THE PENCARROW BUTTER FACTORY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IX, Issue 773, 6 October 1900, Page 4

THE PENCARROW BUTTER FAC—TORY.

[by our travelling correspondent]. One of the busiest spots to be found alone the road between Hamilton and Cambridge is at Mr C. Day's smart little butter factory at Pencarrow, Tamahere, where between the hours of seven and niuc o'clock in the morning quite an air of lifo and bustle is apparent The group of springcarts aud light waggons clustered round the factory delivering new and taking in their supplies of skim milk, with others again (these are the early birds) trotting' briskly homeward, all makes a pleasant change from the quiet almost montonous, stillness that generally marks a country road during the morning. Tho factory, a well-finished building, stands conveniently by the roadside, and thouyh not so large as some Waikato establishments, is about as complete and well fitted up as could be desired. The . milk is received on the usual raised platform, and after being weighed and a a sample takeu, is run into a large vat, fitted with a steam jacket, whereby the contents are heated by steam from the boiler, to the required temperature.and it may be here mentioned that this is somewhat higher than frequently seen, Mr Day being a'firm believer in heat, as a help to the work of the separator, which is a l)e Laval capable of putting through about 150 gallons per hour, and this is to be supplemented shortly by an Alexander of larger type. • The cream is led into a vat fixed at U level somewhat above that of the churn. After ripening, the cream is drawn off by tap and shoot into the churn, tho latter being of the square box pattern, capable of dealing with/about 5001 b of butter at a churning. Theiskimmilkis led from the separator

to p pump which forces it upwards thrpugh pipes which fiually deliver it, stilt quite warm, into the skim milk tank outfside the building, and which is fixed atj such a height as will allow the cans to bfe filled, weighed and moved into the c/arts without any lifting, the whole process from, renewing the new to the de/livery of the skim milk being carried out U with celerity and with a minimum of * labour. It may be maintained that the tanks, vats, etc., were manufactured by Messrs Alex. Harvy aud Sons, of AuckAuckland, who, also, fitted up the plant, the result being highly creditable to the firm. From the church the butter is moved into a worker made by Coller, of Christchurch, and obtained from Messrs Porter and Co., and which is like everything else driven by steam pon er, the principle being a revolving table containing deep grooves, into which a fluted roller works, beautifully clear water playing on the butter from an overhead pipe, while the table revolves, the process beiug very interesting and complete. When worked and salted to the required tasto the butter is packed in cube shaped boxes, lined with prepared papers, each box containing 56lbs net. These are forwarded by rail to Auckland. The whole of this season's output has been sold at a satisfactory price to Mr A. Busck, the dairy expert, who Bhips it to London at regular intervals. The first shipment went Home in September. Needless to say, it was graded first-class. The quantity of milk at present handled is about 350 gallons per diem : but with the advance of the season this will increase to about 800 gallons, ' most of it being supplied by the settlers of the district, assisted by Mr Day's own herd_ of Jerseys. .Respecting the milk testing, a sample is drawn from every day's supply, and a composite test made by Babcock machine once a week. This has given every satisfaction, the percentages generally being good. The factory is most efficiently managed by Mr Harry Day, who resides in a neat cottage close by. The above up to date establishment is the natural outcome of a love of cows and dairy business in all its branches that is seldom met with, and Mr Day's many friends will cordially wish him successjin this, to him, most congenial line, aud trust that the plant just described, may be the forerunner of many others unders the sains ownership. ,