BOTTLED MILK

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 7, 8 July 1922, Page 8

BOTTLED MILK

THE PROMISE FOR TO-MORROW

MARVELS OF MODERN MACHINERY,

To-inorrow the Wellington City Council will take over completely the supply of milk—wholesale and retail. The three years which were given to vendors to accumulate their goodwill—paid by the council in instalments—has expired, and the high hopes of the Milk Committee will be consummated. To-day the residents of Eoseneath received their milk in bottles, the first section to be so treated. To-morrow, if all goes well with' the intricate bottling machinery in the meantime, every hoiKc in Wellington will receive bottled, milk. However,_in case anything should go wrong householders are requasted to put out their receptacles as usual to-night and every night until the initial bottle is left by the roundsman. A TRANSFORMATION AT DIXONSTREET. During the last week or so there has been intense activity, at the Dixon-street Milk Station, which has been completely remodelled. .Engineers, - carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers, painters, and electriciaus have taken their sliava hi the work,.and while the transformation was taking place the whole of Wellington's milk supply was passing through the station. Under great difficulties the alterations have been practically completed, and order has been evolved out of chaos. Many crates containing bottles are neatly stacked ready for the big change over to take plaoe to-morrow. The daily supply to householders will h» contained in 1500 crates or 22,000 bottles of assorted sizes. The magnitude of t,ne undertaking is suggested by the fact that over 20,000 bottles must be filled and delivered each day. Hand-filling was out of the question, so the Milk Department imported a highly-intricate, almost human bottle-filling, machine which a representative of The Post saw in operation last night. It is impossible to describe adequately the wonders of this machine. At one end the crates are tipped onto an endless moving chain, and arms on either side marshal them into single file. They look like so many sheep being driven through a race. The bottles continue their course until the arms of a revolving star-shaped table draws them into the bowels of the machine. Each bottle is then automatically placed on a small pedestal, which rises and fite the neck of the bottle into a metal teat. The bottle fills immediately, and is re : alisod on the opposite side of the machine. Another arm takes it to the capping devices, and when it is sealed it passes out and is dropped ' into the crates. It is all done quickly, and the sight of the machine" in action is quite fascinating. Last night it worked very well indeed, and a greater measure of efficiency may be expected when those in charge of the machine become more used to its working. THE WASHING MACHINE. There is still a false impression that the washing which each bottle is supposed to receive in the home will be the final washing. Each bottle will be thoroughly cleansed and sterilised immediately it arrives at the station. For this purpose a special washing machine has been installed, and the Post representative was able, to see it working. Both the crates and the bottles enter the machine. The bottles are placed upside down in the crates, which have wide perforations, and the working of each crate through the machine is automatically controlled. The bottles are first of all rinsed in cold water. Then they are subjected to two distinct washings with a strong soda solution. Next they pass above two rising jets and one overhead jet (temperature, of water 160 deg. F.), another rinsing jet and an, overhead wash (ISOdeg. F.j, and the process is repeated' a third time with water heated to 200deg. F. Finally they are sterilised by passing over a steam jet (260deg. F.), and the crates pass along to the bottle-filler on roller tallies. OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. A big shed has been constructed behind the milk station, and in this • the ■milk carts will be sheltered. A washing area is provided in the centre: Tlis shed is laid down in tarred macadam. In the interests of cleanliness the stables are - not adjacent to the milk station, but are being constructed at the Clydequay yards. A modern ice plant is now being constructed above the cart-shed, and the department will be ready to supply'ice in any quantity next summer. The whole of the machinery in the station is worked by electric motor, and the department generates its own power. A new switch-board, of the very latest design—jt is said to be the most modern switch-board in Wellington—has just been installed. Improvements are still being mads to the station, and when they are completed the utmost efficiency should be possible. The comfort of the men employed has not been forgotten.- The plans provide for the construction of bathrooms, drying rooms, and lockers.