OLD LANDMARKS DISAPPEAR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 118, 4 June 1937, Page 3

OLD LANDMARKS DISAPPEAR

Ormondville Dairy Factory (From Our Own Correspondent). ORMONDVILLE, This Day. With the passing of years, old landmarks are fast disappearing, and before this month is over no virfble sign of what was once the main centre of local activity will be left. People in many parts of Hawke's Bay will remember the dairy factory which has now been demolished and its. material solS for removal. Many of the pioneer settlers remember the cavern in the hillside, faced with Tough slabs, and shelved with the same material from which Mr. and Mrs. Neils Nikolaison sold good butter. By gradual stages, as he could pay for improvements and develop the dairy industry among his neighbours, this modest beginning led on to a large brick building equipped with the most modern machinery, employing a large number of workers, and exporting large quantities of both butter and cheese. From t its first beginning as a factory in the 90 's butter was the main product, as although in 1910 the manufacture of cheese was added, the factory was then a dual plant concern in which both cheese and butter were made, and exported. During this period a Napier merchant bought Ormondville cheese as a gift from himself and his wif e to theequipment of one of the Polar exploratioh expeditions. With the coming of homa separation •the making of cheese was abandoned, and the building, which had been put up for that purpose, was fitted up as a* general store from which suppliers could purchase everything they required, and send their orders and receive their stores by the high-powered motor' lcrriqs which collected their cream. At fliis period the ownership was be-, tween. father and sons, for Mr. Niels Nikolaison had taken Messrs. O. H. and 0. L. Nikolaison into partnership, the former managing the factory, and the, latier' the store, which enabled their father to give more attention to his farm lands. It was during thie period, that a large brick hostel, to provide accommodation for factory e'mployers, was built. This building still stands, and is occupied as a private dwelling. Owing to altered eonditions and com-' petition from neighbouring factories, it' was decided in 1930 to effect a merger with the Norsewood Co-operative Dairy Association, and this w^s satisfactorily arranged. The store was continued for one more season, after which it was elosed down. In the 1931 earthquake the large brick building which had replaced the first factory was badly craeked. For this, among other reasons, the hope of many Ormondville people that the present dairy company might transfer to this centre the business carried on ?uNorsewood, four miles from the rail--way, has not been realised, and to-day-that little Office, from which so many thousands of pounds were paid out to; the farmers, and that large building, • once a hive of industry and a source of wealth to tlie district, aTe only a-wind-swept section, with stacks of material awaiting its removal by those who have purehased it.