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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9145, 29 August 1888, Page 4

Some short time ago all New Zealand was informed that the Government had engaged an expert, Mr. McCallum by name, who was to travel over the colony, to tell the farmers how to make butter, and to show them how to deal with it so that it might be a proiitable article of export. It is, indeed of great importance that New Zealand should make profit of its dairy produce, for no country in the world for its size can produce so large a quantity of milk. The mild and equable climate, with the tine sunshine and copious rains, give us uneoualled pastures. We have had a good' deal oi controversy about butter during tiie last few days, and, judging by the assertions we have heard, it would be quite impossible for Mr. McCallum, or anyone else, even although he were commissioned by the Government, to teach some of our dairymen a single wrinkle. But still the majority of our fanners were willing to listen attentively to what Mr. McCallum had to say. He was engaged by the Government to teach, and surely they would get some return for the public money he was receiving. But Mr. McCallum has come, he lias taken a glance at Waikato, and is about to tiee away South again, having, it is said, been recalled by an imperative telegram from the Government. Mr. McCallum took train at Wellington, went straight to New Plymouth without doing any teaching en route, in the line dairy districts of the West Coast, caught the steamer at Taranaki, and as soon as possible rushed up to Waikato, and after taking a look at Mr. Reynolds' establishment at Newstead, is oil' again to the South. There can be no objection to Mi - . McCallum giving the benefit of his instructions to the fanners of Canterbury and Otago as well as to those of Auckland, but he should have, done that before he came here at all, or when he was here he should have remained till his work was finished, and then have gone to his duties in the South. Mr. McCallum's meteor-like rush through the country has been the subject of wonder to all interested in his work, and they will be equally surprised when they learn that he has been ordered to rush back in like manner.