Oil and Flax Mill.

Patea Mail, 15 May 1882, Page 3

Oil and Flax Mill.

STARTING a PATEA COMPANY.

A successful public meeting of farmers and business-men was held on Saturday afternoon, in Mr Barker’s room, Patea; resulting in the formation of a company for a local factory to extract oil from linseed, prepare fibre for export, and manufacture oil-cake. Nearly one-half the capital of £3,000 was subscribed in the room. :

There were present ; Major Turner, Messrs B. Horner, Barker, J. Gibson, Sheild, J. Burke, -W. -Cowern; -H. F. Christie, E. Barton, Ball, J, Riaeley, Drake, Ginger, F. T. Horner, Sherwood, W. Gower, Palmer, Eyton, Honeyfield, Axup, O. A. Wray, Mabin, F. O’S. McCarthy, Payne, W. Dixon, &c. Mr Barton was voted .to the chair. - , Mr'BarkerVcbainri'aii of the committee which had been appointed to obtain information,.read the following report, and said full allowance had been made for difference in the cost of labor in this colony as compared with flax, districts at Home:— “ The committee have to report that the total cost of machinery suitable for crushing 200 bushels of linseed per day of 24 hours (working machinery night and day), which the committee consider sufficiently large for present requirements, can be. delivered *on the ground . from. England for £7OO ; alsqfhat machinery for converting the stalh-into fibre can be placed on the ground for £2 ; that the necessary buildings would cost a further £SOO ; and that -»kjißuitfible : -site* has' bden 'found' ofabout 60 acres, with;/ firstTclass. water power, with river frontage and adjoining the site for a railway station, within miles of the town of Patea, which they consider thoroughly'suitable for the purposeyin every- reßpeci. This site-'can be obtained for about £I,OOO. ' “ The committee consider that a fair average yield of linseed per acre, would be 25 bushels/ This is gathered from statistics of : the, yield; in various countries where it is extensively grown:. ' From the yield, of .pne acre, they,have calculated that there ‘ can ,be obtained , 44 gallons of ■ oil and JCjQOj poujads weight of cake, the former at 3s 9d per gallon worth £8 ss, and ’ the ; latlhr ■at one •••halfpenny, perpound.' Worth £2, It is also , calculated that one acre would produce two tons,of straw, yielding ten hundredweight of fibre* which at -6d per pound (the present market value in its raw /state) would be worth £23 ; making a gross, total of £33 5s per acre. The fibre would be worth considerably more by making twine from it, which it is contemplated shall be.one of thd bfijedts cpmpahyf - - “ Oil and Cake: labor, expense, and profit. —The committee calculated that, at the rate of allowing,,,the fanner . £l2 per ton, equal-to 6s per bushel,'there'-will bea , net profit to the company of 15s per 25 bushels,/the yield.of r one acre end on the assumption that the mill is worked at a low estimate of 100 days in the year*; it' would ffeturn a profit .to the company under this' head alone', of £6OO ; and if worked up to its full ppwer, would absorb the produce annually, of 2,600 acres. - “ Fibre. —The committee, in showing as above, the produce of one acre to yield, £23, make approximate calculations as to the cost of separating the fibre from the' straw. The machinery fpr the purpose can be obtained of theyery; latest patent; for saving labpr.iii.Tta?; v yi«W acre, is calculated at two tons, for which the company could afford to, offar £3 per. ton. This would) tfie ,com pany £8 . lOs per ton, which, after deducting the widestmargin for labor, is estimated to bring ,a net profit £l/per son, or; £I6OO annually on the estimate of 100 work/ ing days. In estimating ' the > return

from the production of fibre, the com-

mittee have considered that at present only.. the 'coarser quality would be produced, 5 which could be exported in bales ; ; but by a further slight hxpehdifure in machinery, twines suitable; for reapers iand binders; and other purposes could be manufactured; which would employ more labor, and bring' a commensurate return to the company “ It* Is further' contempUte'd 'to' utilise' the machinery for crushing rape and other oil-producing seeds: ;i also the'.Spare poiver for crushing bones, or for other purposes.”

