ASHBURTON CHEESE AND BUTTER FACTORY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2647, 30 September 1882, Page 3

ASHBURTON CHEESE AND BUTTER FACTORY.

On Wednesday evening a general meeting of farmers and others interested in the Ashburton Cheese and Batter Factory was held at Klemington, in the upper room of the factory building. There was a good attendance, the surrounding districts being well represented by the farmers resident therein. Mr John Orr occupied the chair, and stated that the meeting bad been called for the purpose of discussing the best means of conveying milk from the farm to the district. The company would be prepared to give 4i per gallon for all milk delivered at the faotory, and as an extra inducement and enooursg -ment to the farmers in the district, the directors had decided to deduct 6 per cent, only of any profit that might arise out of the operation* of the company. This amount would be paid to the shareholders according to the capital invested, and any profit that might be made over 6 per cent, would bo divided in the form of bonuses amongst the farmers who supplied the faotory with milk. As to the mode of conveying the milk to the factory, he thought it would be a matter for the farmers to arrange amongst themselves, bub before discussing the po : nt he thought it would be well to have some idea how much milk the farmers would be likely to supply the faotory with.

The secretary, Mr Poyntz, then went round the room and got the promise of the produce Cof about 170 cows to commence with, but aa soon as the cows on tho farms came into full profit it was thought the company could count on getting the milk daily from about 350. Considerable discussion ensued, and ultimately, on the motion of Mr Hewaon, it was resolved —“ That within the radius of four miles the milk be brought to tha faotory by contract.” A desultory conversation ensued, during which it was shown that the above proposition did not altogether meet the views of tho meeting, and The Chairman then stated that, in the event of Mr Hswson’s motion not finding general favor, ho thought the company would be prepared to supply carts for the carriage of the milk, the farmers to make their own arrangement* for the running of these oarr*. The directors would also, he thought, be prepared to supply at cost price suitable tins for tho milk, the tins to be of a uniform size, for the convenience of packing in the cart.

After further discussion, tho chair man suggested that the farmers should consider among themselves tho question of carriage, and the directors would be pleased to receive a deputation with a view of adopting some satisfactory mode of conveying the mUk to tho faotory. The meeting then adjourned.

MB TACXOBT BUILDIKOS. Previous to the meeting our representative wag shown over tha factory building, and a brief description may be of interest to our readers. The factory, the building cf which is now nearing completion, is situated in the midst of a thriving agricultural district, within easy distance of the equally thriving town of Ashburton. It stands about three chains distance from the main road, and within a few hundred yards of the Flemirgton Echoolhcuso. At the entrance to tha first room—the vat room—is a raised platform, built at a convenient height for receiving the milk from the carts, and cn the platform will be a weighing machine for weighing the milk previous to its delivery. The vat room is 24ft x 19ft, and 2gi't in height. In this room will be pieced four vats, each capable of holding SOO gallons of milk. Passing out of this room the press room is entered, the dimensions of which are 12ft x 19ft, the height being the same as the vat room. There will be sixteen prerses in this room, all by the most celebrated makers. Light is obtained by means of two large windows, the same applying to the vafc room. There is an upper room 40ft x 22ft, and 15ft in height, which will be used for storing tha cheese in its earlier stages of existence, the juvenile cheese being sent aloft through a trap in the door, the means of raising being by a lift. Underneath is another room 40ft x 22ft, with a proportionate height. This room will be used for storing the cheese after it has undergone the process of oaring in the upper storey, Sunning round both these

latter rooms are eight tiers of shelv* ing, and in the centre of each will will be placed further shelving accommodation, and there will be a mechanical contrivance capable of turning thirty tons o£ cheese at once. Means of ventilation is provided for in the two cheese rooms by lonrred windows. The flooring underneath is of solid concrete, which is laid with a slight incline towards a drain for carrying off whey, water, &s. Adjoining the building is an engine room,_ built of brick, 10ft x Bft. This will contain a fonr-horso power vortical engine, and will work a Yanxhall pump, capable of lifting 400 gallons of water aa hour. The building is on a solid concrete foundation, the height from this to the roof being about S6ft. The outside walls are liin rusticated boards, the lining of the same being of lin tonguod and grooved boards, diagonally laid, the space between the inner and outer walls being filled ■with sawdust. The whole building p-reaoute a striking appearance, and the workmanship reflects great credit on the contractor, Mr J. li. Brown, of Ashburton, who ia wf-11 up to . time with his contract, and ha* so far given every satisfaction to tre directors and the architect, Mr Glsnville, of Cbrisichnroh. The total cost of the building at prersnt is a little over £IOOO, in addition to which there is a substantially-built and comfortable cottage residence for the manager, erected at a cost of £l9O, and situated at a convenient distance from the factory. The timber need in the factory is red pine, with the exception of the wall plates, which are of totara. Whea complete there will be in all 12,000!t of shelving, and from the interest evinced by the farmers at the meeting, and the well-known energy of the managers of the company, there is every probability of the strength of this 12,000 ft of shelving beirg pretty freely tested daring the ensuing twelve months. The Wairoa, which has on board the machinery and the manager is now about doe, and the company expect to turn out their maiden cheese during the month of October,