THE REARER AND BINDER TRIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 865, 23 January 1879, Page 2

THE REARER AND BINDER TRIAL.

The trial of harvesters and binders which came off yesterday at Totara resulted in a very decided victory for the M'Cormick machine, for although Reid and Gray, with commendable enterprise, also competed, their machine stood but a small chance with the other highly finished and perfected one. Both machines worked really well, but much as we would like to see our own machine triumphant, it is impossible for to gainsay the fact that the M'Cormick does its work with admirable nicety ; the sheaves fall gently to the ground without the danger of shaking a single ear, and with the utmost regularity. Anyone must have admired the manner in which the sheaves lay on the ground after the trial. The stubble is also left clean and close, contributing in no inconsiderable degree to agricultural economy and general effect. On the other hand, we have much pleasure in stating that the Reid and Gray is lighter in draught, being 3 cwt. 3 qrs. up the hill and 2 cwt. 3 qrs. down it, as against 4 cwt. up, and 3 cwt. down, for the M'Cormick. Besides which it has the advantage of cutting 5 feet 6 inches, or 6 inches more than M'Cormick's, altogether a gain, which would give a considerable extra acreage a day in its favor. On this occasion, however, owing to the breaking of a bolt and other minor stoppages, the machine did not cut its allotted three acres in the same time as the M'Cormick, the time being, Reid and Gray, 2 hours 40 minutes ; M'Cormick, 2hours22minutes. The vqting was in favor pf the last mentioned, being 3? against 4

for the machine, and 27 against 10 for the driver. Thus ,it will be seen that the Society's medal has again gone to the M'Cormick. The decision was arrived at by the votes of bona fide farmers on the ground, the points to be considered in voting being speed, quality of work done, lightness of draught, durability of working parts, and simplicity of mechanism. The conditions were—three acres of crop to be cut, and three hours allowed to complete the work, any machine n6t finishing its allotted Trork in-the time disqualified. It is much to be regretted that the Marsh Harvester did not come to hand from Christchurch, as- great things were anticipated from it x but we understand that the local agents, Messrs. Hassell, Son & Co., did their utmost to get one of them forwarded in time for the trial. The Osborne was also absent, and the Wood, with its improvements in simplicity, draught, &c, was also conspicuous by its absence. A finer piece of land could not have been selected for the purpose, although we would have preferred to have seen a heavier crop to opei'ate upon. The spot chosen was on the slope of the hill rising from the Waiareka to the southward. From four to five hundred farmers and other gentlemen were present, besides a few ladies. Amongst the visitors we noticed Mr. Peter Grant, of Gowrie, West Taieri, the Hon. M. Holmes of Awamoa, and Mr. Caleb Moore, of Dunedin. Every attention was rendered to the competitors by Mr. M'Auly, the manager of the Totara Estate, and everything came off as pleasantly as possible.