Presentations to Mr and Mrs Hulke.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12282, 15 June 1903, Page 3

Presentations to Mr and Mrs Hulke.

There was a good attenidance in the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon, when an illuminated adklrews wafbl/reseiited to Mr W. K. Hulke. as a recognition of his efforts in promoting the dairy industry : and a handsome clock to" Mrs Efculke. .Several ladies were also present. The address artd a description of it was published in, Saturday's Herald. THE SPEECHES. The Mayor, in opening the proceedings, informed those present that the meeeing had been called for the pjurpose of making a presentation to Jttr and Mrs Hulke. He would not detain them with any lengthy remarks, but would make a few references to Mx HtoWte/s valuable services an advocatinir procrtraa in tho dairy andwstcy. H« qwKd from Vfc Bjufke's letter; Vt HiuJke bad done ft VS*\&$ L J& fiSi&s (Srocotod tfce abolition »f Jf» &rW system, and that butter #ttO*uJd be "old for. o«* jhe ako "ftpe-tod tho installation of freezing chambers on vessels trading Home ; the .graclimr of butter ; and the adoption, of a uniform keg or box so that our produce should be knowini.by its package. \]l these s|uff£es!tion& Wl ooiwe 1 sntio vogue, and this showed iftAt Mjr Hulke was a far-seeing man. They had therefore to thank .Mr Hiulke for. a great deal in the development of tho dairy indlusfry, He also referred to Mrs Hulke's connection with the dairy industry, as the lairly haid been a practical help to her • in their dairying work. He then called on Mx N King, the president of the Aignculturaf Society, to make the 'prcsewa Mr Kiojr »aid ho had great pleasure in preseflting 4 the akUlrom on behalf oi oM fax-mej?», ftritf tor tho matter oj ih«s n«w laxm*r*t In th» district, ate

then read the address-. Continuing his 1 remarks Mr King said that when Mr .Efculke's letters on claiirying iirst appeared in the press he personally thought tlVat they were a bit dry-— lint h© was only a boy then I—and1 — and Mr Hiulke's farsightedness was abttnidanitly proTCid in tihe yearrs after. MiH>ulke*s suggv.stioais hud beea gradually taken up one by one, and tho industry was now on a . good solkl basis. The factory system, had come to stay, an]d tho. present was a groat contrast to what he nsight call the dark days of New Plymouth and district. Ho had great pleasure in presenting Mr H'ulke with the handaomoly illuminated address, and in \n-p-Montmg hw good wifo with a handsome cloolc '(applause). N Hon. T. Kelly refenrotl to Mr T?u lke's excellent assistance to the dairy ijv clugtry, and instanoacl tho points of improveniwit that Mr H'ulke had advocateid, anjd which \\ore now in operation. He cordially endoi-sod all that had been said about Mr and Mrs Hulke. and was pleaisorl to be present at this meeting to reeogiiise Mr Hfulke's good work. Mr J. C. Davies, one of the promoters, stated that the recognition of Mr Hulke's services was spontaneous, and enranatod from a conversation between Messrs .J. C Honeyfiekl, »J. KatteiVburj'. and himself; and he was ]>leawxl to wo that the matter was taken up in such, a whole-hearted manner. Mr Wuljke'i? offorts had not only benefited Taraualii, but the whole of I<he colony (applause). Although it was late in the day to recognise Mr Hulke's services, it was better late thau never (applause). Mr J. Waicle pointed cvut that Mr ELulke had also advocated the establishment of a Dopartonent of Agriculture, which was now an institution in the land. The thanks of Now Zealand, ami not Taranaki alone, wore dtie to Mr H'ulke. He hoped Ma- and Mrs H'ulke wo.uld be spared many years U> soo tho. fruits of ihoir labours (ajipla"\ise). Mr J. ('. George said that ho first entered the dairying industry with some trepidation, but he was on— OOUrageH by Wr Kullie. who also furnitfhed him vnth a great deal of valuable inforin,ation. \{'o would be wanting in gratitude if he did not ina"ke this fact hnowiu on this occasion. He also wished Mr arid Mrs H?ilke in any years to witnoaa the results of M=r Blulke's labours "(applause). Mr Courtney also referrfvl to Mi" H/uike's sei'.vices to ihe dairy inklustry. He hoped that people wo t uld see the necessity of am im.pro.ved harbour to ship. our produco away, arid urged tihem to take to heart the lessons t oojjtaiucicl in this sories of harbour articles now appearing in the Herald and Budget.' Mr Budke, in reply, said he was ngveefctfcdy. siu'prisotl at the recognition of hisuservices to the dairy industry. He pointed out that in the early days the butter protfu'eed was taken arour.d the towtn for excliange or barter, for in those days there was little ready nymfiy about. He saw. that theic was need for improvement in the system, and as Natoii-e had, given us a fine dairy 'district, he be--' gan to write letters to the Herald to awaken interest in new aixd imiproVed. methods. He ho,d to thank Ma* H. West on, the proprietor, and Mr W. H. J. SefYern, the late editor, for allowing him so ni|Uch space to advocate his view* in the Herald. He then , referred to the butter of different \ dairies being mixed up for export, the rcsiult being that tihe mixed article could not be called iirst-class. To a.\-oi<> this lie advocated the faotory systom. Mr Chong inter\'iewcd him in 1885 on the siufoject, and was sio imtprefised witih what lie was told that Mr Oh'ong n«t his hand in his pocket and built the first factory at Eltham (ailplause). Then Mr J. C. (George started a factory at Tikorangi in 1S8«. and the lato Mr T. Bayly followed witlH one at W&itara lload. These were the first three factories started. After that a company was formed in Now Plymouth, tihe principals being Messrs N. King, R. Cock, and -I. C. Ueorge,, and th/is company haxl orectwl no less than 41 factories and creameries. ; some boing over 200 nriles from Now Plymouth. Thiw company haki to put \i>p with a groat deal of loss in their initial attempts, one factory ho believod lying idle for (tome 2 years. The factory system had aluo released the wom.cn from slavery, for the old churning system was laborious- and trying. Tho roswlt of the factory sysrtem was the great increase in the output of butter from. tsie district, which was now valued at an enormous figjuro a year considering our population. The prosperity hatl alsro permeated other walks in life. !EDe also pointod out that the prosperity too was lasft/ing so long as it was carriefd out on a proper basis. Hfe wished t-o dwell on the necessity for being up to date, and being careful in carrying out iho future of the JnjtJtwitrv. Oa behalf ol hlw^eH and Mfca Hwlko ho wl«h«d to ccwfcllaUy tKank tfco BUViswibora ' t oy ths proaon-* tationn, and tor the kind remAKta that had been wift^o. H« »aid that tfee imlte'd agoa o! himiaelf aw wlfo ware 157 years, avid alt/h/QU'gJi ihoy oouljd not exfpcot to live muck longor, yet it would be » saurco of pleaauro to them to know during the remaining years, when looking on these presents, that tlheir lives had not been those of drones (apiplauso). The Mayor then on behalf of tho comrcvittoo invited the ladies to the Kiaora Jvooms for afternoon tea.