THE ADVANCE OF HAWKE'S BAY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2324, 4 December 1914, Page 18

THE ADVANCE OF HAWKE'S BAY.

THE proposal; to erect Fanners' Freezing .Works .far the Hawke's Bay province was first made in July, 1912,- and now. a ■ little over two ysars later, the scheme ■ has frectified-to ■ the- extent that £55,000 has already been expended in; buildings and machinery,- and this month the compar.y, under, the name of ; - the Hawke's Bay Farmers', Meat Co., Ltdy.will start operations, on. a site at Whakatu, midway.between Hastings; and Napier.';: ;•'■.'■'' From the inauguration of the proposal the prpmotera have.met with signal success, and the prospects for the future are bright. The need for guch'works'has beiai'long felt in the fruitful-Hawke's Bay province, where closer settlement ol: land,' more intense cultivation, and more ■ scientific methods of. farming, witji the increase,rin.s the numljer of stock carried,' accentuate;-: eaot.year the desirability of,' having , works "■ owned by fanner shareholders, where' they can. be cer-. tain of getting their stock disposed of in : *the :busy seaßorl.;:' ; , V : ■ START OF THE PROJECT. The genesis of the Hawke's Bay Far'mers' Meat Co., Ltd!, was at a public meeting. held in the Waipukurau. Library buildings, on Tuesday, July 2, 1912. Mr. Davis Canning, a wellknown sheepfarmer, who has'devoted a, great dealof his energies towards making the company a success, presided at the meeting, and -interest in' the, proposal was evident from [ the fact that over one hundred .'farmers from all paft3 of Hawke's _Bay were present. At that moisting Mr. Canning, after explaining the reason why they were called together,; stressed. the fact that the . district.. was capable of producing lambs equal; in quality to those produced in-any ptirt of New Zealand;

Douglas, farmer, Elsthorpe) A. Logan, farmer, Tamumu; Robt. Dougall, farmer, Hatuma; T. 'Burnett,- farmer, Hatuma; W. D. Fleming, farmer, Har tiima; W. G. Fleming, farmer, Hatuma; McNutt Bros., farmers, Wanstead; H. A. Speedy, farmer, Takapau; John Winlove, builder, Waipukurau; A. Knight, farmer, Otane; F. J. Witherow, farmer, Patangata; John McNeill, farmer, Patangata; Henry Tiff en, farmer, Patangata; W. A. Tod. farmer, Otane; R. H. Tod, farmer, Otane: J. D. Todd, farmer, Waipukurau; C. W. Limpus, farmer, Patangata; J; O'Neill, fanner, Waipukurau; Owen M. Monckton, farmer, Waipukurau; C. Pattisoh, farmer,. Waipukurau,; R. H. Parker, farmer, Takapau; Thos. Power", farmer, Takapau; W.■ Matthews,' farmer, Hatuma; J. C. Main, farmer, Waipukurau; C, ; Smith,.farmer, Takapau; Finlay Mortison, farmer, Makaretu; Alexr. Maokie, farmer, Onga Onga; Inglis Bros., farmers, Onga Onga; F. A. Parker, farmer, Waipawa: M. Malonev, farmer, Hatuma; A. F. Cook, farmer Waipukurau; Alex. Shand, farmer, H» tuma;Geo. E.' Merrikin, fanner, Ha tuma; W. A. Chambers, builder, Waipukurau; D. Kittow, farmer, Tamumu WV T, Kittow, fanner, Tamumu; A.- 0. Prentice, fanner, Hatuma; A. E. Smalley, manager, Waipukurau; M. Severinsen, farmer, Makaretu; A. Svensen, farmer, Hatuma; J. G. Wilson, farmer, Hatuma; 0. S. H. Schroder, farmer, Hatuma; Wm. Blowse, farmer, Hatuma; Murdock McKay, farmer, Hatuma; A. Mcßae, fanner, Hatuma; Jas. Donald,. farmer, Waipukurau ; J. 0. Parker, fanner, Waipukurau; A. T. Jensen, farmer, Hatuma; F. Janett, farmer, Hatuma; F. C. White, farmer, Takapau; E. R. White, farmer, Takapau; H. J. Papps, farmer, Kopiia; Wm. Yardley, farmer, Takapau; J. W. and E. F. Stubbs, farmers, Takapau; W, Jaokson, fanner,

