WAIRARAPA BUTTER IN THE LONDON MARKET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 817, 12 July 1881, Page 2

WAIRARAPA BUTTER IN THE LONDON MARKET.

To the Editor of the Wairarapa Daily. NewZealandLoan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited), Wairarapa, July 6,1881. Sir,—As the export of dairy produce is a matter now claiming the careful consideration of our fanners, a report on a' recent trial shipment of locally-produced butter will probably be read with interest byrnauy settlers iu this district. . I accordingly subjoin the following remarks (extracted from our London advices of 3rd May last) with reference to such a consignment;— This butter had originally been of excellent quality, and was packed in good sound firkins; but, either from passage ' through the tropics or from sweat occay sioned through stowage in a vessel carry-(. ing wool, the butter had been severely .. heated, whereby not only its taste, but its appearance, was prejudicially affected. As you will readily understand, once butter has been so melted, it loses certain properties which can never be restored,, even if it again hardened. When thus out of condition on arrival—although possibly of good quality when shipped, it cannot be sold for purely edible purposes. It is bought either by those who make cheap pastry, or by those who ship to the continent for repacking purposes; and for both these outlets the price is necessarily low. Unless buyers can purchase at a reasonable figure, they do not operate. When we state that good, fine Canadian butter, which has never been heated, is selling at 50s per cwt., it will be evident what has to be overcome in fiudihg purchasers for damaged' Australasian sorts. WLilo the foregoing remarks apply to butter stowed as ordinary cargo, the result would be different were it shipped of good quality, properly cured, and in fit condition, in a refrigerating chamber. It would then be quite protected from any risk of heating, and would reaoh this market in good order. _ As a practical instance, we may mention that, whereas the butter per Protos (s-)i which reached this port in frosty weather, during a temporary scarcity of. supplies, l realised, for the portion contained in the steamer's refrigerating chambers, an average of Is per lb; butter of inferior quality, paoked not within but beneath those chambers, was with difficulty cleared at 40s per owt> I am, &o„ J. B. Keith, Pro Agent,