OKAU DAIRY COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 116, 2 October 1912, Page 8

OKAU DAIRY COMPANY.

I Settlers in tke Okau Distract beyond Mount Messenger have recently been agitating for a dairy factory in fchieir locality, and with commendable energy set about tke matter with such prompitude that the grass was not allowed to grow under; their feet. As a result the factory, which is now an accomplished fact, was taken over on Friday last from the contractors, Messrs. Hardwick and Danks, of New Plymouth, without any flourish, and quietly commenced operations on Monday morning undor the management of Mr. Glcntworth. One has only to look anywhere around Tarana-ki to note the increased prosperity that has followed the establishment of a co-Oper-ative factory, and one can only express the hope that the progressive settlers- of Okau will experience the dawn of a new era in establishing the most northerly factory in Ta.ranaki. Prettily situated, close te the lovely Tongaporutu River, away beysnd Mt. Messenger,, the state of the road* precluding any but the lightest traffic, it is essentially a home separator factory, no provision having been made | for the installation of a separator at the factory. Undoubtedly home separation ' is going to prove a great boon to back

block settlers, where the state of the roads renders it impossible to cart along cans heavily laden with milk, both to and from the factory. But it becomies quite a simple matter to pack a small can of cream on horse back. The factory is up-to-date in every respect. This can be reli«d on when we state that it was designed and its erection supervised by, Messrs. Percival and Messenger, of Inglewood, whose name is a 'household word with dairy factory directors throughout the length and breadth of Taranaki, as well as in other parts. It has a capacity up to 1000 cane, and opened with the milk from considerably over 400 cows. The main building is 54 feet by 26 feet; with 14 feet stud. It is covered in corrugated iron throughout. It consists of a butter room 22 feet by 25 feet, containing a Toplise combined churn and butter-worker of the very latest pattern, cream vat, chilling plant, hot water, etc. Thie receiving stage is 13 feet 6 inches by 7 feet G inches. It adjoins a room 25 feet by 13 feet 0 inches, which contains a cooler and also a pasteuriser, hot water tank and-also ,thc necessary testing apparatus. Close by is the floor j for washing the suppliers' cream cans. This is fitted with hot and cold watier. The engine room is 10 feet by 15 feet; fitted with a Humble freezer of one ton ieo making capacity, driven by a 6 h.p. Tangye engine. The freezing chamber is 10 feet by 10 feet, and the box room is 15 foet by 12 feet. The boiler house is 18 feet by 9 feet, containing a 40-h.p. I Luke boiler. A four-roomed house for the manager has also been erected. Messrs. Hardwick and Danks were the contractors for the buildings, whilst tile plant was supplied bv Messrs. J. B. McEwan and Company. The secretary to the lie weompany is Mr. R. Pepperell. whilst Mr. J. J. Campbell is Chairman of Directors. This gentleman was also Chairman of the Provisional Directorate, and as a result most af the detail work in connexion with the 'establishment of (he new company passed through his capable hands.