WINCHESTER FRUIT PRESERVING AND EXPORT COMPANY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1794, 25 September 1888, Page 3

WINCHESTER FRUIT PRESERVING AND EXPORT COMPANY.

A meeting of persons interested in forming a company to start a Jam Pactory at Winchester was held - in the schoolroom on Priday evening last. There were about thirty persons S resent. Mr A. E. G. . Rhodes, I.H.R. for Gladstone, occupied the chair. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The sub-committee appointed to obtain information and draw up a report, reported as follows: — “ We beg to submit our general report with the view of furnishing the shareholders with all the items of information obtained up to the present stage. We have to regret, however, that owing to the death of the interim secretary, Mr George Smith, we are unable to compile details of a more elaborate character, or to give fuller information as to the preliminary work which your committee have from time to time engaged in for the successful establishment of the company. “Tour committee have held altogether four meetings, at all of which moat useful and important information as to the cost of machinery, pans, tins, jars, and other particulars, was considered and fully discussed.

“The broker’s report upon the apparent popularity of the undertaking among the farmers canvassed by him, together with the fact that no less than close upon 500 shares have already been subscribed for, would have encouraged your committee to give the project a practical turn were it not for the question of site. .

“The offers received by your committee having been deemed excessive and unsuitable, communications opened up with the Government through the courteous assistance of Messrs Eolleston and Rhodes, have resulted in the fixing of a site for the proposed factory on a part of the reserve sufficiently near the railway as to be bandy for a aiding. As the sections are shortly to be sold under the provisions nt the Sale of Reserves Act of last session, your committee, through the kind intervention of Mr Rhodes, M.H.R., will have such facilities to acquire the land that no difficulty is anticipated in securing, upon advantageous terms, a most suitable, commodious, and convenient site for the proposed industry, with any other auxiliary branch of the trade or expansion of the company’s operatious, should such at any time be deemed desirable.

“Your committee having given the subject the most careful consideration, would strongly urge upon the shareholders the necessity for taking immediate steps to float the company and bring a promising industry into existence, which would prove a boon al'ke to fruitgrowers, farmers, and the public generally. The extra duly upon pulp, as well as the protective tendency of the present tariff, should certainly encourage shareholders to launch into existence a colonial industry in a district where (he raw material is so abundant that, without exaggeration, it may be said that tons upon .tons of fruit go to waste every season for want of the means to effect a disposal thereof in bulb. M Tbe balance-sheet to be submitted by j the treasurer, will show the amount raceived, and the number of shares placed, up to the present. “ In conclusion, your committee being thoroughly convinced of the payable character of the undertaking, and believing that . an earnest and combined effort on the part of the present shareholders would go far towards making the company an established fact, strongly recommend that the requisite capital bs subscribed, and the industry placed on a sure and permanent footing. “ Voluminous reports, calculations, estimates, and other statistics are at hand, from which every possible information may be obtained. “ J. A. YoOrfO,~ “ Chairman pro tem.’ ’ . The balance-sheet showed the receipts from deposits on shares, in addition to ten shares taken and fully paid up by MrHayhurst, to have been £1235s and the expenditure £ls Is Bd, leaving a credit balance of £IOB 3s 4d. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The chairman pointed out at considerable length the importance of the proposed industry, and the facilities that existed in the district for its establishment. He produced account Males showing that a test shipment of Tasmanian apples had netted about 11b per case. These apples had been tent to England in a cool chamber, and were of the best quality only. He stated that he was a fruit-grower himself, and had combined with a few others in forming a limited company to develope the exporting of prime quality frait. He had every faith in . the "Winchester venture. He hoped the farmers and settlers in the district .would come forward and subscribe readily the capital required. The ,iub committee appointed had evidently gone well into the matter, and he quite agreed with them that at least £IOOO would be required to give the undertaking a good healthy start. Mr Ellis, the broker, thought no trouble would be experienced in placing the 500 shares required if the company were once floated Mr Targuse, of the Jubilee Jam Factory, Timaru, who was present in response to an invitation to offer any suggestion, said he thought £IOOO would be sufficient capital to start ' with. Other industries, such as the manufacture of pickles, cider, sauce, Ac., might also be carried on at the factory, so that an expert manager might be kept going all the year round* Messrs E. A. Barker, Hayhurst, pin., Harrison, Young, Lewis, H. Smith, Carston, E. Smith, Deßenzy, and Ellis also spoke re the factory. On the proposition of Mr Barker, seconded by Mr Lewis, the following resolution was carried :—" t hat the company be floated to secure site, but do not proceed with the erection of any

buildings till the remaining 500 shares shall hav.e been sold,”

Mr Harrison proposed, Mr Carston seconded, and it was carried—“ That a sub-committee of the provisional directors confer with Mr Targuse with a view to amalgamating with his business or purchase of same, and report to the first general meeting of shareholders.” Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Rhodes and Targuse, also to the acting secretary and the chairman of committee. The meeting then adjourned, MEETING OP DIRECTORS. At a meeting of the provisional directors held immediately afterwards it was decided to instruct Mr Aspinall to proceed with the floating and registration of the company after the land had been acquired. The site selected abuts on the railway with a frontage to the Mdford Road, and contains about an acre and an eighth. The sale will take place in about three weeks, so operations may be commenced in time for utilising the coming season’s fruit.