The Feilding Star. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 3, 1883. A CHEESE' AND BUTTER FACTORY.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 57, 3 January 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 3, 1883. A CHEESE' AND BUTTER FACTOR Y.

In a previous issue we gave an account of the progress of the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory Company, compiled from its council report. We now follow a similar course with regarJ to the Ashburton Cheese and Butter Factory, being satisfied that this subject is equally interesting to our readers .: "At the first annual general meeting of 'he shareholders in the .Ashburton Cheese and Butter Factory Company, the following balancesheet was submitted :— To nominal capital, £5,000 ; 1,000 shares of £5 each — viz, 701 shares allotted at £5, £3,505 ; 299 shares unallotted at £5, £1,495. Capital account 30 shares, £5 paid up, £150 ; 671 shares £2 called up, £1342 ; less balance due on calls, payable Oct. 30, and arrears, £240 15s ; bills payable, debts owing, and Bank of New Zealand, £2054 12s Id; total, £3305 17s Id. Land, £150; buildings, &c, £1878 6s 4d ; plant and machinery, £533 13s 8d ; cheese, &c, on hand, £231 16s 3d ; cash in hand, £6 14s 4d; preliminary expenses and charges, £405 6s 6d ; total, £3,305 7s Id. The chairman said he would recount shortly the company's history. He began by a reference to the first meeting held in the town on the subject of a proposed factory, and went an to speak of the site that had been chosen, and of the building in which the work was carried on, the machinery imported, and the manager who worked it. A large quantity of cheese had already been manuf a.ct*ired, but cheese was a commodity that took some months to ripen; however, in a month or so, a large quantity of their produce would be in the market. The cheese now in the hall was one of those made in the factory, and there was at the moment some 700 gallons of milk received per day, the factory having started with only 200 gallons. It bow (remained for the company to set about finding a market for the produce. After the secretary had read an estimate of the probable business done and profit made for the first year of the factory's workiDg based on 32 days' work done since the opening day, a spirited discussion arose, in cour.-e of which some useful information was given by the manager, JVlr Harding, who said that if the milk supplied was all of a specific gravity of 32 on the lactometer, the cheese yield would be at the rate of lib per gallon. The morning's milk was lighter than the evening's milk, and just now averaged 29 or 30. The first cheese made — a fine Cheddar — was laid on the side table of the hall. It weighed 45lbs, and was tasted by the handful by all present. It was only six weeks old, hut was a good cheese at that, and allowed a few months to ripen should be a superb article." The figures given above must be convincing to the most incredulous farmer of the payable nature of such aa industry as the above. It benefits not only the shareholders, but the milk producers are also benefitted in a greater degree. It is remarkable how little capital is required. The land cost, £150 ; buildings, £1878 6s 4d ; plant and machinery, £533 13s 8d ; total, £2562, to which is added an item that is not well explained, yiz., preliminary expenses and charges, £405 6s 6d. This sum would not necessarily be expended in the formation of a similar company in the Manawatu. We believe that a capital of £3000 would be amply sufficient to meet the requirements of our district, and if this sheuld piove insufficient after a time, new capital could be called for. To assist the Ashburton Company, the Bank of New Zealand has advanced a considerable portion of the amount, £2054 12s Id, mentioned as out' standing liabilities, and doubtless if a Manawatu Company wanted similar accommodation, one of our local banks would readily respond to any application properly made. The difficulty appears ; to be to get any influential persons to take the initial steps towards the er-eation of any purely local industry such as a Woollen or Butter and Cheese Fa-ctory by means of a company. We devoutly hope that the New Year into which we hare just entered Trill witness a little more energy displayed for the advancement of the Borough than has been witnessed in the year just expired.