PROPOSED CHEESE FACTORY AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1888, 12 August 1884, Page 2

PROPOSED CHEESE FACTORY AT CAMBRIDGE.

A meeting of the promoters of the above, consisting principally of the committee appointed at the public meeting, was held at the Criterion Hotel on Saturday at 4 o'clock. There were present : Messrs Rhodes (in the chair), Forrest, Smith, Watt, Butler, Ferguson, W. M. Douglas, Ciickett, Johnson and Wells. The committee having canvassed the district within the past week, the chairman stated that the result of the week's canvass was : 750 shares would be taken up, and the supply of 263 cows had been promised. The canvass in respect to the number of shares to be taken up, was anything but satisfactory, but the number of cows promised was sufficiently encouraging. Mr Ferguson remarked that all that the Hamilton factory had according to its report were 280 cows. They were therefore not iar behind that factory in this respect. Mr Smith thought they made a mistake in not having arranged for a general meeting that evening to be held atter the committee meeting. Mr Forrest addressed a few remarks to the meeting. He advanced the opinion that with milk at 4d and cheese at sd, it was neither paying producer nor consumer. Waikato cheese should compete with the best cheese in the world, and in the leading markets in the world. It was a grievous shame to see their bestcheese sold for sd. Until the cheese fetched 85s in the London market, and they could afford to give the farmers 5d for their milk, success in any shape could not be expected. The time would come when the district would run two factories instead of one. He was not against the establishing of these factories, but he was against the w.vy at present adopted of disposing of their produce. They wanted to' put their cheese on the London market, where it would not fail to fetch the first price, instead of sending it to Auckland, where they could never expect to receive a remunerative price. The Waikato factories should combine in the effort to fix upon a good market. The cheese w hich he had seen produced by the Waikato factories could not fail to tetch 85s in the London market. Mr Jas. Johnson said he had sold cheesa in England which could not be compared to the Waikato cheese in quality. Mr Butler remarked that the larger the cheese, the better would be the sale. Mr Forrest thought this was a question which ought to be settled by the present factories. He ridiculed the present idea of disposing of Waikato cheese by auction at Auckland. At Home there were regular cheese fail s, attended by buyers from all parts of the country, and the best article never lailed to bring the best price. Mr Rhodes remarked that before proceeding to business they required to have no less than 1200 shares taken up. Mr Smith thought it was a great pity that the townspeople did not support the project. The agiicultuial and commercial communities should mutually suppoit each other. If it paid the Hamilton, Te Awamutu and Pateiangi distiicts to go in for cheese-making, it would surely alho pay them. Mr Wells thought the canvassers had not made it sufficiently clear to those whom they had asked to take shares that very little of the money would require to be "called up. They certainly need not expect to get the remaining 500 shares taken up in the town. The direct benefit would be to those supplying the milk. It was to the supplying shareholders that there was a certain benefit, and if the farmers thought they were going to get the other people to supply the larger half of the capital they were gieatly mistaken. Personally, he would suppoit the undei taking as far as he possibly could. The c.ipital invested by lion-sup plying shareholder was completely sunk, and they got no return until a dividend was declared ; whereas, supplying shareholders reaped a direct benefit, and must therefoie be prepared to bear the brunt of the undertaking. Mr Smith read a telegram from Ingram and Co., of Auckland, the contents of which have alieacly been made known. Mr Wells referred to Capt. Runciman's statement at the ptevious meeting, respecting the balance sheet of the Waikato Factory. Capt. lluncinian had stated that the item of £224 for wages included the cost of coals, &c, bntthis was not so. These costs were not entered in the balance-sheet all. The amount sho« n m the balance sheet as pioceeds of the talc of cheese was the net amount, all the cost as for coal, &c, being deducted. Mr Watt did not think they could work their factory so cheaply as the Waikato Company. The directors of that company took a great deal of practical interest in the concern, and devoted a lot of their time to its management. Again, they had a cadet working there, who had paid a pi« mum of £10. Mr Wells thought the smallest man in the district, who would supply milk, should be able to take 30 shares, and pay it all hi milk. There was only half of it to be called up. Mr Forrest thought that settlers liUed to see something tangible for their money before investing it to that extent. Mr Wells in a few remarks referred to the manufacture of cheese in the district. He said the home made article to befound on sale all ovei; the district was one of the greatest curses with which they had to contend. It certainly did not advance their good name as cheesemakers. The same might he said ot their salt butter, whic.i could not stand kegging for a few months. He did not mean to say that the butter was rancid, but it was not the class to command a good price in an ope:i market. Mr Rhodes then read the following communication from Mr J. C. Firth, which had been addressed to Captain Runciman. Dear Sir ;— I have been informed that there is a probability of a cheese factory being erected at Cambridge. As you are aware I imported about a year ago a cheese plant from England to erect at Matamata, but having changed my plans, chiefly thiough the difficulty attendant on milking, I am willing to dispose of my plant which is still unpacked. The plant is a large one suitable for the milk of 700 or 800 cows, and is I believe complete with the exception of the steam power. I would be willing to sell the whole of my apparatus for £585, and take the company's bills at four months with interest at 7 per cent, per annum added. I shall esteem it a favour if you will bring this under the uotice of the promoters of the Cambridge proposed factory. The apr paratus was selected from the best makers in England with a view to making chedder cheese from lists advised and approved by Mr Bowren. If the whole is too large for the Cambridge people, I would be willing to sell a por- | tion of the plant, provided that the dividing it would not spoil the sale of the remainder, of which you would probably be able to advise me when you have gone through the enclosed list. — I am, &c. J. C. Fikth. The meeting then adjourned till 7 j o'clock next Saturday, when a general meeting of all interesting will be held. The committee in the meantime promised to renew their efforts.

A Frenchman met au English soldier with a Waterloo medal, and cast reproaches on the English Government for bestowing such a trifle, remarking that it would scarcely cost three francs. " That may bs true," replied ;the hero, " but tken.it cost the French Government a Napoleon." ' ♦ "Messrs : W. J. Hunter and Co. will sell at the Ohaupo Yards this day,. Bo choice and well-bred stee.rs, &C. > \ ./.Mesffrs^W^ S f Laurie.apd' Co. ( publish in another column a list of their, manures,' seeds, produce atid |urtilpnjents"an'ljan'4 i andf w r arpivo for ft^pf«*oneftyott^?Mr^A'd6lpH;fLo.ufie,?\Gain.'