Waverley Dairy School.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 207, 28 August 1896, Page 2

Waverley Dairy School.

[Special to thd-Tiaras.] Thursday, August 20.

The school broke up to-day, and most of the students will be nearly all gone by to-morrow’s trams. Excepting in the butter-room, active work was finished by mid-day, and the rest of the time was occupied in dismantling the Government machinery, and replacing the factory plant. Mr Mac Ewan gave the last lecture during the afternoon. He gave a resume of what had been done during the term juct ended. The students would, he felt sure, reap a great deal of benefit from practical work, carried on, combined, as it had been, with the theoretical work also. In the coming season, he hoped that the results obtained by managers in their work, would be a credit to them, and it would then also reflect credit on the school.

It had been announced that at the next Dairy School examinations would be conducted, with a view to granting certifieates'of efficiency according to merits. To this end consideration would be given to the Grader’s reports, on the produce of the various factories for the coming season ; to the reports of the Inspectors on the conditions of cleanliness, eff siency and general good management as found in the different factonies ; and on the results of an examination to be conducted at the next Dairy School. Thus by the Grader’s reports on the finished article, and the Inspector’s reports on the factories, we should be able to test a man’s practical abilities; and by the examinations, his theoretical abilities.

Some of the. students, however, seem to have got the idea into their heads that the certificates would be awarded on the points given by the graders, and considered this was not desirable. Considerable discussion has taken place on this point, but I think Mr Mac Ewan made it pretty clear how the certificate really would be awarded.

Mr Mao Ewan said that at Edendale the concensus of opinion amongst the students seemed to be in favor of the scheme as outlined, and thought that when the North Island men had looked carefully into { he matter they would come to the same conclusion. ever, if, after a year’s trial, it was found to work satisfactorily, some other way would have to be tried. Mr Mac Ewan expressed himself as being greatly pleased at the interest shown by the students in the work carried on. At last year’s schools things were certainly not so satisfactory as could have been wished for; but there were excuses. It was the first year, and the work was new, both to instructors and students : but, with the experience obtained he was pleased to say that a great improvement was noticeable this year, alike in the North and South Island Schools. The work was carried on so that the students would be shown the fundamental principles, which were the same in all cases, though some minor details might differ in various localities under varying circumstances, so that as nearly as possible one uniform quality of butter and cheese would be produced throughout the colony. With regard to testing, the men must become thoroughly acquainted with the causes of variations in tests, as people must be made to understand that variations will occur, at different seasons and in different localities.

The impression was abroad that as competition was getting keener every day, it became the duty of everyone connected with the industry, producer, manufacturer, and exporter, to do his utmost to place nothing but a firstclass quality of butter or cheese upon the market.

Tin se engaged in the industry he thought, just waking up to the fact that they had learned sufficient to show they had a great deal more to learn about their work.

Mr S. Whitburn, Chairman of the “ Secret Society ” of students, then • read a resolution which had been passed that Mr Mac Ewan and his staff had worked to give them information and instruction in their work.

Mr Mac Ewan suitably replied and the meeting broke up. •

On Tuesday last the Dairy School presented q ite a holiday appearance during the afternoon. A large number of ladies and gentlemen from in around. Waverley, had assembled in the lecture room, in addition to the students, to hear a lecture by Prof. Kirk, of the Department of Agriculture, Wellington. He took for his subject, the matter of “ Weeds ” and gave a very interesting, as well as instructive discourse thereon, illustrated by a number of magic lantern views. He also bad a collection of samples, which he allowed those interested to inspect. At the conclusion of the lecture work in all of the various departments was put in hand, so that the visitors might have an opportunity to see the way in which factory work was carried on. Government Dairy School, Waverley, 20/8/96.