The Cheese Factories of the Wairarapa.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2033, 21 February 1887, Page 2

The Cheese Factories of the Wairarapa.

This industry, at the present time, although in its infancy, is the most important of all onr local productions inasmuch as it gives directly, and still more indirectly, both employment and profit to a number of our fellow settlers. Tbe Qreytown Factory, under tbe management of Mr Q. Shaw, affords the op* portunity to many of our dairy farmers of deriving good returns from their milch cows during the season when tbe manufacture ef cheese is in progress ; and the quality of the article produced at this establishment has been pronounced by all competent judges to be beyond all question as it is simply excellent. Tbe same can be said of tbe Taratahi Dairy Company’s Factory, which under Mr Foss has been so successful in the cheese making direction. Mr Foss has made more than one kind of cheese at this establishment, and that on tbe English Gbedder system has been much admired. So also has bis other kinds, and the demand has always been equal and sometimes in excess of the supply, and the latter remark can be also applied to tbe Greytown Factory, where tbe cheese is all made on the American principles. During the present season tbe quantity of milk supplied per diem to tbe Greytown Factory averages about 600 or 700 gallons and tbe balk of the supply is derived from Matarawa and Greytown alone. Some settlers at Waibakeke have for some time been agitating for a factory to be situate somewhere near the Waiohiue. Others living at Dslefield, have made an effort to get one established on the Dalcfi:ld read. As to whether there is room i for more than two cheese manufactories be tween Tauherenikau and the Waingawa rivers, is at present an open question; bat the Dalefield residents appear confident that there is room for a third. At all events time alone will prove as to whether their anticipations are well founded. The district is an extern, sive one, and most especially adapted even ia seasons oi long drought, like the present or immediate past for dairy pursuits, ao probably another enterprise of the kind will next aea> son be attempted There are some Waihakeke settlers wbo would prefer to see tha Greytown Factory shifted to the banks of tbs Waiobine and thns, by becoming still mors central, answer all purposes and save the necessity lot a third establishment in that part of tbe Wairarapa, but upon this point opinions are somewhat divided. Tbe present market value of the cheese is Sid per lb in the single ton; 6d per lb (or five tons and 56s per cwt or 6d per lb, per one ewt or any quantity under one ton. The highest quantity of milk supplied to (he Greytown Factory in one day during the present season has been 800 gallons, and tbe Carterton Factory has received a similar amount upon several occasions. The cheese is eagerly sought (or in tbe Wellington market and both factories can respectively readily dispose of their article as soon as ripe and fit lot use. The Greytown Factory baa now 16 tons on hand, and the Taratahi-Carterton establishment has also a quantity, which is being held in reserve in anticipation of an improvement in the state of the markets regarding price. ’ The Greytown Factory will probably remain ' open until April, as even now the enpply of milk reaches 550 to 600 gallons per day.