LINKWATER DAIRY COMPANY.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of shareholders of tho Linkwater I>airy Factory Company was held at the factory on Friday of last week. The directors gave tho following information as to the supply and output for the season (last year's figures being in parentheses) .-—Milk received, 2,396,7611b5. (2,553,998 lbs.); butter-fat,- 9,4,352.821b5. (99,----117.891b5.); average'test, 3.96 (3.88); cheese made, 104 tons 7 cwt. (109 tons 19 cwt,); lbs. milk to lb cheese, 10.00 (10.36); lbs. cheese to lb. butter-fat, 2.53 (2.48); average grade, 89.2 (90.5); number of crates exported, 1422 (1517); cost per lb. cheese, 1.75 d (1.94 d); cost per lb. butter-fat (manufacturing expenses and charges), 4.35 d (4.83 d). The report stated that suppliers were paid Is Sd per lb. for their season's supply, and there was a further payment of 2^d per lb. to be made. The balance to credit of profit^ and loss account was £913 12s sd. Tho directors recommended that this be dealt with as follows:— Further payment of 2|d per lb., £884 8s 7d; balance to carry forward, £29 3s lOd. The output last season was taken by tho Imperial authorities at lOfd per lb. This contract expired on 31st July last. With regard to the coming season, tho directors thought fit to accept an offer of 14£ d per lb., f.o.fr Homo steamer, for tho purchase of the whole output. An important step

was made towards the end of last year, when it was decided to instal a plant for the manufacture of whey butter. Arrangements had also been made with the Waitohi and Ivoromiko dairy companies for the purchase of their whey cream on a manufacturing basis. The approximate cost of this new venture is £1500. In order to provide sufficient cool storage accommodation for cheese and butter in Wellington, the dairy companies in this district purchased the- interests of the Wellington Mea.t.Export Co. Ltd., in certain buildings, plant, machiuery, and land situated on Waterloo Quay. A large new concrete building was in course of erection, and would, it was hoped, provide ample storage spnee for the produce shipped through Wellington, and ako' lessen the storage charges. The directors had taken up 55 shares in this company, shares being allotted according to each dairy company's output. Messrs W. Simmons, N. Bryant, C. Evans, and E. Challis were elected directors.