issue. The manager for the new concern is Mr. F..S. Candy, who waa appointed on August 1, 1914. JEe had previously been manager of the Pareora Works,at Timaru, for the Canterbury Frozen Meat Co., for about eight years, and he has been closely associated with the meat industry for practically all his life.- He recently visited tho great Smithfield markets, England, to get in touch_ with the latest methods . for handling frozen produce. Mr. P. S. Carroll, who still remains the secretary, has been in Waipukurau for the last eight years, and was secretary of the Waipukurau Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Ho is thus in close touch with all the farmers of the'district, and was practically responsible for securing the shareholders. SITE OF THE WORKS. , In another direction has the Hawkel's Bay Farmers' Meat Co.- been fortunate. They have secured a site for their works, which is admittedly about the best suited for a freezing works in any part of New Zealand. Tlia company has about 15. acres of land at Whakatu, alongside the Napier-Wellington railway line. The land is'weiradapted for drainage, as it .runs along tho'Ngaruroro River, whose tidal waters will carry off all refuse. Another important aspect is 'that the works have a plentiful, artesian supply. • Five bores have been sunk on the property, and the flow of'water at present is about 60,000 gallons, per day. -.. The water is perfect in every, respect,-.and apparently the supply is unlimited. To carry off the overflow,' and the Tefuse.from the works, underground : concrete sewers have been constructed. .■■ The drainage system has received the full sanction of the N.Z. Government Health Department, and the Department of Agriculture.

Ho said thai! f<w Home time there had bean a desire on tha part of the fanners to build their own works, as most of ihem knew of the success that farmers' freezing works had/been in other parts of New Zealand. Coupled with that was the fact that at the height of the killing season there had always been a difficulty in Retting their_ fat stock token when they wanted it. j The views expressed by the chairman met with the entire approval of the farmers present, and they at once decided to appoint a committee to gather'- information. That committee was formed as follows Davis farming, Wallingford; J. D. Todd, .Waipukurau; F. 0. White, Takapau; J. C. Parker, Waipukurau;. J. O'Neill, .Waipukurau; J. E. Flood, Waipukurau; A. C. Prentice, Hatuma; Jas. Donald, Waipukurau; G. E. Merrikin, Hatuma; and T.E. Whelch, Wanstead. Mr. P. S. Carroll, of Waipukurau, was also appointed interim secretary. . A little over a fortnight later, on July 20, : a further public meeting was held in., the Town Hall, Waipukurau, at which'"there was ;a largo attendance. Mr. Canning presided,' and explained the information the committee had gained.'" To put the matter oil a formal footing M. C. C. Smith, Wanstead, moved the following motion, which was seconded by Mr. J. C. Parker, and unanimously carried:— -./' "That this meeting is of opinion that it is desirable to start a farmers' freezing works in Hawke's Bay, and that a strong committee be formed to. collect information, and determine other details .in connection with the proposal,.''• • . The following names were then added to the previous committee:—Messrs. A. Parsons, Waipukurau; A. Shand, Hatuma; A. E. Price, Takapau; H. Tiffen' Patangata; M. Paulsen, Takapau; and; Ai-.W. Cook, Ashley Clinton. It was intended at first to arrange for an amalgamation between _ the proposed company and the Wellington Farmers' Meat Co., Ltd., whoso works are near Masterton, but satisfactory arrangements could not bo made, and the matter of amalgamation was abandoned. Memorandum and articles of association for the new company were at once drawn up, and seven provisional directors were appointed, all well-known shoepfarmors, in the. person of Messrs. Davis Canning . (chairman), T. E. Wheloh, A. C. Prentice, J. O'Neill, J. O, Parker, J. D.' Todd, and G.E.fMeriiiin.* ORIGINAL SUBSCRIBERS. That memorandum of association was signed by over ono hundred farmers,' who were the orieinal shareholders representing about £13,000 of shareß. The original subscribers to this undertaking were:—J. W. Harding, shoepfanner, Waipukurau; Davis Canning, shoepfarmer,,..'Wallingford; T. E. Wliolch, sheepfaraer, Wanstead; E. J. White, sbeepfarmor, Porangahau; J. E. Flood, retired farmer,-Waipukurauj J 1 . 1