Mr * Barker'added some' rririkrbs. In England, he said, linseed oil sells for 2s a gallon, and in the colony it is worth 3s 9dy Including cost of freight &c. I have made u smal 1 calculation of jthe comparative values to be got out of for linseed, wheat, 1 arid-oats, taking the cost df

prepa-ing the land to be about the same in each case, the results are'tliese Linseed — 2s busb.'seed, at fis £7 10 0 2 tons straw, at £3 6 0 0 , ; £l3lO 0 Labor pulling straw, p. acre - 2 0 0 Net value £ll 10 0 Wheat— 3o bush., at 4s 6d i £6 15 0 : Straw," £l per acre : 1 0i 0 £7 15 0 Cost of-harvesting ... ‘ . 0 16 O- : , Net value: £6 19 : 0 Oats—4o bush,, at 3s ; ..; 7;"£6'. 0 0 Straw, £2 per acre ... 2 0 0 £8 0 0 Cost of harvesting ... 0 16 0

; Netyalue £7 4 0 This comparison shews that linseed is worth much more per acre’ as a crop than wheat or oats. Having laid before you the information in the committee’s report, I move “ That , a company be formed under the Joint Stock Companies Act, for the purpose set forth in the report af the comrnittee ; just read, to. be called the Patea Oil and Fibre Manufacturing Company limited ; with a capital of £3OOO, in 600 shares of £5 each, ,to be paid in calls extending : over a period of two years.” ‘ v ! ‘ Mf Ball : How should farmers utilise their linseed straw •?; r ! ‘ Mr Barker / Sell; it- to the companyThey could either sell the crop as it stood to tile company, ; and jet them fake the see«Loff ■ and pull the straw, or the farmers could take the seed off and;sell 1 Ih : - ; 7 Mr Ball ; I understand the fibre has to be steeped very soon after it is pulled. Mr Barker : No ; we have seen that it is stacked in other countries, so that it can be kept for-some time, -i 1 Mr Ball ; I was told by a man who had, worked it at Home that it had to be steeped in stagnant.water almost as soon as cut.

Mr Barker : That may be so ;for very; fine linen.

Mr R. Horner seconded the motion as one of the committee, and-said ; Prom the ample information we have obtained from 1 every flax-growing country, tha facts we have put before' you overdrawn, but father are Very much* under the- mark? i 1 look at'this industry from the producer’s point of view, and from my small eiperi- 1 ence here and 'at Home in growing linseed, lam sat isfied it-is one of the most profitable crops yqu can put on the ground.- i I don’t 1 say you can grow this crop withimpunity year after year, without putting anything back into the ground ; but I say if |you will put the oil-cake back, you will restore the land to a highey - state pf cultivation than before you took the sefed. off. It is well known i that the flais does not extract the valuable mineral salts from the land ; that I some icrops .-do.' I look on this; Coast land as : in a transition state,' Land has been t hfowri ihtb grass, and it will grow splendid grass forseveral year's ; but nearly every one who has been connected long with the'district sees that it is necessary , to! plough' up the .paddocks to renew the, grass. I don’t know‘any better way of restoring the lan<l than taking off a crop of linseed, if we; can get a market > for it; and I think the timeisripefor an oil mill. If every, producer will support thisin- ; dustry by taking a few shares in it,, they will getaprofit as growers, and they will’have a share of ; the produce after it ; has got into the manufactured state,’that being the most profitable part. This crop is remarkably free from the various diseases to; which ofdin’afy cereals .fofj. plants, ,are| subject. T# Hvilb grow in alnio&t Pny soil i; land in climates ranging ifrom; Sfibbna ito: the tropics. The, profit from feeding bullocks is growing -less by degrees, and we must prqpare for some-other ikindiof . .produce. i Then whenj weiget the/beef iup;. to a decent price, we can: afford- to use up the residue'in the shape ; .<?f oil cake, and put it back on the land. - I can see clearly a very largel trade- profit, though T look at that : as merely secondary,' -because We ought to look at the general welfare of thijs.country. jve oap .have 800 to fSOO ‘acres of flax,‘groiyn 'in the, district, and .crushed in a > oil sent alli oyer the f colony, the .rest fcgfr.jbe'ex- , potted. There is a ready market" and ready money for it. I hope this project will be taken up -throughout this coast—noi merely round Patea, but from Wellinjgton to New Plymouth, Any information I cap give as a grower will begiven freely.', >-3- >■

