LABOUR-SAVING MACHINERY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2429, 4 February 1888, Page 2

LABOUR-SAVING MACHINERY.

A vavr months ago, Mr Isaac Coates of Hamilton, came across a description of a newly patented straw elevator, brought into notice by Messrs Hornsby and Son, the well-known English firm of agricultural implement makers, and with commendable enterprise at once cabled to the firm to supply one of the machines. From the merits claimed for it by the patentees, Mr Coates decided it would supply a want long felt in handling hay and grass crops. The elevater arrived at the Hamilton West station on Thursday evening, and yesterday morning Mr Coates had it put together, and after a careful examination of its dill'erent capabilities, expressed himself as fully satisfied that the machine would carry out all that was claimed for it by the makers. The main feature of the elevator as compared with older models is thattrnicumbrious lift is divided in the middle with a hinge, so that when not in use it is doubled, one Hap on the other, and therefore not unwieldy and can be transported from place to place with the same ease as any ordinary four wheeled vehicle, the total weight being a little over a ton. The receiving table at the foot of the lift can be backed up to the threshing machine, taking the straw direct from the shakers, and requiring no attention at this point. By means of gearing fixed under the lift, a wooden arm turns the top half completely over, forming one straight shoot of over 30 feet in height. An endless chain runs at each side of the shoot, with an attachment of iron pins about six inches in length fixed in frames, these when set in motion convey the straw to the stack. Mr Coates is of opinion that the labour of one man will be quite sufficient to build the stack as the elevator can be so placed that the straw may be delivered at the centre of the stack, and from this point one man will be able to take the straw as it comes in from the elevator. It is satisfactory to learn that in view of increasing areas of grain crops, the improved labour-saving machinery being brought into operation will effect a saving of fully half of what it used to cost only a short time ago, oven when a good deal of machinery had been brought to bear on this point, to say nothing of the time when manual labour only was available. With such low prices for grain as in the future are likely to be obtained, every item of saving must be carefully taken of, and any of our business men ' Vwho shows the enterprise of our fellow settler, Mr Coates, deserves the best thanks of the whole community for placing within our reach a means to help us to arrive at this most desirable object—a reduction in the cost of production.