U.I. BUTTER FACTORY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11637, 15 August 1905, Page 7

U.I. BUTTER FACTORY.

- Between twenty and thirty milk suppliers attended the meeting at the Waverley U.I. Butter Factory on Friday, called for the purpose of discussing the past season's results and of considering future operations. Mr Peacock was voted to the cliair. The balance-sheet, was read and adopted, suppliers expressing themselves as thoroughly satisfied with the -resuUs. The Chairman pointed out that the cost of manufacture with their small output was about .£lO 8s 8d per ton, whereas "Mr Blake was allowed Id per lb, or <£.*> 6s 8d per ton. Mr Blake said that as an inducement to suppliers he had decided to offer to reduce the' charge for manufacture from Id (and the over-run) per lb to $d, provided he could receive a sufficient supply of milk to make an output of a hundred tons. (Applause.) He wa3 desirous that the suppliers of the district as well as he himself should receive the full benefits that the factory was capable of conferring. If the whole milk supply of the district were centred in the one factory dairy farmers would reap the benefit. A better price could be commanded, and the proportionate working expenses would be greatly reduced. However, whether their output was great or small, the reports showed that the quality of the butter was good and they could always rely upon a good price. In regard to the disposal of the next season's output, Mr Blake said he had an offer for its purchase at a price which would return suppliers a trifle over BJd. However, in view of the very favourable prospects of the butter market, he was strongly in favour of consigning Home. He would not be surprised to see the Home market open at 112s. In fact, taking the reduced freight and present prospects into consideration, he saw no reason why suppliers should not get a return of* over 9d per lb for butter-fat during the coming season. Last season they received an average price of 102s, and suppliers received BAd. After discussion it was resolved to defer coming to a decision relative to the disposal of next seasons output until the season opened. Replying to a question, Mr Blake said he would still continue paying the present price for butter-fat. On the motion of Mr McLarin, seconded by Mr Dixon, a motion was unanimously passed to the effect that "suppliers are thoroughly satisfied with the way in which Mr Blake has treated them during the past season, and that he has their entire confidence for the coming season." A vote, emphasised by three hearty cheers, was also carried, recognising the able manner in which Mr Carter had conducted the factory.

On Mr Blake's suggestion, it was decided to present a half-yearly balancesheet — to the end of March and of September. — Abridged from Patea Press.

The Masterton County Council has decided not to declare gorse a noxious weed unless and until the question has been discussed by the New Zealand Counties' Association.

During the ' quarter ended June 30th, 1905, goods were exported from Wanganui to the value ot £101,209, against £96,747 for the corresponding period of 1904, an increase of .£4461. The value of imports for the same period was £25,688, the imports for the corresponding period last year being valued at .£33,063.

For years past a considerable number of the Otaki natives have been pushing their claim to a large area of land in. the maungatutari block, near Cambridge. A Commission of inquiry was set up last year. to deal with the matter, and it waa •thotight there was a strong probability of the Otaki Maoris' claim being recognised. However, word has now been received that the claim has been quashed. This will be a great disappointment to the Otaki natives, who will be heavy losers, they having spent already some ,£SOO or .£6OO in law expenses in connection with their claim.

Mr A. Warbrick is camped at Waimangu (says the Auckland Herald) watching the vagaries of the geyser. The water in the geyser basin is at boiling point, and occasionally a eamll blow up takes place in the centre, but Waimangu apparently is resting, and in its own time will probably once again astonish the world. Mr Warbrick hopes during his stay out there, which is to extend over a month, to gain some information as to the cause of the eudden cessation of activity on Waimangu's part, which, it will be remembered, took place on. the day following that on which the water in Lake Tarawera broke away.

The Rev. J. R. Flynn Anderson, in his lecture last night, said that the colonial contingents in the late war in the Transvaal had not only pulled down South Africa, but were now just as busily engaged in building it up. He ha 3 met many New Zealanders, he said, who, since the war were employed as carpenters, bricklayers, masons, etc., engaged in rebuilding the houses the troops had destroyed. They had done admirable service as Imperial soldiers, he said, but were now doing still nobler work as members of the great army of industry.

"If you own diamonds, you may con"gratulate yourself on the fact that they are worth nothing" said the Rev. J. R. Flynn Anderson to his audience last night. Diamonds, he continued, have a purely fictitious value, which is controlled simply by the number which the diamond mining companies allow to go on the market. There are enough diamonds in the Kimberley strong-rooms to bring the price down to nothing for 50 years to come if they were only put out, but they are kept- in reserve, and the supply being thus limited, the price is kept up. '

Much laughter was caused at the Rev. Flynn Anderson's lecture last evening by a picture of a British trooper, himself and his horse being loaded with every imaginable article of war material, including a balloon, anchored to the peak of the saddle. The picture was intended to represent the Boer idea of the way in which the British overloaded their horses and themselves, and was in striking contrast to the simplicity of the^ Boers' own equipment. "I always stuck to the colonial troops," went on Mr Anderson, "for then I was always sure of a meal — and a horse." Loud laughter greeted this concluding remark, which was redoubled when he continued, "But I always had to look out that they didn't get away with my horee."