The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, OCTORBER 12, 1886. PROPOSED JAM FACTORY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1498, 12 October 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, OCTORBER 12, 1886. PROPOSED JAM FACTORY.

Foe months past there has appeared in this paper references to the desirability of establishing a jam factory in the district. The surject has been brriught before the public in correspondents letters and local notices, and persons having any special knowledge of the matter hare been invited to impart it. The proposal has at last been taken up in Winchester, and a meeting has been held there, with the result that a pom* mittee has been appointed to inquire into its practicability. We have ; been making inquiries with the view of assisting the enterprise, and have ascertained that the value of the quantities of jams and jellies imported into this colony for the past five years was as follows : 1881 £45,499-'

We have no means of ascertaining how much jam and how ranch jelly came, Previous to 1881 the duty on jams and jellies was Id per lb, but since then the duty has been raised tol£d,with tbe result, as will be seen from theabove, thatthequantity of thesearticles imported have greatly dimished, and the market is being supplied by home manufacture. And yet jams and jellies are cheaper now than they were five years ago. Is this not an argument in favor of protecting our industries ? By the increase of dutyon a lb of jam L34»000 is being kept in the colony—and yet jam is cheaper than ever ! But with regard • the subject at issue we have to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of much valuable information from Mr J. T, M. Hayhurst, who takes great interest in the proposal, and will forward it to the best of his ability, Mr Hayhurst. some time ago wrote Home to his father, who is at present in England, to obtain information with regard to the coßt of a jam-making plant, and recently a reply reached him. From this we gather that the cost of the requisite articles would be as follows :—B-borse power engine and boiler, from L7O to LBO ; 4 double-cased (copper) steam-boiling pans, Ll 3 each, L 52 ; one pulping machine, with riddle, shafts and brush, brass bearers, all complete, L3fi; or with iron bearers, L 27 10a; one hydraulic press would coßt from L4O to L7O, according to size ; one peel-cutting machine would cost Ll 6 10s, or a double machine L 27. The double machine would be the most useful if the the industry would embrace the making of marmalade, Iht knives for tuie

| machine would oustl3s per dozen.: Some cans, ladels; and other trifles •quid also be necessary, but tljey'tvoulu riot cost a great deal. The whole plant 1 would eost somewhere about L 240, but remembered that.this is. English price, this plant would turn out ; three tone of jam per day, The following letter received by Mr Hayhurst, sen., on the 9th of last February will throw further light on the subject:— " Dundee, 9th Feb, 1886. " Mr J. Hayhurst. V Dear' Sir,—Yours of ' 4th . inst. to hand. To turn out 3 tons of jam a day an 8-h.p; boifer would be required, which would cost, with mountings complete, £BO at ship's side ready for export ; four jam boiling pans as described in list at £l4 each at ship's side. If marmalade wag gone into you would require .. light chopping machine, £22 10*; pulping machine; *£27 lQs or '£3s lOa' | barrels, £7 10s for first one, and £5 for every additional one; tcrew presß, £32. Hope to have your order.—We.are, etc., Lv. ;-.. , "LQWAN^DiuFF."

The prices of jars are given as follows :—-lib jars, 8s 6d per gross; 21b, 12a 6d ; 81b,.165..6d; 71b,. 4d each ; 141b,'6d. Good japels would be got from Is 2d to Is 9d per 1000, by taking 100,000 to 250,000 of them. The parchment for the top of the jars would cost 9J per lb. Proof spirits brown paper, etc., would also be required. The gentleman who supplied the information to Mr Hayhurst makes the following general suggestions :—•■.'. •' Before starting to make jam see that your jars, labels, parchment, twine, paper, and all other necessaries are well in band, otherwise you will suffer much inconvenience and annoyance. ;, "Calculate as near as, possible the quantity of jam you propose making during the season, and apportion same With 1,2, 3,7, or 141 b jars. You will thejn be able to, estimate bow many jars, labels, parchments, etc., you will require, and average accordingly, always allowing a margin for accidents. "Be most careful that the man you engage as a jam boiler thoroughly understands, his work, else he may do a deal of harm, and cause a serious close. The cage's for a good man in England averages about £2 5a to £3 per week. "The work of putting the parchment on jar, labeling, and wrapping is done by girls, who get id per gross for putting on and tying the parchment, and 5d { per gross for labeling, wrapping, and finishing. Wages earned, from 10s to 2Gs per week, according to.proficiency." We have further information, which we shall publish in a future issue. !We have also written (o a gentleman in Ohristchurcb, whose reply ,w> expept to receive. "'" . .

1882 ... 22,923 1883 ... 18,759 1884 ... 10,552 1885 ... 11,364