NOTES FROM OUR TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 19

NOTES FROM OUR TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT.

NORSEWOOD

The dissatisfaction amongst the milksuppliers in the district has given rise to an agitation for a co-operative dairy company. Thero is little doubt that co-operation is far and away the best principle, as everything produced and profits made belong to the shareholders, who are also the suppliers. But against this the losses, if any, are also borne by them. Unfortunately there are only two or three co-operative factories in New Zealand that have done better for the suppliers than (lie private owners. [Oh, yes, t here are quite a dozen. — Ed. N.Z.M. j The most striking example is the Cam helltown Co-operative Dairy Company. This company has achieved a success far beyond anything in the dairying lino in the Colony, so far as paying the suppliers is concerned. There never was an effect without a cause, and this applies to this successful co-operative company. The directors and secretary receive no salary, but if tilings turn out well the secretary is voted a bonus. Each supplier has tho interest of the industry at heart, seeing that his interest is concentrated therein, and endeavours to give as good a supply as possible, fho working manager insists on cleanliness, which is the first rule in dairying, tests tho milk regularly, keeps an efficient record, economises labour and time, and generally takes an interest in everything concerning the welfare of tho factory. His ready advice and experience is often a greit boon to those who have not had previous experience in dairying, and there aro many of them. Hundreds of artisans and others are settled throughout tho country who when they first started had not one iota of practical knowledge concerning fanning, and to these an obliging dairy expert is a great assistance, Tho settlers of Norsowood, Ormondville and Makotuku are certainly in a position to have one of tho best co-operative dairy factories in New Zealand. The settlement is wholly in small farms, which will in no other way keep the proprietors except by dairying. One other advantage is that nearly every settler is possessed of a family, who could do all the work necessary, and thus find employment for their boys and girls. Milking is only a boy’s work. To make a success of the affair, there would require to be a supply of 1500 gallons per day, and any extra creamery would require a supply of 80U gallons, in order to do away witli competition, the existing private factories in ;he district could be taken over, the plants of which would make one good butter factory and a creamery. There should be no difficulty in obtaining a supply of 0500 gallons per day in the flush of the season, or an average of nearly 2000 gallons. At present there are four private factories, and each one of these costs nearly as much to run as one large factory. It is all tho same cost to put through 100 gallons of milk as 2000 gallons. It is concentration and economy that will give the supplier his price, provided the market is good and tho butter of saleable quality. Selfishness must be as near as possible an unknown quantity in any co-operative company and each shareholder should do his level best to further its interests irrespective of immediate or personal gain. Mr Knight, tho secretary of tho G'ampbelltown Co-operative Dairy Company, 1 am sure, would he glad to supply any information concerning Hie working of his model lactory, wnich. judging from results, would he a good ba-is to .•dart on. ,The cattle in the district are very inferior, a few well-bred bulls are badly required to improve tho stock. Jf Messrs ll,tibbiuton Bros., of Alabaman, could Ire persuaded to lend their assistance to tho projected < in-

operative Dairy Company, the right men would be in the right place. Tho good people of Norm wood are not behind their neighbours in giving, as (lie following will show Clive Hood fund, Add ; Queensland flood fund, over J.'su ; aud for the Brunner Belief Fund nearly .£35 lias been collected. Considering that the settlers aro not very well off the above

Norsowood is principally a Scandinavian figures show up well.

settlement, and although the settlers arrived over 20 years ago, the customs of old Scandinavia are not forgotten. Spinningwheels aud home-made worsteds occupy tho attention of the house-wives. No “ New Women ” here, just real good old women. The wife of tho honest Jorgcn, Huns, Peter, or Lars is the same old party that landed

over 20 years ago with clogs and homeknitted worsted mittens. Tho Scandinavians are a handy people; give them a pieco of land and their wants are lew.

ORMONDVILLE. Ormondville has tho distinction of possessing one of the very few Church of England parsons who is a prohibitionist. The Rev. Air Wills, like most parsons, backs up the man with the long purse iff politics, although he professes to be a Liberal of Liberals. In my last I gave you a cutting from the U'a ipa tea Mail having reference to Air George Hunter’s outbidding Mr Jensen for some reserves. Lot the Rev Air Wills look up tho following:

“ What should it profit a man if lie gained the whole world and lost his own soul!” Ho might then be able to be of sumo use to Mr Huuter in giving him spiritual instruction, which might be of some benefit to him (Air Hunter) in tho hereafter! Jack’s and Bill’s pint of beer is a matter of little importance, compared with Air Hunter’s voracious greed for land. Think of it, Air Wills. Mr Do: n y is < v ersecrof tho co-operative works in the Waikopiro Block. Ho is a popular officer, and tho men speak of aim as being fair and impartial. His long experience should eminently fit him for the position ho has been placed in. Tho road in the Waikopiro Block is being pushed forward, and before two or three years ha ve been passed, what is now bush wilderness "'ill lie a smiling settlement.

MA KOTUKU. The engine which went over the embankment at M.daman was brought oil to Alakotuku. The damage done would be hard to estimate until it is taken to pieces, as everything about it appears to have suffered more or less. The settlers at Alatamau are enquiring what sort of a “ boss ” was oversvoing the work of removing the engine and replacing her on tho rails. They declare his stentorian voice could have been heard over two miles away all day long. It is fortunate that a railway “boss” is not allowed to use the whip. “Maul dressed in a little brief authority, Ac., Kc.” Makotuku is a slow little place. About tho only person with any life is Air Lund, station and postmaster, whose important duties of attending to trains, timber trucks and mails keeps tho active little fellow on the hop all day long. He is a great favourite with the settlors around. Air Lund is a collector of coins (so we all are if we get an opportunity). He has a variety ranging from those B.C. down to the Queen’s Jubilee, of which latter lie has a gold set ranging from a its piece downwards.

The accommodation at Alakotuku is for quality tho cheapest in Hawke’s Bay. Air and Airs Davis, who are very old residents of Hawke’s Bay, have a very convenient and commodious hotel opposite the railway station.