PUKEKURA BUTTER FACTORY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2514, 21 August 1888, Page 2

PUKEKURA BUTTER FACTORY.

Ox the invitation of Mr Henry Reynolds, a meeting of the suppliers of milk to tha Pukekura Butter Factory was held on Saturday evening in the cottage adjoining the business premises. A goodly number wero present, among whom we noticed Messrs Vosper, Allen, R. Watson, Bridginan, Trowin, Comer, T. Hicks, Tucker, Atkinson, Kilgour, H. Hicks, and others. Mr Reynolds said he had called them together to toll them the terms upon which he was prepared to cany on the factory, and to ask fur their co-operation in milking it a permanent industry, that would be to their mutual benefit. They were all aware what an uphill fight he had had, but he had gained experience, doubtless in rather a dear market; but having gained it lie intended to profit by it. Two or three gentlemen had joined him in the undertaking, and it was now a private company that would trade under the name of Reynolds and Co, One of the gentlemen, Captain Pitt, was present, and would be pleased to make their acquaintance. By forming it it into a small company they had more capital and better facilities for pushing on the business and making it a permanent industry, and he trusted the time was not far distant when the Anchor brand butter would have gained world-wide celebrity. He had sent samples of butter to many parts of the world, and had based his calculations upon the prices they could expect to get in the various markets. With personal supervision at the store in Auckland, and by the strictest economy, they hoped to build up a trade that would be a lasting benefit to the suppliers, and also to the company. He was sorry that the price they could offer for milk was not as high as that given last year, but he found that 119 had given too much. The exported butter had to stand a charge of 2d per lb after it had left Auckland. In the four spring months it took nearly three gallons of milk to make lib of butter; at the price they offered, that would mean 7Ad ; and if the farmers made the butter they would only get from 4d to 5d per lb for it, and in the hot months it would cost them endless trouble to make it, and would be of indifferent quality without they had an expensive plant. He trusted they would still continue to work together in the same happy manner that they had done in the past, and if prospects brightened, that in another year they would be enabled to offer a better price for the milk.—Mr Reynolds then read tho rules, which after embracing the usual ones as to cleanliness, etc., continued : All milk to yield 10 per cent of cream. The price during summer, i.e. from October to May, inclusive, to bo 2£d per gallon of lOJlbs; every 2 per cent, of cream to be id extra, in the four winter months the supply not to be less than one-third of that in thesummer, price 3d per gallon. Mr Reynolds said by giving the cows good food there would be little difficulty in raising this to 3sd per gallon. If required one third of the skim milk to be returned to suppliers at Jd per gallon. After a few questions had been asked, the whole of the rules were unanimously agreed to by all present, and the meeting proceeded to diacuss the various methods of winter feeding for producing a good supply of milk ; but as onr space is limited, we will return to this subject in a future issue. A meeting of the Pukerimu milk suppliers was called for last evening, but our report is not to hand. We do not doubt, but that they also joined with Reynolds and Company in the undertaking.