NEW HAY LOADER.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1486, 12 January 1882, Page 2

NEW HAY LOADER.

Ox Tuesday, we had the pleasure of seeing the American hay loader, imported into this district by Mr John Runciman, of Broad Meadows, Cambridge, at work on that gentleman's farm near Captain Steele's, Hamilton. The machine, which is manufactured by Strytton and Culmm, Meadville, Pennsylvania, is not exactly new, although the one under notice is, we believe, the first introduced into this province. It was patented first in 1861, and again with improvements in 1866, and may now be said to be perfect in its operation. In appearance it is simply a hay tedder with an elevator attached, and is as little complicated as^ it is possible to make it. The machine is affixed to the back of the dray or waggon (the latter, if sufficiently broad, is much to be preferred), and the hay is thrown directly in the frame. The teeth of what, for want of a better name, wo will call the tedder, lifts the hay from the winrow and deposits it on the elevator, the laths of which, by an ingenious ai'rangement, clears each successive row of teeth as they come round, and the hay is rai&ed about 12 feet before it falls on the diay. The rapidity with which it does its work is something marvellous, and it is only by extraordinary exertions that the human loader on the dray can arrange his load. It is calculated that the machine can load ten tons an hour with ease, and some idea may therefore be formed of the amount of labour which it saves. After seeing it in operation the old method of loading hay, by means of forks, .appears simply barbarous. Mr Runciman is highly pleased with the machine, as, indeed, is everyone who has seen it at work, and its introduction should be followed by a large importation. It is necessary, in order to fully appreciate its advantages, to see it at work, and we would strongly recommend fanners and others to pay a visit to Broad Meadows some time during this or the early part of next week, where it will be in operation.