The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15. 1889. A PRIZE FOR BUTTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2253, 15 October 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15. 1889. A PRIZE FOR BUTTER.

Tliobo of our readers who aro engaged m thedu irying industry, willbe interested to lean, that a special prizo for butter is to be offered at tho forthcoming New Zealand and b'outh Seas Kxhibition m Dunedin. Tho donor is the proprietor of Tho Irish Times who forwards a draft for five guineas for this purpose with tho '.. stipulation that the butter prcmiated shall bo the product of female labor. It is thus to be handmaid's butter, though not necessarily hand mado. In forwarding his draft Mr Arnott writes to tho President of the Exhibition as follows : — *" Will you do me the honor of accepting tho enclosed to bo dovoted as a special prize for butter, mado by female labor and competed for at the forthcoming Exhibition. It has been my intention to have offered this premium for hand made butterexolusively, but this on reflection would hardly meot the object m view. For the benefit of the colony the aim must be to produce butter on a large scalo, and moro important still of unjform grade ; thus your energies Bhould be directed towards the supply of the article m quantities of considerable bulk and equality. I certainly should have wished the prize to havo been competed for by the female relations or even employees of bona fide farmers who have no interest m any factory ; but this I will leave to your committee, being perfectly satisfied with .whatever decision they m their better judgment may arrive at, whether they admit faotory produce or not. It is essential tbat this industry should be most carefully fostered, nourished and watched over, and I feel quite convinced New Zealand butter will ere long bs eagerly looked for m the Home markets, and by proper supervision, cleanliness, and abovo all due attention to packing for export, it must ultimately command a very fair and remunerative figure. Unity of action and a determination to gain the topmost rung of tho ladder ought to be the aim and object, of not only all engaged m agricultural pursuits m this Southern Britain , but likewise of every producer of material that necessarily tends to build up the fabrics for the world's consumption or enjoyment. Your exhibition is the first really genuine and great step m this direction. Its success is already assured. That the ultimate result will prove to be of vital importance to this young daughter oi the British Empire, is the earnest hope and desire of one who is the sincere friend and well wisher of New Zealand." Tbe gift is a pleasing one, as evinoing a kindly interest m this colony, and we hope that the prize offered will elicit a wide competition.