ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13902, 29 November 1910, Page 8

ASHBURTON.

I A satisfactory trial run of the maIchinery just fitted m> in the Ashburton ' Co-operative Dairy Factory, was held ' yesterday, and everything will bo in readiness for the receiving of milk and ; cream from suppliers on Thursday ! morning. For the opening ceremony J said luncheon on Saturday, invitations Jisivo been sent to the Hon. T. Mackenzie- (Minister of Agriculture). Mr \V. Xosworthy, M.1 , ., Mr. C. A. C. Hardy, M.P., Mr John Lambic (chairman of the Ashburton County C'jiinciiV Mr Henry Davis (Mayor ! of Ashburton), chairmen of the I various Road Boards, and niimer- : ous others, and the gathering is expected to be <a large one. The building, which is now practically comq>leted, has been designed and constructed on the most approved plans and it is considered by experts to be one of the most convenient and most up-to-date, in every respect, dairy factories in X-ew Zealand. It is situated in West street, at the lower end, close . to the river, close to the railway line, and within three minutes' reach of tho i railway station and goods shed and ; Post and Telegraph office. It is an I imposing-looking xcd brick building, and has been we!'; constructed in every respect. At the north-east corner stands the receiving stage, where cream I and milk are taken from the suppliers. i It is then weighed and run off, the milk into a large vat, and the cream direct to tho pasteuriser. From the vat the milk masses by gravitation into a heater, and then into a 1910 Model Alpha Laval direct-<lriven separator, with a skimming rapacity of 660 gallons per hour. The skim milk is pumped to an elevator tank outside, where suppliers receive their correct share. The churn erected in the factory, is an Astral, and has a capacity for turning out 14001bs. of butter in one churning. The butter printer is of the Topliss type, and turns out fifteen prints on pound pats at a time. A three-ton Lin do freezing machine has been installed. The power for this and the other machines is taken from a n.n.p. I;uigy e steamengine supplied from a 2j h.p. Lucas multi-tubular boiler. Other fittings of importance are the langye duplex double-acting steam pump, f or raising water from the well, the clr-ansing apparatus comprising tubs with hot and cold water and steam laid on, and the exhaust steam water boater. Provision has been made for the extension of the premises and plant at any time.

Good storerooms have been P- d Jf ,( Y roand convenient office accommodation for tho manager and clerical a tan. The directors and shareholders generally are very sanguine* of the entciprise heini: an entire success, and tnat it will cause a larae development ot the dairy industry throughout the Asliburton district.