THE WAIKATO CHESSE FACTORIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7005, 30 April 1884, Page 6

THE WAIKATO CHESSE FACTORIES.

LIfROM 088 OWN CORRESPONDENT. | Ohacpo, Saturday. Mb. Hhwrov, who left on Wednesday for Te Aroha, has been on an official visit to the Waikato cheese factories, and has expressed himself highly pleased aod gratified with the successful manner in wbicu the aeseoiated cheese making industry has been established in Waikato. He was particularly pleased with the quality of the chreee, especially the Cheddar manufactured by Mr. Bpeeke ac the Ohaupo factory, carried on in the grand stand •f the old racecourse at Kukuhia, which has made thx ivost substantial and commodious of the four factories erected in Waikato. The only fault found with the Rnkuhia cheeses was that they were made too small, Mr. Bowron being oi opinion that, for the English market at least, 90. bs. is the best •elhng size. Ho unhesitatingly gave the palm to the Rukuhia Factory as making the finest quality of cheese, and to the Hamilton, or as it is called •• the Waikato Factory," as being the most economically and ably managed, a fact proved by the intention of the directors to declare a dividend of 8 per cent, on the paid-up capital at their next annual meeting, on the present season's work, and this after paying 4d per gallon for the milk. Next to the Rukuhia, Mr. Bowron considered the Patorangi Company's cheese the best flavoured. An inspection of the Waikato Cheese Factory's produce was equally satisfactory. Mr. Bowron stated as his opinion that such cheese as he saw there would, if it arrived in England in the months of March, April, or May (the best for the sale of euoh realise fully 70s per cwt. In the coarse <>t conversation an interesting fact was mentioned by Mr. Bowron, showing the need of suoh a aocietj as that of the North New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, to secure even for cheese factories security from the exactions of the middlemen, who consume all margin of profit to the producer. He had consigned one ton and a half of the Ashburton Factory's cheese to a son in England, and at the same time consignments of cheese from the same factory had been seat home by two other New Zealand firms. Mr. Bowron. jun., placed his 30cwt. on the market at 63a per cwt., one of the other firms theirs at 565, and the other at 50s per cwt. In a few days the purchaser of Mr. Barwon's lot came back for mor«, and was told that other consignments had come by the same vessel from New Zealand. He hunted them up, and finally purchased them, after they had passed threugu four different hands, for 60s per cwt., the middlemen securing in one case the pro of 10s and in another of 4s (or rather of 13s and 7e) per cwt., which should have gone to the producer. The Waikato Factory intend sending home a large consignment of cheese shortly.