OPENING OF THE CAMBRIDGE DAIRY PRODUCE AND BACON FACTORY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1944, 20 December 1884, Page 2

OPENING OF THE CAMBRIDGE DAIRY PRODUCE AND BACON FACTORY.

This factory, the erection of which was commenced little more than a month ngo was formally opened for work yesterday morning. It seems but the other day that a meeting of settlers was called to consider the advisability of providing the district with an industry of thin nature, and those who attended the first meeting will remember the almost hopeless prospect with which the proposal was at first" greeted. Some ridiculed the proposal as impracticable, others pronounced the idea as played out and decidedly unprofitable, whoreas there were others whose enthusiasm made them proof against all discouragement and who, notwithstanding the obstacles with which they had to contend did not rest until their efforts were crowned with success in th .• disposal of the requsito number of shares. The credit of the success that has been achieved may bo equally divided between the directors and the Auckland Agricultural Company, Indeed, the project at one time seemed almost hopeless, when this company, realising the great importance of all industries that tended to advance the agricultural interest, came to the assistance of the promoters, and gave them very handsome support. The work was then pushed ahead with great vigour, and ever ."ince the matter was definitely taken in hand, the chairman of directors, Mr T. B. Lewis, and a few ot his colleagues have been unceasing in their efforts, and the work has within a few weeks been disposed of expeditiously and creditably. The opening of this factory represents one more valuable addition to the list of new indus tries that have sprung into existence in the Waikato district within the past two years, and we trust the ensuing two years will add ntill moro ootuittorably to those of which wo are already possessed. The factoiy is, perhaps, about the fiist of its kind m Waikato, and the plant is admitted by coyjpetent authorities to be the best in the province, if not in the North Inland. The contractors, Messrs Ingram and Co., have had the advantage of an extensive experience, and the directors have been careful that every improvement and new idea has been .secured. The building is constructed throughout of kahikatea .and kiiuri, the floor being concrete and well set. The curing-room is loomy, lofty and well ventilated, it-, dimensions being 40 x 25. The sainn may bo said of the making-room, the dimension*, of this department being 30 x 25. The boiler-house is 3 x 12, and is very conveniently situated. The making capacity of the vat is up to 1200 gallon*, but some time is likely to elapse before its resources are taxed to this extent. It is constructed of the best kauri, and is well finished. The engine and boiler are of a aupeiior class, both in respect of quality and capacity, to those of other factoiies in the district. The engine it. specially woithy of mention, being an excellent and wellfinished piece of workmanship. The impnitrmt m.vttei of ventilation hsu not been o\ei looked, good pro\i->ioii having been made in this respect. The cost of the factory was £400, and the machinery £lilio ; the manager's house taking another £100. Mr Robeit Kerr was the contractoi, and the building opeiatious were earned out under the cm ef ul supervision of_ Mi l)a\id Richaidson, aichitect. The piggeries aie not by any means an unimportant featme in the concern, and the directors of kuidied institutions might receive a valuable hint fiotu the idea which the new factory affords. Tlioie arc two concietc whey tanks of huge capacity situate six chains from the factory, and to which the whey and the water arc conveyed by two different galvanised (underground) pipes. The troughs are also of concrete, and the whole is arranged in such a way as to ensure cleanliness and an absence of stench, which in other places we have visited seems inevitable. Yesterday morning the factoiy was handed over to the directors, and the first .supply of milk, about 200 gallon*, was opeiated upon. The directois took advantage of the occasion, and invited the public to witness the opening operations. The proceedings weie of an inaugural character, and wcio attended with consideiable interest. Mr W. K. Carter kindly put a four-horse coach at the disposal of the visitors, and a few gentlemen thoughtfully provided refieshmeuts. After inspecting the machinery and witnessing its working. Mr Houghtou, chaiiman of the town board, at the conclusion of a few congratulatory remarks, broke a bottle of champagne on the shalt and formally declaied the Cambridge Daily Pioduce and Bacon Factory open for work. The visitois subsequently retired to the curing-room, where lunch had been laid out. Mr Houghton, in proposing the toast of the directiMs, »ai'tf