I Mr W. Balmfprth ;; ,Would not the seed grqw.i'as- well; on turnip stubble as on grass ? ■ : Mr Horner ; I said grass turned up is thb most suitable.

;Mr Balmforth,: I hqye been, led to believe it would require a fine tilth, something likeqn onion bed. • I /

;Mr Horner : Onions will grow very fine On a bit of turf dug in. You want a large amount of decaying vegetable matter to produce the best crops; of flax. Mr Balmforth : I have seen it growing on soil that is nearly the wettest in Eng* land —strong land. . , , Mr Gibson,: From a business paper I take. the; i. following prices of seed at ■Home:—Linseed ex ship 46s fid per quarter of 8 bushels ; and the imports into London for three months were 86,000 quarters. Linseed oil, equal to 2s a gallon, and the calculation in our report is based oh the cost here in the. cask or drum, at the rate of 3s 9d a gallon, in- ; eluding ■ duty;' 1 ' insurafice,/ifec;;/.Rape' seed' - ' at Homo 41a 6d to : 47s 6d ; yellow rape, 60s to 51s. If we utilise pur Coast, soil here, .oil, /from local rape seed would be worth about 4s fid a gallon.in the colony. The calculations of cost in our report are as correct as possible. As to the fibre,' we simply had to rely on fhe information Mr Barker obtained from .the South. Mr Balmforth ; What would you be able to give a pound for rape seed ? Mr Barker :. At present it ps worth threepence. ~ ~ : ,;;i v/if ■ 'Mr Gibson : If we merely were able to give the., same price as at Home .it would 1 be from •'42s tb’ 62s perquarter; for 1 oil producing purposes ;, equal to fis or ,7s a bushel.; . . Mr ; Ball: Last year I sowed linseed.on a ! quarter-acre Of potato ; ground* and 1 1 .have got about 14 bushels'of seed., . ;4. Voice. : , Equal, to ,66 bushels ,an 'acre. :■<,

Mr Gibson : You can safely putnt down' at 50.

Mr Balmforth : I know you : can, grow; 40 bushels of rape seed to the acre. Mr Ball : But the straw I have got has no fibre in it. You can break it off short. It was dead ripe before it was pulled. Such a crop of seed would pay well without reckoning tho straw.

Mr Sherwood (Mayor of Patea) saidl look on this as the commencement of one of the most important industries that could be started !in this district; and fam glad to see there is a guarantee of success by so many takirijg' an interest in it. The report appears ’ carefully drawn up, and the committee are -deserving of : the best thanks of all—town and country alike. As to the site selected for the* mill, if-the water power is sufficient for working the machinery, that will he the most' :econo-. mical way, of working and the price put down for 60 acres such ; as the feppf t describes should be cheap. Mr.Cowern has been interesting himself in this matter, and among those of his papers which I looked through was one showing that the editor of an American newspaper ‘offered seven prizes fo.r essays. on flax,* each essay to be the result of personal experience. In every essay those men gave a favorable report as to growing. linseed,; and some useful ideas may be got by our farmersfrom,those;; seven.prize essays. It is said that linseed is a robber of the soil,’ but these American farmers say it is a fertiliser’ if it be not followed up with the same, crop. Labor immost of,these places is as high or nearly so as in this colony, yet the crop is-one of the best paying. If you will go.in and establish this on afirm basis, I am satisfied it will become one of the largest industries on. the West Coast. Mr Barker : A lot of rape seed grown in this district i 57265 7 26 per cent.'better than : seed I have, imported from Canterbury last year. ?; , J

