DAIRYING IN THE WAIMATA.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 941, 14 July 1903, Page 3

DAIRYING IN THE WAIMATA.

MESSRS McPHAIL AND DkLAUTOUR’S ENTERPRISE.

APATHY OF THE SETTLERS,

PLENTY OF COWS BUT NO MILKEBS.

The Waimata dairy factory has now been completed and equipped with as fine a plant as there is to be found in the whole of New Zealand. This has been brought about through the efforts of Messrs C. A. DeLautour and McPhail, and the settlers are now asked to co-oporate with those , gentlemen in order to put the dairying industry on a sound basis in the Waimata district. The plant was yesterday in full running order for the first time, and the settlors were called togothor to inspect it and discuss the question as to what arrangements could be made with them for the coming season, Mr C. A. DeLautour presided over the meeting, and amongst those present were the following : —Messrs Branson, McPhail (2;, DeLautour (2), Partridge, W. Dods. Martin, Watson, Field, \V. Todd, W, Richardson, Buovvseil. and Pardoe. In addressing the meeting, Mr DeLautour said that Mr McPhail and himself bad asked the settlers to meet them that afternoon to discuss matters in connection I with the dairying industry. They could | see for themselves thut the factory was ready to go to work. The plant put in was capable of treating the milk from a thousand cows, and he ventured to say was one of the very best in Now Zealand. They had not spent a groat deal over the buildings, but they would all agreo that they were very serviceable. The reason why thoy had not spent much in buildings was that in building the factory they had no idea of running it as a speculation, but in the firm idea that the Wai

matu was eminently suitable for dairying, and that it would be a valuable auxiliary to every sheep farm in the district. They thought that they had better back their opinion, and had done so. They did not desire to run the factory as a speculation, but to offer it to thb sottlors on such terms

that they could all work together. He did not know why the people of Poverty Bay should hold the opinion that one could only dairy on level ground. Tho whole of tho property of the West Coast gave this a denial. It was simply a question of acreage, and ho contended that thoro was more grass per acre than there was at Makauri. He put it at two and a half to one', if they got rents for their land proportionate to the land on the flat. They would find that they would get rents that they could not touch at sheep farming. If they held to their properties and went in for dairying they would make a great deal more than they were doing at the present time. This had been proved all through the North Island. Another advantage was that every acre of freehold land was increased in value by a pound per acre by the starting of a factory. This had already been proved in the case of the Motu. He thought that he was putting tho statement very mildly at that. He would not detain them, because many of them had come long distances to the meeting. He would come to business ot once. Mr McPhail and himself had talked the matter over, and two or three proposals suggested themselves. They were also open to receive any suggestion from the meeting. One proposal was to offer the factory to the district. To bring this about they would require a small farmers’ committee,. and trust that com-

mittee with power to negotiate with them. Until they got the contractors out it would be hard to tell how much the factory would cost. He was not in a position that day to tell them the exact cost. They only wanted a return for the money expended on it directly and indirectly, and a trifle beside. Beyond that they did not fsmt to make any speculative profit out of the concern, . Continuing, Mr DeLautour as a first proposal suggested that the settlers should form a co-operative dairying company and fix the capital at £5600. Thfjy could plant creameries in the district, and even oxtend their factory by the erection of another, if necessary, at or near Arakihi or Tolago Bay. If they did something of this kind they would be prepared to hand the factory over to them. They could divide the purchase money into two or three instalments. The proprietors would be prepared to take out the cash to be paid the first year iD preferential shares, bearing five per cent interest. If they floated a thousand shares independent of the called up ten shillings they would have a fund of £SOO which would leave sufficient in hand to meet any deficit probable on the working expenses for the first year. If twelve persons embarked on such an enterprise it would be only £4O per year each. But instead of twelve they would have twenty or thirty co-operating in such a scheme, and the burdefi would be lighter. If the management were entirely in the hands of the settlers, he_ thought the result would be very satisfactory. As a second proposal, Mr DeLautour said that Mr McPhail and himself were prepared to lease the faotory to the settlers for a year at 5 per cent, on the outlay, giving them the right at tho expiration of that term to say whether they would take it over or not. They would of course be expected to keep the plant in repair as well. As a third proposal, they were willing to run tho factory themselves if a sufficent number would join in defraying any dofioit on the first twelve months’ working. “ There is a fourth alternative, but that is ODly hinted at,” remarked Mr DeLautour ' with a smile ; “ it is that we buy a tin of grease and keep the key in our pooket. In conclusion, Mr DeLautour said that in one short afternoon the settlers could not be expected to discuss all the details ot the scheme. It would be as well for them to form a committee, and go carefully into the matter. “ Oue thing we want to do in the Waimata,” added Mr DeLautour, "is to appreciate the value of our own favms. We are far too diffident',abouj the Waimata farms. Some have been here a few years, and have grown weary and tired. (Laughter.) Compared with other farms we do no half value as we ought to value all the country that lies between here and Arakihi on the ope side,and Whangara on tho other. We shall very soon find that out, and then give Mr McPhail crodit in setting this faotory going for

