DAIRYING Off THE PENINSULA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1949, 2 July 1891, Page 7

DAIRYING Off THE PENINSULA.

The following is the report of the committee of the Peninsula Butter Paoking Company for the season 1890-1891 .—

The committee in laying the balance sheet of the season's operations before you have much pleasure in drawing your attention to the faot that there has been a decided improvement in the result of this season's operations over those of last season. The result of this season's operations will, after paying all expensas, leave 7d per lb clear for all Brat-class butter received at the packing bouse during the season. The expense on sending butter to London is a little leas this year than laßfc, although still large, amounting in the aggregate to 2d per lb. That ia for freight, primage, insurance, commission, brokerage, and sundry other items of expense paid through our agents. The local expenses are also a little less this season than last. They amount to ljd per lb on all the butter packed. This includes package, salt, packing, cartage, and 'sundry other items of expense. With regard to the packages the committee have made several small experiments with different kinds of packages, but with no very satisfactory results, and a package that will keep butter without loss or damage for any considerable length of time has not yet made its appearance in this part of the colony. It would also require to be so cheap as to go to the consumer without being an intolerable burden on the butter-maker. But this is of secondary jimportanoe as compared with the first requisite. By that we- mean a paokage that will not leak or absorb anything from the butter, and be perfectly airtight, holding about 601b. That size seems to suit best both in Sootland and England. The shipping facilities have also been muoh better this season than last, and most of the butter haa been shipped from Port Chalmers, Most of it was, however, detained on the coast several weeks until the steamer loaded up. Now after noting the results of the various shipments during the past three seasons, the committee are of opinion that with Bbipping facilities such as would ensure the Bafety of the goods in transit, to send coaatwise to Wel- ! lington every fortnight would be the most likely way to secure even and remunerative returns as far as shipping facilities are concerned—that is, when no direct steamer can be got from Port Chalmers. At the commencement of this seaßon the committee, instead of

judging the butter in turn as it arrived at the packing house, appointed one person to judge all the butter for the season ; and in noting the results of various examinations and disoussions on the quality of the butter during the season, the committee beg to direot the attention of butter suppliers to the fact that the most important defects in the past season's butter have arisen from the butter makers nob having sufficient- control over the temperature of their milk and cream, and in ohurning not oooling down sufficiently in hot weather so as to harden the butter. The consequence is that whenever a few hot days ooour there is quite a noticeable defect in the butter in this respect, a good deal of it coming to the packing house more or less soft and milky. The ooaunittee are of opinion that its keeping qualities are greatly impaired thereby, and although the packer took great pains to treat such butter specially, with our present water supply at the packing house it involves a very considerable amount of extra labour, and the committee have to request that butter suppliers will pay particular attention to this matter, as it is of the greatest importance. Owing to the Bmall number of shareholders who supplied butter this season, considerable dissatisfaction was felt by the suppliers at having to pay the one-seventh yearly repayment of share capital out of the small quantity of butter packed this year. A general meeting of the shareholders was called to consider the matter, with the result tha£ the one seventh yearly repayment of share oapital was abolished, and in lieu of it a charge of one-tenth of the prime cost of plant is to be made yearly on the butter packed, the same to be paid to share account. It is to be hoped that this arrangement will meet the difficulty. The committee, in handing over the trust you placed in their hands, beg to Btate that although the results of the season's operations •re not all that were expected of them, yet with the inorease of shipping facilities that are being afforded, the consequently lessened cost, the large amount of attention that the package question is reoeiving, and the greater care and attention that is being paid to the making and handling of butter, most of the difficulties that now exißt in the way of regularly landing a first-rate butter in London will soon cease to exist, and batter-makers will be assured of regular and remunerative returns. Alexander Stuabt, Chairman of Committee,