;The motion ito form a company .was then put to the vote/ and. nearly all thpfee present held up their hands for it; none, against. Motion declared carried unanimously. : /■ J . !. ’ '■ i "fj ■ " v.'.' . t 'PROVISIONAL DIRECTORS OP ’ ; Mr Gibson moved■“'.Thai; a provisional, directory .-be: appointed by this meeting, , [cpnsistingwof: the principal settlers and Patea residents, whoSe names were only a suggested list}, with, power to add toj .their number,, who shall take; all necessary steps; ito form the company.” H£ said'the Farmers’ Club would have ddne a good work fpr the district in bringing abbijt the formation of this:cpm.T. pany. .-r.' .o'. ; >:;

Mr Gbwern seconded the motion; and said .- Having assisted to draw Up this report, I can assure you the Committee; took the most careful means-to give you reliable i information. I have' for some two' years ! been obtaining information from England on this subject ; and I got drawings and specifications of . a .different, kinds of machinery used in .the, crushing

and manufacture of oil, and in working up the fibre. The information'laid before yon to-day, as far as the Committee are aware, is -perfectly; sound and reliable.' I have no doubt this venture will prove an unqualified success. The names of directors have been taken at random, to get a good representation of the whole district. ! Motion adopted.

Mr Riseley moved “ That in the event of the necessary capital not being subscribed to the company within, six months, the deposit shall be returned to the applicants, less a sum not exceeding £lO to cover preliminary expenses.” ’ 5Mr Gibson seconded, and the motion was carried.. . : - Mr Barker said'the.Directors would endeavour to procure seed for growers in the first season, Oiiq farmer had promised tor sow 50 acres and :anoiher; 20 aeries;of linseed ; the first year.' The company would expect a guarantee from: farmers to grow snfiicient for one year. After that the results would speak for themselves. v- ■ . ■ ;;a

_ V tIST OF SHARES. .. , , Mr Oowerh proposed that the.shrpe list •be now opened.;, , r ... : Chairman-inyifqd nam.es of shareholders, and in a few minutes about one-half the .i- v | ;. r, v, . . ■, required capital was subscribed in shares by the following : 3; Gibbon E. ; Barton;:?; C. F.Darker 1 Ball -'L R. Horner C. A. Wi'ay l '\ W. Cowerri ' T. Eyfori, j. Eisely,. ~ Honej’field . H. F. Christie Palmer:! J' Balmforth Bros; 'Sherwood ' ' ; J. Sheild , Drakp . J. Burke W. Gower ~ i Ginger Bros.

Names have been added since the, meeting, including Mr W; Dale, and others; ' i Mr Cpwern said : ;If the applicatiqns are in excess, the committee will apportion them in this way ; two-thirds to country settlers and one-third to town applicants. The calls will be extended,over two years.

• Mr Barker : The committee have a site in view. We should want’ a water right and a road into, the, railway station. The. 'directors will, not bo bound by anythingwe have done so far,but’ will look about for themselves. The committee have merely sought information. 4 ,- ’

; Mr BalmforthWhat -would iit take-to produce a ton of cake ? . ; l i Mr Barker : I believe 200 bushels; o'fc linseed, worth £ll in London phut that cake is mixed with a deal .of rubbish. Such cake as we could supply would be worth nearly double.... ,

; Mr Sherwood proposed a vote of thanks to the corinnittee, and congratulated them op the success of their efforts. Mr' Balmforth seconded. ; ' r “ ; Tote accorded wiih applause.:.

Mr Horner acknowledged if; saying: lam glad to see by that share list that we are doing our duty. 1 In a few years it will be “ Hurrah fer tile factory I” . iMr Balmforth moved a vote.of thanks to Mr Barker for the use of the room and the interest; he . had taken in the matter.

Carried./; 1 -> A vote to 1 the Chairman closed the meeting. .i - ; ; -i