REYNOLDS' AND CO.'S WAIKATO BUTTER FACTORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9255, 8 January 1889, Page 6

REYNOLDS' AND CO.'S WAIKATO BUTTER FACTORY.

Yestekday we paid a visit to Reynolds' and Co.'s Butter Factory, Fort-street. In order to understand the operations of this factory, it may be necessary to recapitulate what Islr. Reynolds has been doing during the past three years in this new enterprise and branch of dairying industry. Mr. Reynolds saw that to make the export of New Zealand butter a success it was necessary that the butter manufacturer should be brought into direct communication with the milk suppliers, if the butter manufactured was to be of good quality and obtain a reputation in the Australian and London markets or elsewhere. Accordingly he started two creameries in Waikato about three ago. In the experimental stage of the business Mr. Reynolds had a good deal of uphill work, and some losses, bub having learned a lesson in the school of experience, the business has now been placed on a satisfactory basis, a proof of which, so far as the manufacture of butter is concerned, is that the Waikato Butter Factory obtained the first prize for butter at the Melbourne Exhibition. It was seen that the export business could not be carried on profitably without a receiving and exporting depot in the port of Auckland, and accordingly the present factory was established in Fort-street. The firm is at present running seven creameries, namely, in Pukekura, Pukerimu, Te Awamutu, Paterangi, Pukekohe, Whangarata and Razorback, the supplies being equal to the manufacture of three tons of butter per week. The butter is made at each factory, and forwarded by rail in Pond' 3 enamelled boxes and kegs to the tFort-street depot. The firm is just arranging with six other factories to commence operations next spring, among them one at Maungatawhiri Valley, Pokeno, &c. A ■water site has been secured between Bombay and Pukekohe, also similar rights at Buckland station. They are arranging with the settlers of Puni and Mauku for a factory at each place. They hope next spring, when these and the factories already in existence, are in full swing, to manipulate 6000 gallons of milk per day, equal to an output of a ton of butter per day. The butter received at the depot is put aip in tins of from lib to 601b weight, and In totara kegs of from 561b to 1001b weight. The tin covers are decorated and labelled ;»t the Herald Lithographic Works, so as to come out in black and gold, in the Italian etyle. The ground floor of the factory is used for storage of butter, etc., and the basement, in which is a gas engine of 8-horse power, to work the refrigerator, is used as putting-up, tinning department, and refrigerating chambers. The refrigerator is equal to supplying all the cold air required for the cooling of the storage department, and for keeping the butter in good condition required to supply the local demand, no matter what may be the season of the year. The greater portion of the butter is exported to Sydney, Queensland, and Melnourne. Some samples have been forwarded to London, in order to pioneer the way for placing a large quantity of butter on the London market in years to come. As the .Australian demand is precarious and incidental, being dependent upon droughts, the firm is prudently looking out for ■markets which require a permanent and continuous supply. Hitherto most of our local industries have ended in failure owing to starting ventures on insufficient capital, Mr. Reynolds, therefore, in order to secure .success, and to form a strong and efficient organisation, associated with himself a number of other gentlemen, who were willing to embark their capital in the venture. There is no fear, therefore, of failure from •financial causes. It is pleasing to hear of the good relations existing between the country settlers -and the management of the butter facitory. Mr. Reynolds is a settler him.self, and therefore has sympathy with settlers in their difficulties and trials. The eettlera, on their part, are co-operating with liim to make the butter factory a success, and he, on his part, is doing his utmost to get the best and most profitable market for their produce, and the highest prices in their interest. Nothing is so helpful to the etruggling settler as regular and prompt payment for his produce, and the butter factory in the beginning of each month pay s, -cash for the milk received during the month and thu3 the settler is saved a j -world of trouble, to say nothing of bad .tiebts.