MR C. DAY'S BACON CURING ESTABLISHMENT, TAMAHERE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3097, 21 May 1892, Page 2

MR C. DAY'S BACON CURING ESTABLISHMENT, TAMAHERE.

It is a curious circumstance about colonial enterprises, that wherever they ntart under favourable auspices, say, with plenty of moans, and other pleasant surroundings, disaster almost invariably awaits them, usually at no remote dat". But when the conditions are reversed, and the commercial, ar, it may bo industrial, venture lias to struggle along in a small way from the very start, perhaps gaining for the first few years, more in the wav of experince, than in profit, success is pretty certain, and very often, a business of groat magnitude is the ultimate result. These reflections were called up when recently looking over Mr C. bay's bacon curing establishment at Tainahero. Always an adept at turning out bacon and hams, not only of the best quality, but " got up " in ; sueh a style as to catch the eyo—an all important matter, by the way, where competition is keen—Mr Day has from curing his own crop of baconers, latterly turned his attention ro buying up the dairy fed pigs of his neighbours and others. By this means, as may be supposed, the business his ripidly increased. Last season about 350 pigs altogether, were out through and during the coming winter Mr Day expects to cure some 500, about sixty of these grunters being now in hand, with several shipments of the new cure, already sent off. In his modus operandi, Mr Day follows the American method of dry salting, the sides and hams, at the time of our visit, being packed from three to four feet deep. When read v the goods are shipped to Auckland, usually to or Jer, a fixed price never less than 7d per lb—being put upon it. A very large percentage of the Tamahere product goes to the Islands. Formerly, Mr Day shipped to Queensland through Mossrs Reynolds and Co., but the latter firm has largely withdrawn from that trade, and Mr Day finds no in selling all his output nearer home. Now, about the price given for the pigs. This is 3}d per pound dressed and delivered. It is, of course, understood that the pigs must be of choice quality, dairy-fed, and not to j large. In this direction Mr Day finds his greatest difficulty, i.e., in getting pigs of the right class. Settlers hold somewhat different views ag to what constitutes a good baoon pig ; we have some estimable friends—from tiie Old Country—who ridicule anything that does not carry at least six inches of solid fat. However, a visit to the Tamahere establishment will show them what is needed. Briefly, this is, a chubby, plump, porcine beauty, of from 120 to 1501b in weight. Mr Day states " that his customers are doing their best to suit him," j and it will be to their advantage to do so. I The price given is an extremely liberal one, and settlers can appreciate the immense advantage of thus being able to dispose of their annual supply of pigs—almost at their own door—for ready cash. As we have remarked the Tumahere bacon curing business has grown from small beginnings, and even now, has not attained very large dimensions. But we trust the time is not far distant, when it will be able to absorb all the bacon pigs raised in Waikato, to the mutual benefit of industrious settlers, and of the enterprising proprietor.