you. 1 ’ ■* Mr Watson: How many cows did you reckon it would be necessary to have to run. the factory; that is presuming we leased it for twelve months ? , Mr DeLautour : The cows would n6t bo all the same quality at first; you would ..Have to have about four hundred cows. There would also be tho expense of a man. You would not get a suitable man to run the factory under JE3 a week. You might also want a boy. At Matawhoro Mr PiokeriDg managed without assistance during the dull season. 1 Mr Field : What would be the cost of establishing creameries ? Mr DeLautour : Between two and three hundred pounds each. The ciroumstances in this district• point to two creameries being required. Mr Field said that settlers in the diraotion of Arakihi would find the factory too distant. A creamery would be requirod there.

Mr DeLautour thought if the district justified a oreamery being established the inhabitants ought to be able to givo a guarantee. Tbe company could then erect the creamery without additional funds. He thought the district should be willing to risk loss the first year. They had to make a start some time, and they could

not have tho cattle available at once, Mr Watson : I think the questions to be decided are whether sottiers have cows to

milk, and whether they want to milk them.

Mr Field: I have the cows, but I want someone to milk them. Mr Scanwell: You can get someone to milk on shares, as is done in Norsewood and other places. Mr McPhail exprossod pleasure at seeing such a large meeting, for as a rule it was difficult to get a quorum at Waimata meetings. He thought that it would be as well for the sottiers to have a discussion among themselves. Mr DeLautour said - that Mr |Straohan, who wasiu Melbourne, regretted not being able to attend, as also did Mr Denton. Both gentlemen were very friendly towards the movement.

Messrs McPhail and, DeLautour then withdrew to allow tbe settlers to disouss the question among themselves,

Mr Braneon expressed his willingness to co-operate in regard to any guarantee that was required, but he would not undertake to promise any number of cows. He had about a hundred cows, and would be willing to lease part of his property. Mr Field had about sixty cows, forty of which would be available if he could get someone to milk.

Mr Martin said that he would be a supplier to the factory, but he did not see that he should bo called upon to guarantee as his land was leasehold.

Another settler thought the owners of the land should give the guarantee towards any deficit on the first year’s working. Mr Branson : But you get the increased profit from tho land. Wo require to take some risk in this matter, for it means an enhanced value to the whole of tho properties in the district. Everyone in town does his best to run the thing down, and we do ourselves.

Mr Snowsell thought the best course to adopt was to get from the settlers present an idea as to what number of cows they would milk.

No one present was prepared to give a guarantee right away, several remarking that they had not time before October to get ready. After further discussion it was decided to appoint a committee to go into the details of the proposals submitted by Mr DeLautour and see wbat support could be obtaiued from the settlers, a report to be ; furnished to a later meeting.

THE FACTOEY.

The factory erected by Messrs Do--2 Lautour and McPhail, is a large and j -comodious building, quite sufficient to i*i6ot the requirements of the Waimata 3 district for some time to come. It was 3 built by Mr 0. Wood, aDd the contract 5 price waß between three and four hundred , pounds. It has been equipped with a plant that is second to none in Now Zealand, and one which tho settlers of Waimata have good reason to be justly proud of. The plant has been supplied by Mr C. A. McDonald, of 63 Pitt street, Sydney, whose representative, Mr E. J. GarJiner, and other employees of the same firm, I havo beon in this district for some time I fitting up the new refrigerating plant at the Gisborne Works. Yesterduy ,Mr Gardiner, accompanied by Mr Jones, of the Gisborne Works, who is acting for Messrs DeLautour and McPhail, and a I Times representative, drove up to Waimata, and a trial ruD of the plant was given before a large number of settlers, all of whom expressed themselves highly I delighted with it. Mr H. Browniow, another employee of the Sydney firm men- I tioned, was in charge, and everything was found to. be in thorough order. The colonial boiler was supplied by Messrs S. Luke I and Co., of Wellington. It is 6-horse power I of a modern type. The snow steam engine and No. 1 Hercules freezing machine, in the apartment off the boiler-room, are two pretty pieces of machinery, and are spe- ■ eially adapted for butter factories. The Hercules machine is on the auebydrous ammonia principle, and very similar to - the machine at the Gisborne Breezing Works, only on a much smaller soale. In the main building are to be seen the aktier- I oioget separator, another attractive pieoe .if machinery, a cream temperator, a I first-class churn aDd butter maker, and the other appliances usually seen in first-class factories. Other apartments are devoted to cooling ohambers, a testing room where a first-class Babcock tester is fitted up, and storing rooms. Altogether the faotory ,< is fitted up on most modern lines, and no t expense has been spared by the enterprising proprietors, whose enterprise should [ be recognised by the settlers of Waimata, all of whom should do their utfrKfSt'-to make the factory a success. The factory 6 is capable of turning out half a ton of but- 4 ter per day, and we trust the time is not far distant when that quantity, will be Waimata’s quota towards the export of butter from the port of Poverty Bay.