DAIRY PRODUCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1956, 20 August 1891, Page 11

DAIRY PRODUCE.

THE RIMUTAKA'S CHEESE.

The Grocer, one of the leading trade journals of the United Kingdom, in its issue of June 27, says, with regard to New Zealand butter and cheese : — " The dairying industry in New Zealand is threatened with partial, if not complete, collapse. Several shipments of butter and cheese have of late arrived in an unmerchantable condition through defective cool-chamber accommodation on board ship, and the shipping companies repudiate any liability in the matter, insisting that according to terms speoified in their bills of lading they distiuoely hold themselves exempt from responsibility in respect of damage to produce in transit. One company has announced to its clientele its intention in future to charge an extra 2| to 3 per cent, insurance indemnity over and above present rates for guaranteeing the condition of dairy produce. Tbe result of these and other proceedings will bo watched with keen interest no lees by farmers iv the colony than by merchants at home. It is improbable that the New Zea* land Government will long preserve a quiescent attitude if tbe steamship companies remain inexorable On the contrary, it may be safely assumed that it will lend substantial support in safeguarding the industry from possible failure."

Mr W. R. Yorke, the representative of Messrs Boyd and Grant, told many? acts in connection with the unfortunate result of the consignment by tbe Rimutaka to a representative of the Lyttelton Times, Last year Mr Yorke was in tbe colony and bought tbe balk of that season's output of batter and cheese from tbe southern

factories, and consigned it to Messrs Boyd and Qrant, of Liverpool and London, paying, with one or two small exceptions, 4|d per lb for the cheese delivered f.o.b. at Port Chalmers. The chee3e was put on board various steamers, and the freight, £7 per ton, was paid in the colony. All went well until the Rimutaka's consignment, consisting of 891 cases, arrived in London. Of this shipment 700 cases were southern factory cheeses and 191 farmers' parcels, on which Mr Yotke advanced 3£d per lb to the owners aud paid the freight to London. When this shipment arrived in London Mr Yorke and Mr Grant happened to be there, and, hearing of the damage, went immediately to the Royal Albert; docks to inspect the cheese. Altogether, over 1200 cheese were damaged, the contents of the cases being in all stages of heating. It appears that, on the vessel's last voyage, there were two cool chambers, one of which had formerly been the second saloon, and the other was the regular chamber. It w*s in the first-named that the damage was done, as the cheese in the ordinary cool chamber was not damaged at all. Refrigerating engineers were employed to report on the process of keeping the chambers, cool, &c. ; and the owners o the teat of the shipment co-operated with Messrs Boyd and Grant in ascertaining, as far as possible, how the damage had been caused, bntno definite information could be obtained though various surmises were rife. Messrs Boyd and Grant then applied, through their London solicitors, to the New Zealand Shipping Company to be indemnified, but up to the time of Mr Yorke's leaving England no settlement had been made. With this one exception Mr Yorke has always got on splendidly with the shipping companies, and has sent Home immense quantities of butter, cheese, and grain, having paid away over £60,000 last year for butter and cheese alone. But unless some better security is given for the transit, Messrs Boyd and Grant will withdraw from this colony altogether. The loss on the Rimutaka's shipment is said to be from £1200 to £1500, as the cheese was almost useless.

With regard to potatoes, Mr Yorke does not anticipate that New Zealand can ever open up a profitable trade with England. The highest price realised is from £3 to £4, and that very seldom. He has known old potatoes as low as 30s— even ia April and May. The reason for this is that there are large home stocks, and tbe immense quantities grown in Germany are always available if £2 a ton can be procured for them f.o.b. at Hamburgh. Otherwise the Germans manufacture farina, dextrine, and glucose from them, after extracting the spirit. These products are used by the artificial gum makers,' and are also employed in stiffening cotton goods. In addition to dairy produce Mr Yorke consigned a large quantity of grain during last season, and would have sent peas, but tbe varieties grown in the colony at the present are not suitable, and are 'not en t at tbe proper time. The pea most suitable' for export is a special kind of marrowfat, a quantity of which Mr Yorke has brought with him, which he intends to cultivate, with a view of seeing if it will acclimatise well.

A special meeting of tbe High School Board, hel<l on Friday, was attended by the Rev. Dc Stuart (chairman), Hon. Thomas Dick, Mr J. Carrol], and Mr H. Clark. Thfrfcy-sfx applications were received for the position of lady teacher in tbe Girls' High School. Miss Chris* tiaDa Eirby, of the Waikouaiti state fichooJ, was elected by a majority of one.

At the Southland Champion Ploughing match Messrs Reid and Gray's digging plough gained first prise. Two other makers were represented, and all broke up the ground very effectively.