MANAWATU BUTTER FACTORY.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1334, 30 October 1884, Page 4

MANAWATU BUTTER FACTORY.

The above, we are informed, will commence operations on Monday next, and a brief description of the establishment will doubtless fee of interest to our readers. We may explain that a vast amount of trouble has devolved upon the directors m consequence of so little information being available as a guide to the best methods to be adopted m con» stmcting the factory, but energy and thought have been successful m producing a building which for completeness and suitability for the fmrpose intended cannot be excelled, n view of the activity with which factories of the kind are now being established m various parts of the colony it is greatly to be regretted that no standard work has yet been published to give information of value to promoters. The added ex* perience of various companies which have built factories would be invaluable to those about to do so, and result m many errors being avoided and much expense saved. The Directors of the Manawatu Butter Fac« tory have been unwearied m their efforts to obtain reliable information, and those who are competent to judge have pronounced the opinion _that the Factory at Longburn is a model one. A word of praise is dae to two of the directors m parti* cular; Messrs Ferguson and Monrad, who for weeks passed have attended the factory daily and taken a deep interest m the progress of ilie vvork. The manager, Mr J.iggins, has also rendered most efficient service and shown his capability for occupying the position m which he is placed. We do not .purpose wearying our j readers with dry details as to the dimensions of the various rooms m the building, &c, but will simply describe the process from the time the milk arrives at the factory till the finished product is ready for eale or exportation. After considerable trouble the directors, with the aid- of Mr Macarthur, M.H.E. succeeded m getting a second rail* way crossing put m near the factory which enables farmers to drive m their milk-carts, deliver the milk and drive out again without turning round. The ' milk-carts are driven under a high platform which projects m front of the building, and the cans are raised to the floor of, this by means of a windlass. The contents are immediately ' deposited m a large tin receptacle which stands on a weighing machine, and the weight is at once registered by the manager. At first sight the platform referred to appears to be unnecessarily high, but unlike many other cases there is a sound reason for its exalted position, the object bein< to do' as much of the work as possible by the aid of gravitation. After the weight has been registered the milk is allowed} to flow into a large vat at the side capable of holding 410 gallons. There are two of these vats— one on each side of the weighing machine, one being used for the morning milk and the other for the evening. They are soundly constructed of heart of totara and lined ' with tin, and between the tin and wood battens are so placed m spiial fashion as to allow a current of cold water to constantly move around the vat to keep the contents cool. Taps at the bottom of the vats allow the milk to run into gutters till reaching a steam jacket by which the tempera* ture is regulated and through which it passes on its way to the separators. The separators, of which; three are provided, are of the kind known as " Naskov," and when working the interior revolves at the rate of from 2600 to 3000 revolutions per minute. At this rate of speed the heavier particles are forced towards the exterior and carried off by pipes, while lighter particles (or cream) collect m the centre and are conveyed away by another pipe. The separated milk required lor sale is run into a vat of the capacity of 200 gallons, while the remainder is conveyed along & pipe to tlie tank at the piggeries at the rear of the section. The cream which has been collected by this expeditious process is then placed m a Holstem eh urn. Two of these, each of 85 gallon capacity, are placed side by side, the spindle being worked m b vertical direction. Tbe churns are hung to pivots and can readily be emptied, one of the chief features throughou t the fact ory being the completeness of devices by which human labor is avoided and that of machinery substituted. After tbe churning process has been finished the material it placed m an Embree butter worker, where it is well washed without contact with the hand. After being thoroughly prepared it is placed m a Dani-h hardening box which is kept cool by the aid of water circulating around it. The operation of kegging the butter is carried on m a room adjoining, after which the kegs are placed m a cellar built of brick and cement, there to await delivery. One room m the establishment is devoted to the pur* pose of washing tins, &c, and m this a vat is placed to which both cold and hot water pipes lead. The washing of the tins is finished just outside, where they are placed upside down over a pipe from which a jet of steam is ejected with considerable force, and which effectually cleanses the tins. All the machinery throughout the establishment — separators.. churns, butter workers, pumps, &c. f —is* driven, by a six>-horse power engine, constructed by Mr Murray.of Wanganui, and which at the time of our visit, was working m excellent style., We understand the directors ■re extremely well satisfied with the results attained by Mr Murray m the manufacture of this engine. In the building every means has been adopted to ensnre proper regulation of the temperature. The roof, for instance, is close boarded and above this is a large layer of felt, then a tier of battens, and lastly the iron. Sliding ventilators are fixed m every room and the win-. dows, both upper and lower sashes, are slung on pivots. , , The' architect for the buildfng was Mr E." TLarccmb, and the builder, Mr France. Some of , the vats were, constructed by Mr France^andslbme by Mr Meyrick. .The plumbing, ■work throughout was performed, by, Jtfxjtawlias. After what we iu*?o

stated it is almost superfluous to say that every detail has been car* ried out with fidelity. At a convenient distance from the factory are situated the piggeries, whith are floored m concrete, and adjoining which are the large tanks m which the surplus* separated milk is conveyed. The company has a considerable area ef land at its dis*> nosal viz, 4£ acres freehold, 3| acres leasehold, and 15 acres on a short lease. It is m intended to ' erect a house for the manager on the section adjoining the factory. In conclusion we sincerely trust that the Factory will be heartily supported by the farmers m the 'Surrounding district. Experience has proved conclusively that all that is necessary to make such an institution prove a mine of wealth to a dis* trict is the true and thorough cos operation of the farmer.