less than 2s OJd per aero, and 2 j I pet bushel. The saving to be effected by the new machine is therefore at the rate of about 43 HJd per aero, or 3Jd par bushel.