Takapau; J. Thomson, farmer, Takapau: G. O.Lowe, farmer, Ruataniwha; G. McKay, farmer, Otane ;-H. Harris, farmer, Onga Onga; E. Wilson, farmer, Onga Onga; D. P. McLean, farmer, Onga,Onga; W. C. Hewitt, solicitor, Waipukurau; D. .Howse, farmer, Ashley Clinton; iC. J. Ward, farmer, ABhley Clinton; A. E. Price, fanner, Takapau; A. W. Cook, farmer, Takapau; W. G. Morton, farmer, Ashley Clinton: H. M. Sanders, fanner, Kopua; T. J. Bennett, farmer, Whetukura; R. S. Chadwick, farmer, Whetukura; J. Snaddon, farmer, Whetukura; 0. F. Barker, fanner, Whetukura; A. W. Kenderdine, farmer, Elsthorpe; G. R. Field, farmer, - Havolock North'; A. A. Small, farmer, Hastings; C. Jensen, farmer, J. and T. Holden, farmers, Tikokino; J. A. Hudson, farmer, Hastings; J. D. Logan, fanner, Hatuma; W. J. Castles, farmer, Whetukura; J. H. Morrison, farmer, Makotuku; F. A. Ellingham, farmer, Whetukura ; O. B. Heatley, farmer, Waipukurau; John Duncan, farmer, Elsthorpe; R.' S. McAulay, farmer, Elsthorpe; T. Pepper, fanner, Elsthorpe; W- Watson, farmer, Elsthorpe: W. H. Small, farmer, Otane; T. Witherow, farmer, Otane; W. 0: Munro, farmer, Otane; G. W. Nilsson, farmer, Otane; Chas. Parker, farmer, Argyll; J. Wallace, farmer, Argyll; R. W. Spring, farmer, Argyll; G. Y. Oliver, farmer, Argyll East; W. Little and Sons, farmers, Argyll East. GOOD PUBLIC BUPPORT. With such a good start no time was lost in putting the scheme before the public. The company was registered on Dec. 31, 1912, and a prospectus issued, setting out the aims of the company. Tho idea met with almost unanimous support on the part of the farmers of Hawke's Bay, and at the present time the shareholders/numbering 400, are drawn from Wairoa, H:B., to Dannevirke. According to the last sheep returns, they own about 1,250,000 sheep, so it will b© seen that_ stock will go forward to the works in large numbers. A statutory, meeting was held on June 28, 1913, when the directorate was increased from seven to nine, and the directors of the company now aro:— Messrs. Davis' Canning (chairman), T. E. Whelch, J. C. Parker, J. D. Todd, J. A. MacFarland, W. J; Stratton, H. H: Glazebrook, C. H. Cranby, and 0. M. Monckton. The shareholders are fortunate in obtaining such a representative body of practical farmers to control the destinies of their new concern. Mr. Canning is the son of one of tho pioneers of Hawke's Bay. His station is at Wallingford, halfway between Napier and Porangahau, and he has been closely associated' with all movements' in tho direction of co-opera-tion amongst the farmers. Much of the siiccess of the present ■ undertaking is due to him. The other directors are all well-known and their efforts will o&rrj; warkj ea to> *s *n/M*srfnl '

The works have their own, railway siding, and frozen produce'will get into Napier within half an hour. The site was originally, occupied by boiling down works, which were carried on by Mr. R. P. Williams. He used the Ngaruroro River for barging his products into ; Napier, 'and it' is quite within the bounds of possibility that the present company.will, in the future, endeavour to use the river as a waterway. If so they will do away with railage, lighterage and, wharfage charges. OPEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS. The buildings aro so far forward and the machinery, all of the latest pattern, installed, that it is anticipated' killing will commence before Christmas. It was at first intended to open en Deo. 15,. but the war delayed the arrival of some'of the machinery and the dato was put back a little. When in full swing the works will give occupation, in tho busy season, to about 200 men.'ln connection with the works the company are erecting barracks for the men, and cottages for the foreman, on sites adjacent to the works. ' The buildings for such an undertaking are the main feature, and the company secured'the services of the. best architectural and engineering talent to design the plans. Mr. A.' S. Mitchell, engineer and architect, of Lambton Quay, Wellington, haß been responsible for the plans, and his past work has shown him .highly capable for Buch an undertaking. The capacity of the works, as in all new New Zealand . projects* has demanded the greatest turnover within reasonable expenditure of capital, and while bearing this important point in mind Mr. Mitchell kept in view the future interests of the shareholders, and he has given 'them an asßet such as they-do not need to apologise for, and which will not require renewal or repaire for very many years to come. The works are nominally designed for a killing capacity of 2000 sheep,'and 50 head of cattle per day, but can. easily be increased, at small cost, to a capacity of 8000 sheep per diem: The present storage capacity is 32,000 601bi Bheep, or 40,000 sheep and lambs. BY-PRODUCTS. The following by-products are to be' handled:— (1) Fellmongering. (2) Pelt curing. (3) Tallow manufacture. (4) Preserving and canning. (5) Fertiliser manufacturing. The former, of course, includes the packing and export of such so-called edible "offal," as is demanded in the Smithfiold aud American market. Tho machinery for the canning works is on order, and it is hoped to commence this branch next season. IMPOSINC WORKS. The buildings as they stand to-day . oover a long frontage to tho I railway Una, Thus Bomsi of tta» blocks wst

