TRIAL OF REAPERS AND BINDERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 911, 31 January 1882, Page 3

TRIAL OF REAPERS AND BINDERS.

The trial of reapers and binders held under the auspices of the Canterbury Farmers’ Co-operative Association last Saturday in a paddock belonging to the Key. Mr Foster on the Wai-iti road, about two miles from Timaru, was not so successtul as was expected, owing to the weather not being suitable, and that a sufficient number of machines did not enter for competition. The reason so few machines competed is inexplicable. The Association is so important, that it ought to tempt.the proprietors of machines to bring them out for the purpose of exhibition independent of the consideration that excellent prizes were granted. If the owners of the "Wpod, and McCormick machines are satisfied with the honors they have already won they make a great misf&ke, because, perfect as these machines ”-jpav be, as good is bound to come into competition with them, and popularity may possibly slip through their fingers. There wer« only four machines competed at last Saturday’s trial, two Osboroes; the r*' Howard “JSimplex, ” and the Aultman. Each machine had about 3£ acres allotted to it, and work commenced at a given at 12 o’clock. The first to finish was the Aultman wire binder, which received the silver medal of £5 os, and it yichly deserved it, as it did its work admirably. The Howard '• Simplex ” was to finish, and its work was such, that

i’ would be a difficulty to find fault with it. It was awarded the prize of the five guineas sihei iuedal for the best string binil' iThe Osborne combined wire and string binder was new. that being its first trial, and consequently did not work as smoothly as it will probab y after it has been used for a time. It was awarded the gold medal of £lO 10s. more on account of the rapidity wi + h which it was changed from a wire to a string binder than anything else. The Howard “Simplex”is a new machine, and is likely to become popular. It lias been made in Bedford, England, by Messrs, J. and F. Howard, and is, of much stronger, build than tl e American machines. Its swath is five feet wide, and, it cuts and. ties spendidly. It is fitted up with extra wheels which enables it to travel on roads, and is drawn end on, so that it can go through ordinary gateways. The Ault ran is, also an excellent michme, and did its work in first-rate stylo. The judges were Messrs J. Olelland, J. Kelland, M. Studholme. and G. F. Lovegrove. Mr J. Thorhurn being mechanical experrt, and the awards were given as above.