A Local Industry

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 101, 23 February 1892, Page 2

A Local Industry

Any man who originatss or developes a local industry is a public benefactor. Amongst this class we may number Mr W. W. Corpe, of Makino, who was the pioneer of the butter trade for export in a large way, and who has now — after numerous trials — attained to that degree of perfection in the treatment of butter which yields him a satisfactory return, as well as being a boon to the settlers in the district who supply the article. The plant used at Mr Corpe's factory consist of an Aylesbury Butter Worker of the latest type, and a six-horse power portable steam engine, and the work done by these machines gives every satisfaction. The mode of treatment the butter receives is as follows : — After being weighed it is turned out on a table, classed, and the various shades are placed separately, it is then put in the worker. When sufficiently worked a slide is raised and the butter forced out in lumps of about 61bs, and put direct into the boxes, which have previously been enamelled and lined with vegetable parchment paper — which, on being opened up in England, peels off and leaves the butter intact. It is then stored in an underground concrete cellar, which is thoroughly ventilated on every side of the factory, the temperature of the cellar averages 20 degrees, and has space enough for 500 boxes. Mr Corpe sorts the butter into three classes. The first quality being a butter that will equal anything turned out in the colony, and for which the top price is obtained, The water supply for cleansing purposes and steam power has been obtained from a concrete tank which, although never quite dry, does not provide a sufficient quantity, therefore Mr Corpe contemplates procuring a supply by artesian well should the one now in course 1 of driving in Manchester Square be successful, or, if not, by an ordinary well. The quantity of milk supplied to the factory is the produce of 1250 cows.