f ' Necessitates New Freezing Works, . ■ ■ ■ L*\ Works at Wliakatu, Hawke's Bay. pJ

ample room between. This oourso lae been adopted to allow of expansion, which can be expected to come as the years go by. The first building contains the boiler room, engine house, and the freezing and storing rooms, and this is in every way constructed a« to provide a maximum of utility for a minimum of labour. Ventilation has beenan important point carefully provided for by the designer, Tlio block is two storeys high, and is built in conformity with the other two buildings, thus making a pleasing architectural structure. Inthe middle of the plant is the slaughtering and fellmongering block, of three storeys. The sheep and cattle are taken to the slaughter floor by "runs" rising from the stock yards, and when they reach the slaughter floor are separated, the sheep pens being on one side, and the cattle stands on the other. Sheep are the main consideration, and there are stands for 24 sheep butchers. The killing is done above a concrete floor, and channels and tubes convey the blood and refuse to the different by-product departments. As fcon as the sheep are killed they are slung on rails, aud taken to the cooling room, which is adjacent. They are then weighed and graded, and passed down to the freezing Tooms, along a covered elevated gangway. HANDLING THE SHEEP. By a system of connecting rails the sheep aro never taken from tno hanging rails from the time they are killed till they ,are ready to be sent out of the freezinE rooms. There are blx freezing rooms, with a oapacity of 1000 sheep each. The freezing is done by the latest cold air battery device. Once froien the carcasses are Bent down a chute to the store below,; so there is a minimum of handling. ' The third block of buildings Is to be used for the manure

and fertiliser works. Beyond this again are the offices, in a separate wooden building, overlooking the whole works, which are erected in slight crescent shape. The successful tenderers for the boilers, and refrigerating plant were Messrs. John Chambers and Son, Wellington. • The refrigerating machinery is from the renowned makers, Haslams, Ltd., Derby, England, while .the boilers are Baboook ande Wilcox make: The electrical plant was supplied by Messrs. F. S. Greenshields and Co., Wellington, and the digesters, tallow refiner and manure drier by Messrs. Wm. Cable- and Co., Wellington. MR. MITCHELL'S OTHER WORKS. The oompany were extremely careful in the selection of the designer l for their huge project, and the fact that Mr. Mitchell haß such a large list of successful works to his credit no doubt .weighed with the directors.. Mr. Mitchell has designed and carried out the following works in New Zealand:— Nolson Freezing Works. Tokomani Bay Freezing Co. Wellington Farmers' Meat Co., Masterton (with" additions). South Otago : Freezing Co., Balclutha. Patea Freezing Co. In addition to those and many other works in New Zealand Mr. MitcheD has in hand projects for Mes6rß. Haynes Bros., in Brisbane, of a capacity of 160 cattle and 1000 sheep per day, and similar works for the well-known firm of F. J. Walker and Co., of Sydney and Wellington, with a capacity of 200 cattle and 2000 sheep per day. He has also plans in hand for works in Southern Argentine, South America, for a turnover of 200, cattle and 2000 sheep per day. This latter project has been somewhat delayed by the war, but the patriotic spirit of tie promoters has been of suoh a sincere and enthusiastic nature that the scheme only awaits more peaceful times for its fulfilment. A FAVOURABLE START. It can truthfully be said of tbo Hawko's Bay Farmers' Meat Co. that they start commercial operations undor conditions . second to no company with similar pretensions floated during the past ton years. As practically all tho_ sheepfarmors in Hawke's Bay are behind tho company it. will not have to seek for support. 'The company intends to freeze mainly on farmers' account, and consign to tho farmers' order. If necessary they will buy and sell in tho ordinary way, but the first method will be carried out as far as possible. The erection and carrying on of such large works will moan an important commercial asset has been added to the district, and both Hastings and Napier will benefit considerably. It is all at one with the marked progress which ia being made by the district as n whole.