tfte fcv>fc that had s« unexpectedly dexolved upon him was of a very pleading character, but he doubted very much if he could sufficiently do honour to such an important occasion. That the occasion was of an important chaiacter they would all agree with him, and it was only to be regretted that more fiequent opportunity did not arise for them to meet together to inaugurate .some public industiy of this natuie. Within the past two years he was pleased to notice Waikato had made very mateiial progress in respect to public industries, as almost every corner of the district could now boast of its che-ese factory, or some such kindred institution, and he hoped that the futiue would bec\en more fertile than the recent past in adding to their material prospei ity. The past had shown them that the farmers must turn their attention to something more than the trodden paths of agiioultnial pursuits. Industries, such as that they had met together to inaugurate, should go hand in hand with the other pursuits of the fanner ; indeed, cheesem.ikiiig was nothing less than a brand) of fanning, and he hoped as such the cultivators of the soil would phe it moie attention in future. It seemed but the other day that the pioposal to start a cheese factory at Cambridge was first brought before the public, and for some time after that success seemed \eiy doubtful. Still, those who had originally taken the matter hi hand, and who had both the commercial aud agricultural interests of the district at heart, did not lose hope but manfully persevered in the face of many difficulties and considerable opposition, until success finally crowned their efforts. For this success they owed much to the directors, seseial of whom were then present, and not only were the shareholders indebted to these gentlemen, but he thought they would agree with him the public generally owed a debt of gratitude to those who had so materially assisted m foi warding their welfare. He had no fear that the step they had taken was in the. light diiection. He confidently believed these cheese factories would not only pay the shareholders and the milk suppliers, but the district generally would benefit by them. In this, howe\er, as in many other things, ho regretted to notice petty jealousies had been allowed to creep in. To his mind if anytihng was ever likely to ruin such an important industry as chcesemaking, it was this stupid local jealously. Each factoiy seemed to think that by another factory starting the market miglit possibly be overdone, and the prices would go down in consequence. But this was reasoning on a wrong basis altogether. It was not commercial economy, and the sooner settlers learned to think otherwise the better. Theie was an almost inexhaustible market for cheese in the old country, and the more factories, he believed, the more stable would be the market, and the better the prices. In conclusion, he would once more congratulate the directors on their success, the shareholders on their factory, and the district on the starting of such a valuable industry. He had much pleasure in proposing the health of the directors, coupled with the name of their worthy chairman, Mr T. B. Lewis. (Cheers ) Mr Lewis responded. The part he had taken in starting the factory had boon referred to in laudatory terms, but he could assure them whatever tiouble he had been put to, or whatever personal inconvensence j it had caused him, his connection with this matter had afforded him every happiness. It was a source of great pleasure to see their efforts attended with such success, and to find that their services were so fully appreciated. The establishing of indus. tries of this kind was of equal importance to the commercial man as to the farmer, and both should interest themselves alike in forwarding the welfare of the district. He referred to the satisfactory manner in which the contractor (Mr Robt. Kerr), the architect (Mr Richardson), and Messrs Ingram and Co. had acquitted themselves. And the factory being now finished, he had 'no fear but that, under Mr Watt's management, the concern would prosper and turn out the success they so earnestly anticipated. He hadmuch pleasure in proposing the health of Mr' Kerr. Mr Crawford (Ingram and Co.), and Mr Richardson. Mr Crawford, in responding, expressed the witisfaction it afforded him to see his •fforts no appreciated. , This was about the uiiptaßtb pUwtlw \wA erected ip the $fors

Island, and he had no he-iutiou in saying it was the best. He hoped theundertakiug would be attended with every success. Mr Kerr and Mr Richardson also responded. A number of other toasts, including "Mr Hougrhton, chairman of the town board," " The Manager, Mr Watt," " The Secretary, Mr Westby," " The Suppliers," proposed by Mr Keening, and ' ¥ The Press," proposed by Mr All will, were proposed, and duly responded to. The visitors shortly after returned to town.