GRAIN STORE FOR WINCHESTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1113, 26 June 1883, Page 1

GRAIN STORE FOR WINCHESTER.

A public meeting was hildlast Friday evening in the Winchester School for the purpose of considering the advisability of erecting a grain store at Winchester. The attendance was not so laige as was expected, and but a few farmers were present. On the motion of Mr Taylor, Mr John Kelland took the chair, who explained that the object of the meet ng was to float a company for the purpose of erecting a store to store, dress, and prepare grain for the market. They all knew, to their sorrow, the loss they had sustained in the past by selling grain without having i l , previously dressed. He (the Olmirman) had to submit to a reduction of 2d and 3d per bushel when the merchants thought fit to say the wheat was not equal to sample and this could not be avoided without machinery for dressing it. He would call upon Mr Skinner to move the first resolution,

Mr Skinner explained that two meetings had alreadv been held regarding the question at issue. One was held in the tteraldine Ftat school, aud the other in the Winchester Hotel, and it was considered advisable to call the present meeting with the view of having the company floated. He submitted plans of the store, aud gave tho following estimates of the cost of the building, etc : A store to hold 7680 sacks and a drying room to hold 950 sacks of frrain would cost £904 10s ; 20£ chains of siding ; machinery, £730 ; weighbridge, £100; coal depot, £BS making in all £lßl9 10s. The dressing machine would dress 1600 bushels per day for tho first two months, 800 bushels for the second two months, and 400 bushels

per day for the fifth month. The amount of work done would be 124,800 bushels which at one penny per bushel would be £520. To this might be a<tded the receiving and delivering charges on 2836 tons at Is 6d per ton, £212 7s; so that the earnings of the concern would be £732 7s per annum. The coat of producing would be, wages £260, coal £64, making £324 and leaving a clear profit to the shareholders, £4OB 7s. He thought they might add to this £SO rent for the coal yard, and the earnings of the drying room. If there bad been a drying room tbis season it would have paid for tho whole building. Another way in which the store might be utilised was in wool classing. All the grain would be out of ihe store by the Ist of November, and all the wool by the Ist of February so there would be room for all. It -vould be of great advantage to farmers to have their wool classed before sending to the London mnrket. He would now move—'That in tho opinion of this meeting it is desirable that a company should be formed for the purpose of storing and dressing grain. Mr Lewis seconded the motion. The Chairman said he felt sure it would be ag' eat advantage to farmers, but the difficulty would be to start it. It was not easy to raise money amongst farmers just now. He thought the Co-operative Association ought to start one in Timaru that would do all the district. They ought to foster the trade of Timaru in pnfereuce to Christchurch. Mr Deßenzie : Only for Christchurch merchants we would have had a poor chance with Timaru merchants this year, Mr Twomey asked whether there was sufficient grain grown in the district to keep the machinery going for the five months. Mr Murray said that up to the present 99,500 bushels of grain had been delivered in Winchester There were four farmers who hud 22,500 bushels between them to come yet. Only two thirds of the number of farmers who had sent, grain in former years had sept any this year yet. After some further conversation the motbn was put and carried unanimously. Mr Taylor asked whether the farmers sympathised with the movement. The Chairman said the firmer meeting had been poorly attended but so far as he could see the project was favorably received. Mr Lewis asked whether the Co-opera-tive Association would take the matter up. The Chairman thought it would if the people found the money. (Laughter-) He would like to know what would be the advantage of classing wool. Mr H. E. Smith said the cost would be little. In the stores thoy charged one farthing for it, but in nine cases out of ten they only threw the wool out of the bales and threw it in again. In farmers' wool there was all sorts of rubbish. When buyers met with one piece of Lincoln in a bale of merino or any other class of wool they put it down as half and half. Mr Twomey : What would be the cost of classing the wool? Mr Smith : About 4s per bale. Mr Twomey . What additional value would it give the wool? Mr Smith : It would make a difference of one halfpenny per lb. Mr Twomey : Ho»v mmy pounds of wool in a bale? Mr Smith : 4001bs. Mr Twomey : That would be 168 8d gained at one halfpenny per lb and the cost of classing would be 4s. The owner would gain 12s 6d per bale at that rate. Mr Smith": Yes. The Chairman then moved—' That the capital be £4OOO in 250 shares of £2O each, and that the first issue be 100 shares; and that the calls be as follows : £1 on application, £1 on allotment, and tho balance in calls not exceeding £2 10s per share at intervals of not less than three months.' Mr Northam asked if it would be on the same principle as the Co-operative Association —that is,that only shareholders could put their grain into it. The Chairman said it would not. It would be at everyone's dispoaal, but he supposed shareholders would have a preferential claim. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Deßenzie moved—'That the following be asked to act as provisional directors :—J Aitkin, J Austin, JB' H Barker, W Beattie, K Brophy, W Budd, a Cliff, TR Crompton, A M Claik, W Deßenzie, J R Gilliat, J Guild, W Gunn, MGuerin, J T M Hayhurst, D N Inwood, J Kelland, W M Moors, P H McShan-, R H Postlethwaite. J Lewis, J Pnterson, D Shaw, J Skinner, and R A Barker with power to add. The motion on being put was eaTried unanimously. Mr Taylor moved a vote of thanke to the Chairman which waa carried and the meeting terminated.