FACTORIES IN THE OLD DAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1919, Page 7

FACTORIES IN THE OLD DAYS.

To the Editor,

Sir,—After reading in your last Saturday's issue of the opening of the Cardift dairy factory I thought it might be of interest to your readers, both old and young, to know of the first factory in Taranaki. This f built in Midhirst in the latter part of 1888 on the Beaconsfield road, about 10 chains east of the railway crossing Ido not know ,who the secretary was I only had to do with Mr Heightly, senr., and Mr McGregor The latter drew the plan of the building with a piece of stick in the sand on the side of the road It was about 20ft by 14ft. by 10ft. stud, the roof rougli boarded and shingled, the walls weatherboarded, a partition across boarded on one side, no windows, a door on one side and double door on the end. The butter was brought to this factory by the shareholders in a granulated form, and worked up on the mixing table, the motive power being the arms of Mr Frank ICeightly The table was made out of Matai three feet wide, two Inches thick, triangular shape, except the front, which which was rounded, boarded on each of two sides about six inches high, and an iron loop at the apex to receive the iron hook fixed on the end of the butter worker This being made out of a piece of sin. x Sin. rimu about five feet long, almost triangular shaped, with a handle about 18in. long formed at this end. Then commenced the building of the milk-carts by the coachbuilders and blacksmiths. The Mountain road was then only metalled in places. After finishing the above factory—it was called a factory—l started a similar building in Stratford on Juliet street, just around the comer of tlio Stratford Post building. Mr H. K. Liardet was secretary, Mr Marchant, Mr Ralfe, the Belchers and others whom I forget came to seo the progress made. Butter at this time was fivepence per lb. Mr Maokay and Sons started about this time to make butter kegs holding 60 lbs. About the time this building was finished another small building by the Ngaere people on the Mountain road, near the corner of the Climie road, was also finished, and Mr Chew Chong was building his factory at Eltham, this being worked by water power. I am, etc.,— W. W. HOWSON.