HIKUTAIA CHEESE FACTORY.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3853, 3 December 1917, Page 2

HIKUTAIA CHEESE FACTORY.

OPENING CEREMONY.

On Friday afternoon last another milestone in the extension and progress of the Thames Valley Co-opera-tive Dairying Company, Limited, was cemented when, in the presence of upwards of one hundred settlers and their friends, the large and up-to-date new Cheese Factory was opened. The factory is situated on the site of the old spinning station, which is on the banks of the Hikutaia stream, near the railway station, and has some ten different compartments, namely, the making room, 55ft. x 30ft., curing room, 34ft. x 30ft., timber, store, 31ft. x 12ft., engin© 4n<* boiler room, 21ft. x l&ft., coal bunker, 20ft. x 12ft., wei,ghing-in room, office and starter room, salt room ,&nd a bath room. The building with the manager's cottage, assistant's cottage, men's whare, and sundry outbuildings and sheds forms quite a little township on its own. The curing room is insulated <Qjv all walls roof and doorways. The windows in all cases being double glazed andi fitted with hinged louvres. The floors, silages, steps, and walls to a height of about three feet from the floors are all olf Concrete neatly finished off. The building is ventilated with four louvres in the gables and seven torpedo ventilators in the ridges, those over the curing room being insulated with closing doors. The whole of the main roofs are supported by a thirty-one feet span truss. The builddng is equipped with a number of large stands and platforms, one for holding the whey and.another for holding a 2,000 gallon tank. The sweet whey tank is constructed of concrete and placed in a convenient position off the making room. This' tank is 4ft. 6in. in the ground, and constructed of reinforced concrete and lined with white glazed tiles. In the curing room are twelve double tiers of pine shelving specially arranged for receiving the green cheeses for ripening. The roofs are sheeted with one inch tongued and grooved sarktag which is covered with a three-ply waterproofing material-

A small tramline is constructed from the factory to the railway station.

The machinery installed is of the latest procurable for the manufacture of cheese, and consists of Dunn's newest agitators, Hardley's vats, Sinus Reform receiving scales, cheesepresses and a 750 gallon Alfa-Laval separator. The power plant is steam, and driven by a 9 h.p. vertical engine. Everything about the factory appears to be well apportioned and neatly finished, for which the architect, Mr E. E. Gillman, the contractor, Mr E. A. Chester, and the manager of the Company, Mr W. C. Dixon, are responsible. -

THE LUNCHEON,

Mr S. Bax occupied the chair, and in a happy speech of welcome bade the guests partake of the good things provided. He said he was particularly pleased to see t!he Chairman of directors, Mr Buchanan, and so many of the directory, the secretary, manager, suppliers and friends come along to do honour to the occasion, The first toast was that of "The King." which was proposed by The chairman and drunk with enthusiasm. "The Boys at the Front" is a toast that cannot be left out of any function, and this was ably proposed by Mr Arthur Robinson and responded to by Mr Arch. White. "The Dairying Industry" was proposed by Mr W. D. Nicholas, who referred particularly to the great strides that dairying had! taken in the Thames Valley during the last few years and the high position held by the. dairy produce in the exports of the Dominion. In responding to the toast the Chairman of Directors, Mr Geo. Buchanan, said that quite twothirds of the butter exported from the Dominion was manufactured in the Auckland Province, and the Thames Valley provided a very large part of that amount. There had also been a very substantial increase in the manufacture of cheese. Three years ago the suppliers of Waitoa agitated for a cheese factory, but they were not unanimous. A> factory was eventually erected there, but some of the suppliers would not come in at first. When, however, they discovered what' a success was being made by the cheese suppliers, they all came in and this group had made a great success, with the result that the company had eight cheese factories in full swing, and this one is the ninth. Two years ago the Hikutaia suppliers were asked if tihey would! go in for cheese, but the proposal was turned down. It was also turned id'own again last year. He felt confident now they had made a start that Hikutaia would be one of the most profitable of all cheese centres, and congratulatedl the settlers on their enterprise and the excellence of the factory.

The manager, Mr W. C. Dixon, said he wished to say a few words to the suppliers—it was the same old story —on the absolute necessity in cheesemaking for the milk' to be supplied in good quality. Some suppliers will deliver in goodi order, but there were those who did not take the pains with their supply that they should. Milk for cheese-making must be fresh and good, and.he hoped the factory manager would be firm in doing his duty and exclude any inferior article. Suppliers must pull together to get the best results, and this would mean a greater amount being received for their labour. The capacity of the factory was 3,600 gallons for the three vats, and he would be pleased to see the three vats full each day. The agitators placed in the factory were the best on the market, and the general equipment was arranged so as to get the very best results. A regenerator pasteuriser was to be put in. This was the best known, and it was hoped it would arrive at an early date. He congratulated the suppliers upon having the best site of all the factories, and it only remained, with the suppliers to have the best price by supplying the full capacity-of the plant and good milk.

Mr F. Hansen, a director, said that "wisdom teaches," and no doubt that the mistakes made in the first fac tories had not been repeated. To get the best results true co-operation was necessary.

In proposing the toast of "Local Bodies" Mr E. Elliot said that no doubt this district was deserving, of better roads. He thought that the Ohinemuri County Council and also the Thames County. Council should be invited to look at the up-to-dateness of this factory, and be asked to bring the roads more up-to-date.. Mr Alf. Alley, in responding, said that "the suppliers had every confidence in the manager, 'Mr Dixon, and the chairman, Mr Buchanan. So far as the roads were concerned he assured the gatherIng that the Thames County would provide concrete roads if the rate-. payers desired them. He always saw to it that a fair share of the rates were expended in the Hikutaia riding, and the Ohinemuri representative should see and get it in his riding. He thought that the erection of the factory was a move in the right direction. "The Architect" was proposed by Mr E. V. Quick, who said that one of Mr Gillman's first works when he started Tvas the erection of the Paeroa factory; since then he had completed a great number of factories and buildings for the company, which had all given great satisfaction, /in returning thanks Mr Gillman wished the company every success in its operations.

"The Ladies" was proposed By Mr Heslop, and responded to by Mr Collins on behalf of the'ladies.

The chairman, Mr Sid Bax, in proposing the health, of the manager of the cheese factory, Mr W. G. Norton, said that he had come to Hikutaia with a good record and reputation, and he trusted that he would not be frightened to return any milk that was not up to the standard. If he did this without fear or favour he would have the hearty support of the suppliers. He had to stick to his guns and from what the speaker knew of him he was the right man to do it. He hoped that he would not be frightened to call on the suppliers for assistance in the factory if it was required. They had decided to help, and he wished to impress upon the manager that he had the co-opera-tion of the settlers behind him. 'Mr W. S. Norton, in replying to the.expressions of good-will, said that he would like the suppliers to help him in producing only a first-class article. He knew his duties, and ho hoped that he would never be forced to reject milk from any supplier. If a first-classl article, however, was not provided, he would do so as he had his own reputation as well as the other suppliers' to consider. He thanked Mr Bax for his offer to call upon the suppliers for assistance.

The tcast of "The Press" brought to a finish a very pleasant opening.

At the conclusion of the banquet. Mrs Corbett started 1 the plant working amidst applause.