THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8482, 13 May 1893, Page 8

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

THE OXFORD CREAMERY.

The Oxford creamery has now to be added to the list of accomplished facts. This makes the third feeder to the Central Dairy Factory at Addington which has been completed, the others being Marshland and HalswelL Next week the Doyleston creamery is expected to be finished, and Springston should follow very shortly. Nowhere could there be a better opening for this industry than Oxford. The holdings are small aud very numerous, the soil is of a quality which grows grass luxuriantly nearly all the year round, and cattle thrive to the fullest exteut. It has been computed that ac least 1200 head of dairy cattle eau be carried in the locality, which forms a circuit of, say, eight miles, with the new creamery at a very convenient centre. The building, a rather modest looking structure, is erected close to the East Oxford Railway station on a dry site, aud where water and drainage are easily obtainable. The water, of which thire is a good supply, is provided from a well 21ft in ueplh. As to the premises, which were de=igued and erected under the superintendence of Mr U. W. England, they include the creamery and the engine room, erected in wood, covered with irou, the former room 12ft by 16ft, aud the latter Bft by 16ft. There is the usual platform outside for receiving and weighing the milk brought in from the farms. The milk is passed into a vat, and from thence conveyed by pipes to one of DeLaval's largo separators —the size known as E, capable of separating 320 gallons per hour—supplied by the firm of Mason, Struthers aud Co., of Christchurch, and fitted up by Mr George Allen, oue of the firm's experts. No better test of the qualities of this machine could be wished for than that to which it was subjected yesterday in the presence of a large number of farmers, representatives of tne Central Dairy Factory and ollici-ls of the Company. Mr T. Goodge, of the Sefton Dairy Factory, takes charge, and intends to commence by taking in regular supplies of milk from Monday next. The mnk is paid for by teats. Out ot each cow-keeper's supply a small quantity is placed iv a phial and forwarded with a number from time to time to the Central Factory. The arrangements for taking the cream from the separator are turning the cream after it had passed the refrigerator into the patent cans lor transit by railway on the evening train to Addington. After each can is filled it is placed in a water tank, and a constant stream of cold water keeps the contents at a low temperature. The skimuiel milk from the separator is forced by a centrifugal pump into a vat outside the premises on the opposite side of the creamery to that on which it was received, aud thence taken away by the farmers for stock fatteuing. The visitors could not fail to be surprised with the compact, complete arrangements of the cream room, in which the whole operations aro under the control of the dairyman. Concrete forms the floor, aud is ta_eu up the wal. about 6in, a dado of zinc being carried round to a height of sft, thus allowing of the whole place being rapidly and effectually scoured out. The 8-h.p. boiler in the engine house is one made by Messrs J. Anderson and Son, of Christchurch, aud it not only drives the separator, but gives power to a large Taugye pump, lifting 1200 gallons per day for all purposes. Tuts has been tilted by Mr T. Dauks. The visitors yesterday were courteously shown over the creamery and supplied witn a considerable amount of information by the practical gentlemen who were present at the opening, including Mr W. W. Crawford, the Government dairy expert; Mr W. Henderson, oue of the Directors; Mr M. Murphy, who went to Oxford with Mr Crawford to address a public meeting on Thursday evening, butt waa prevented by reason of the delayed train carrying circus excut sionists, Mr R. Struthers, Mr England to pass the contract tor the buildings, and Mr F. N. Meadows, the Company's secretary, who was busy with a share register aud making the preliminary arrangements for the reception of milk. Besides these gentlemen, Mr J. Ingram, who has taken a,very warm interest in the creamery, was present early in the day. When the time for the public trial arrived a majority of the farmers of the district was present, who expressed their high appreciation of the mauuer in which the %vhole place was fitted up, and wished the undertaking every success.

Mr Sawers, the dairy instructor, according to the-Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily 'limes, announces his hiteution to make a distribution of plans aud specifications for the erection of large butter and cheese factories, by means of which any farmer may be enabled, with the assistance of oue or two carpenters, to do all that is required for the construction of a building which would answer the purposes of the industry. Even a handy man acquainted with carpentry and plumbiug couid put up a suitable structure. In order to give the widest opportunity for increased knowledge oi the subject, Mr Sawers is prepared to supply to settlers copies of the following : — (1) Geucral conditions of contract, together with specification of the labour and material required in the erection of a factory, giving sizes, &c., of timber; (2) a second form of general conditions of contract with accompanying specifications; (3) memorandum of agreement between employer and employed ; (4) quautities and sizes timber uud other requisites for a large butter factory; (5) do for a small butter factory; (6) do for a creamery ; (7) do for a small cheese factory ; (8) specifications for both sizes ; (9) do for creamery; (10) do for a cheese making vat of 600 to 700 gallons capacity. To an intelligent and active mau these papers, according to Mr Sawerj, will give all necessary information requisite for iactpries or creameries.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

PALMERSTON NORTH, May 12. A meeting of the Provisional Directors of the Farmers' Dairy Association was held yesterday aud was attended by representatives from Tarauaki, Wairarapa aud Manawatu. It was decided to erect a central factory at Palmerston aud twelve creameries throughout the district. The milk of over six thousand cows was promised to the Association.