INVENTION OF COCOA

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1928, Page 1

INVENTION OF COCOA

——<»-. CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

'One hundred years ago on'the 4th April, 1828, a Royal Patent was granted by H. M. The King of the Netherlands to u young chocolate manufacturer, C.’oenraad Johannes van Houten, for ail invention which adjusted the proportion of cocoa-butter in the eocoabenn, and by other means perfected a process for the manufacture of cocoapowder as we know it to-day. This product, the quality of which has remained unchanged, laid the foundation of the flourishing house of 0. J. van Houten and Zoon. The business was actually established at Amsterdam in 1815, but its greatest development lias been since 1850 when still under tho auspices of the inventor a. factory was established at the nearby and picturesque town of Weesp, whore it has since been continuously developed. C. J. van Houten died in 1887. Tn 1889 it was by Royal Warrant granted tbe title of “The Royal Cocoa Factories.” It was hero that the centenary of tbe invention lias just been celebrated, members of tbe cocoa and chocolate industry from all parts of the world attending to pay homage to tbe memory of the great inventor.

The festivities lasted for a week, and were honoured by the attendance of the Dutch Minister of Labour, the Chief of the Department of Commerce, the Governor of the Province, as well as ol the Burgomasters of Weosp and the

neighbouring towns, and other representatives of the municipalities. The town was completely decorated by day and illuminated by night, and the out-

lining of the hanks of the rivers, the quaint swing bridges and the old windmills by hundreds of thousands of electric lamps at night was a sight not easily forgotten.

A delightfully artistic monument erected hv the citizens of Weesp in the Station Square to the memory of their illustrious townsman was unveiled. At ithe headquarters of the firm a marble bust of the inventor was unveiled by his grand-daughter in the presence of some thousands of people, whilst a monument unveiled outside the admin istrative offices marked the devotion of the staffs of both headquarters and abroad.

The pensioners of the firm also offered their tribute, and the opportunity was taken by tbe directorate of announcing a scheme of bonuses on the basis of years of service, and also a fully comprehensive pension scheme. The festivities were closed each day by either torchlight processions, banquets or works-feasts (1,200 people being present at the hitter). The most outstanding feature of the whole celebrations was the complete and apparent spirit of harmony and goodwill pervading the whole proceedings. The mutual esteem existing between the management and the staff from top to bottom was delightfully obvious, and proved beyond ail doubt that the personal element can still he maintained even in such very large undertakings.