BUTTER FIRKINS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1184, 30 September 1885, Page 5

BUTTER FIRKINS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,— ln perusing your issue of the 2olh inst., I noticpd a lengthy article on butter firkins. I am obliged to differ on several points with Mr Bryant's experiments. First, that I have seen butter packed in square firkins years ago, and am using some butter now that was packed in one of them — boxes I should call them ; and as to weight, a cubic foot of butter will weigh 651 bif packed to keep well. If these boxes are made of wellseasoned kauri, and the butter put iv them so as not to come in direct contact with the wood, it will keep almost any period. The following, I think, is about the best way to have the boxes made and butter packed — at least this is the way I had it done, and it has kept well without taint or the loss of an ounce of butter: — Hare lhe boxes made about s quarter of an inch narrower each way in the bottom than the top ; this enables you to turn the butter oufc, as it will shrink enough to relieve itself from the sides. Before packing, get a piece of linen or calico ; take strips of it wide enough to go right round the box inside, leaving as much hanging over at each end as will meet acro3s tho top, the remaining two sides to be fixed the same, only that it would not require to turndown wore than an inch. To pack the butter, get a well-dressed and smooth piece of kauri, about three inches square at the end ; put about 121 bin at a time and pound it well down all round and Wei om top. Where will be more or less water on top; pour this off and then commence again, and so on till it is filled. I think your readers will find this a simple and cheaper way than Mr Bryant's, and I know that those who try it once will not after care for using round firkin?, as they can take it to the store, fip it out on the counter, and take the boxes back with them. I can not see much advantage in hiving tbe boxes to come asunder, as this will create a certain amount more labor in making and putting together again ; but they could be made to pack three in a nest, the largest holding 1001 b; the second, 601 b; and the third., 351 b. Aud for the timber Mr Bryant proposes to use, I should be very doubtful of, as kahikaten is the Maori name for white pine, and this timber, as everyone knows who has anything to do with if, will rot in a very short time. I have seen some of it quite rotten in L ss than six months. — I am, &c, A Lovjee ov Good Butteb.

EVANS FLAT BRIDGE, (To the Editor.)

Sfß, — We notice in your Saturday's issue a correspondent signing himself "Ratepayer" mildly expresses his disapproval of the remarks mads snent out* contract by the

Havelock correspondent of the " Otago Witness." Why he should have chosen to descant on that particular item of County business we know not, but regretted very much, on reading the letter referred to, that he was not sufficiently posted up in the matter to give more than the outline. That " Ratepayer " should be at a loss to conceive why any person should write in accordance with the dictates of simple justice is easily understood, that course being foreign to himself. If the people about are so well up in the facts of the case it is passing strange that "Ratepayer" should know so Tittle. With your permission, Mr Editor, we will try to enlighten your correspondent, and others, perhaps, equally dense. With regard to his first question, " Who are tho Council to be guided by — the contractors or the Engineer ? " it is in this case by the Engineer, whose estimato of the bridge was £900, the total cost of the same amounting to over £2000 ? When the statement that 30 tons of old iron at £5 per ton was read, and the Chairman very decidedly said they could not take that— at the rery least it would be £15 per ton, was it by the Engineer the Council were guided? Then instead ot 30 tons the amount was over 45 tons, but in " Ratepayer's " eyes tho difference would, of course, be a mere bagatelle. Again, our prioo fop excavation of the foundation wm £1 per yard, and this was allowed for 49£yde ; but for eight yards more the price as given by the Engineer was Is per yard, and this mistake (to put it mildly) even c> Ratepayer" i will admit, should in common honesty, have been rectified by the Works Committee. ! Bui, no; the bridge had already cost too much, and for this reason only was justice denied u». Tim vouchers were marked final prior to our claim being sent in, and in the full knowledge of its being so, we received a written notice to attend at "a certain date, the hour being specified, at which the case would be heard. It wua heard, we presume, or discussed and settled rather ; for our presence was not required until we were called upon some hours later to accept or reject what " Ratepayer " is pleased to term a solatium, obtained through the goid offices of out- worthy member, whose sense of justice (save the mark!; would not allow him to vote for the £40 at which, at the request of the Council, we offered to compromise the matter and to avoid the trouble and experse of a law-suit. No, nor oven move that we get a fair and impartial hearing, which, in the face of public opinion, would ensure a judgment in our favor, as the sum claimed was paid away chiefly in wajes to men employed in doing the County work— men living at a distance, whose board, lodging and travelling expenses were paid for by as, and who could not, therefore, be turned away pending the settlement of overy trifling dispute. That we acted unwisely in trusting to the honor of the Council we must now admit ; but it was on the assurance of the ex-Engineer (who per«isteni,iy refused to commit himself to writing) that we woul 1 be paid in full • hit instructions to the inspector to keep the time of those men, aud whose books, compared in the presence of the exEngineer, were found to correspond exactly with ours. But the justice of our claim was never questioned. Had we obtained a public heaiing,is we l<ad a right, the members could not then say " the bridge has cost foo much ; somebody it appears must lose, aud the County can't afford it. Might is right," &c. After all, the members are working for nothing themselves, and in the general dearth of funds, on behalf of the ratepayers, I demand your correspondent to prove, or retract his statement, for which be has reliable authority, that any sum ot money, however insignificant, should be given away in sympathy to contractors, unable to estimate the cost of lhe particular work they wish bo obtain. We accepted the generous offer of the Council, not as a solatium, but as an acknowledgment of the justice of our demands, and have no hesitation in saying that every right-minded man will consider the Council in honor and conscience indebted for the remainder. In conclusion, we have to state that with regard to the difference of quantities in re earthwork, i wo wished the matter to be referred to the I present Engineer but the Council refused, though when a similar request was brought before them lie was ordered to see and report at next meeting. Comment is needless. Apologising for nncroaching so far on your valuable space,— We are, &c, Ryan a>t> Scotx. Waitahuna, 29th September, 1885.