EXHIBITION OF HARVESTERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1843, 22 January 1889, Page 4

EXHIBITION OF HARVESTERS.

A public exhibition of three of the harvesters now bidding for public favor, took place last Friday in a paddock of oats near the Geraldine Dairy Factory, belonging to Mr E. Burke. The fact that a harvester of some description will in a few weeks now be a necessity on almost every balding, gave additional interest to the trial, and quite a number of farmers were induced to visit the paddock to watch the machines at work. The weather was just a trifle damp in the morning, but cleared up well as the day wore away. The crop chosen for the exhibition was one well fitted to test the capabilities of the machines in elevating and tying a short crop. In some places the straw was not more than eight or nine inches high, while the ground being in some places very stony the machines could not be lowered as they would otherwise have been. The crop might, perhaps, at the outside, average about 30 bushels per acre. Very keen interest was token by the public in the whole of the day’s proceedings, the work of each machine being narrowly watched by the onlookers, who were extremely critical, and a fault in ©yen a single sheaf was immediately siezed on and made the most of. The machines were got ioto working order shortly after 12 o’clock, and then, at the invitation of Mr Burke, an adjournment was made to the house, where Mrs Burke had prepared a substantial lunch. Abundance of liquid refreshments were provided by Messrs Mundall and Co. A start was made with the cutting immediately after. The respective positions of the machines were decided by the tossing up of a coin, and the task of cutting out fell to the lot of the Massey. This machine was exhibited by Messrs J, Mundell and Co., the expert, Mr KMcLean, being present. With a good pair of horses in, and Mr Corkery on the seat, the machine began her work. Its performance was considered highly satisfactory, especially when it was taken into account that the driver had never sat on a Massey machine before. The machine whose lot it was to follow the Massey was the Walter A. Wood SingleApron Harvester. The result of a public trial of this machine we published in last Thursday’s issue, and on Friday it fully sustained the reputation it a'ready enjoys in this district. Like some of the other improved harvesters its frame is steel. Its raising and lowering apparatus is simple, and its travelling table can be set back or forwards with ease. The reins were handled by Mr W. Fitzpatrick, The Deering was the third and last machine to cut in. Like tha Massey, it had only been pat together that morning, yet it did excellent work all through, and not a few were found ready to pin their faith to it. It was under the charge of Mr James Findlay, of Temuka. As it was cutting a width of 6ft, it required three horses, but it held its own well with its opponents. The work done all round was really excellent, and it was almost impossible to find the smallest peg upon which to hang a semblance of a complaint.