J. B. WITT AND CO.’S BISCUIT FACTORY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2322, 26 August 1880, Page 2

J. B. WITT AND CO.’S BISCUIT FACTORY.

The opponents of tiro Darwinian doctrine of evolution urge as an unquestionable proof of man’s superiority that he is a cooking - animal, and although the civic fathers of Timaru have resolved to consort with unregistered dogs, there is no danger, so long as they wield the stew-pan and tea-kettle, of their being mistaken for their tail wagging associates. But simple cookery is a small affair ; the untutored savage can roast a friend in his own congenial style, but it takes a highly civilised practitioner to produce bread, pastry, and particularly

biscuits. If tlie national bard of Scotbind went into such raptures ns Fair fa your honest sonsie face. Ye champion o’ the puddin’ race, Wee! are j r e worthy o’ a grace, As lang’s my arm ;

Over a haggis, what, we wonder, would have been his soul«ihspiring comments, had he visited the biscuit factory of Messrs J. B. Witt and Co., of Church street, Timaru. The baking department, with its mysterious appliances, is at the rear of the shop, and you enter it you are saluted with the aroma of all kinds of sweet and appetising essences. That this atmosphere is as healthy as it is also pleasant is made evident by the appearance of the bakers, who wear the rosy cheeks of ploughboys instead of the sallow complexions so characteristic of bread bakers. The apartment is lined with counters and machinery, and one corner is taken up witli the oven. Biscuits of every description are turned out fresh crisp, inviting, and to suit the most fastidious palate. Of course, nearly everything depends upon the foundation, viz., the ingredients that go to form the dough. It is here that Mr J B. Witt brings theory and practice into contact and demonstrates to his customers what improvements in biscuit baking can be' effected. A long experience, and repeated experiments, enable him to proportion the constituents with faultless accuracy. The result is that the biscuits and pastries turned out can alwaj-s be relied upon, being true to name and uniform in quality. After the dough has been kneaded, it is subjected to the operation of the rolling machine, where it is mangled between strong cylinders and reduced to a uniform thickness, ready for the next process. It is now transferred to the hopper or sliding frame of the cutter or carving machine. Passing first through a pair of rollers, a spring block of ingenious construction descends, cutting and stamping the material with every kind of design imaginable, and converting it into biscuits ready for the oven, An endless band carries the biscuits along till they are precipitated into a box ready for being transferred to the oven. Of the various kinds of biscuits turned out we need not speak ; the best testimony to their quality that could possibly be given is supplied by the fact that although a constant stream of biscuits is being turned out, night and day, the proprietors find it difficult to keep pace with their orders. From this it will be inferred that the fame of J. B. Witt and Co.’s manufactures have travelled inland wide over the colony, and that the demand from such centres as Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, and Auckland far exceeds the local consumption. Next to the manufacturing department a room hitherto used for storage is in process of being converted into a laboratory and packing room, and as soon as the Timaru water mains are in full operation other important improvements arc contemplated. Although only established a few years, the industry for which Mr Witt has fought and worked so hard, promises to become a most important one, and those who have witnessed Ins persevering indefatigable efforts as a caterer ami manufacturer, will join with us in wishing the firm a long reign of prosperity.