DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1919, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

MIDHIRST. (By Our Stratford Reporter.) The suppliers to the Royal Arms cheese factory, Midhirst, held their first animal dinner, social and dance in the Midhirst public hall on Tuesday evening. There was an attendance of about 230, and fhe visitors included representatives of the Pembroke lioad, Tariki, Midhirst, Tuna, and SWatford co-operative factories, also a number of Stratford residents, including the Mayor, who presided. The function was intended partly to celebrate the opening of the new factory. The erection of the building, which, if the plant, is included, cost about £SOOO, was commenced in October last, and ihe work was completed in time for the opening of the present season. The faeis owned by Mr. Neilson, who has had twenty-two years' experience as a cheese maker and has been a proprietor for ten years. 'Several factories originally owned toy him have been taken over by co-operative companies. The present factory is right alongside a co-operative factory, and Mr. Neilson.accounts for his success hv the fact that cheese has been worth more than butter and casein combined. In the prices he pays suppliers he says he has always beaten butter factories He has three vats in use at, present. and expects an output of 200 tons of cheese for the season. In about six weeks' time machinery will be installed for the manufacture of whey butter, which should further strengthen the position of the factory. At the dinner a number of toasts were proposed in interesting speeches. The toast of the evening, "Success to the '.Royal Arms'," coupled with the dairying industry of Taranaki, was proposed bv Mr. J. C. Allen, and was responded to by Messrs Rutledgc. W. V. Harkncss, and Weybourne. "Parliament" was proposed by Mr. Hathaway, and was responded to by Mr. W. P. Harkness. "The Visitors" was proposed by Mr. W. J. Neilson, and "Mr. and Mrs. Neilson" by Mr. J..W. McMillan. Soars and recitations were given during the evening. For the dance music was provided bv Misses Huse and TCivell, and Messrs X Hill and A. M. Barnard officiated as 'ana*