Chapter Sixteen

121 CHAPTER SIXTEEN DAIRYING - THE LIFE BLOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY Preliminary Mr. H. G. Philpott of the Dairy Division, less Government financial assistance in the Department of Agriculture, in his book "A early days than settlers in almost any other History of the New Zealand Dairy Industry, part of the colony. Also stock and station 1840-1935" records on page 46 under - agent firms generally did not appear to find "TARANAKI" - such attractive opportunity for their capital and enterprise in Taranaki as obtained in most Although Taranaki was somewhat late in parts of the colony then in a state of active the field, there having been many dairy fac• development. The fact is apparent from a tories in operation in other parts of the colony survey of the beginnings of this province. In before Taranaki's first factory was built, this view of the hardships faced and the lack of province developed its dairying activities more outside help and communication, the first rapidly than any other province of New Taranaki settlers were truly pioneers. Zealand, and subsequently became for many It is interesting to recall that it was not so years the leading dairying distriot. The reasons much dairy produce as fungus which provided for the deJay are not far to seek. In the first the means of keeping many Taranaki dairy place the Maoris were a menace in Taranaki farmers on their holdings between the years for some years after they had ceased to' be 1875 and 1885. The trade in Taranaki fungus troublesome in most other quarters; it was well was established by a Chinese named Chew on towards 1880 before isolated settlers felt Chong. Chew Chong during his wanderings as really secure, particularly in the northern end a pedlar of toys in Taranaki, recognized the of the province; consequently settlement was fungus growing on the tawa, pukatea, and late in commencing. Then again, there was no especially the mahoe trees, as similar to an suitable sea-port throughout the whole coast• edible fungus greatly prized in China as a line of the province, neither was there, until vegetable. It proved to be yet another instance 1885, railway communication with other parts of a chance and apparently insignificant dis• of the Island. Waitara and Patea had rivers covery which developed into a commerce of which at high tide would accommodate major importance. Chew Chong set about steamers of moderate size, but the river-bars establishing a trade in fungus with his native peculiar to all west-coast streams were always land, and the venture was an immediate suc• uncertain and often treacherous. New cess. In 1885 the value of the fungus exported Plymouth and Opunake had open roadsteads is stated to have amounted to £72,000 - more and later breakwaters, but in the beginning than the total value of butter shipped from the anchorage at these ports was almost as province - and when Chew Chong was in unreliable as the rivers. As a result, produce China some years later he was informed by had to be transported overland to Wanganui Chinese Customs authorities that from 1872 or Wellington, a costly business, and quite to 1904 the imports were valued at £375,000. unsatisfactory before the days of insulated rail It is difficult in these days to realise what transport. Roading and bridging was costly fungus - commonly known as "Taranaki on account of the heavily forested country, the Wool" - meant to the pioneer dairymen in innumerable streams, and the heavy rainfall. that province. When Chew Chong commenced Lastly, Taranaki dairy-farmers probably had to purchase this commodity the settlers lived 100 YEARS HISTORY OF INGLEWOOD 123 122 100 YEARS HISTORY OF INGLEWOOD by a system of barter. Fourpence a pound being the season when dairy-farmers would definitely raised the idea of forming a Co• Chew Chong operative Dairy Company in Inglewood in was probably the average price for the butter have less milk than at any other season. Dur• One of the prominent personalities in 1882, but I can find no record of it being they produced, while fungus brought about 3d ing that particular year the price given for Taranaki's early dairying history was Mr per pound. fresh farm butter was fairly remunerative, so formed except Mr. Philpott's record. Chew Chong, a Chinese who came to New The storekeepers did not pay cash for the that, all things considered, it was only natural Plymouth in 1870 where he started buying butter, however, but accepted it in exchange the factory would experience difficulty in Mr Brake fungus and selling toys. In 1884 Chew Chong for stores, milled it and shipped it home in a obtaining milk in an adequate amount. In left New Plymouth and opened a store in salted condition in kegs, as ordinary cargo. It those days a good deal of trouble was experi• Mr. Alfred Brake's private cheese factory Eltham and called it the Jubilee Factory, was a matter of great difficulty to obtain enced in inducing farmers to give up farm at Lepperton, about ten miles north-east of because that was the year of Queen Victoria's sufficient cash to meet the annual rates levied butter-making for the reason that export raised New Plymouth, warrants mention for the Jubilee. In 1889 at the Dunedin Exhibition, by Local Bodies. From these facts the joy the price locally. reason that it marks Taranaki's entry into the Chew Chong won a silver cup for the best with which they received spot cash for their The original intention of the shareholders field of factory dairying. Records are a little half-ton of butter packed suitable for export. fungus trade was all profit to the settler, was to confine the factory's operations to the indefinite as to the exact date of establishment It should be placed on record that while the manufacture of butter. At a meeting held on costing nothing to produce. Thus while at first of the factory, but it appears to have been Jubilee Factory won this much-coveted sight there would appear to be no kinship the 21st July, 1885, an additional £200 was erected in 1883, though it may possibly have honour, the man who actually made the between fungus and dairy produce, it will be subscribed to provide for the making of cheese. been 1882. Mr. Brake used to collect the milk butter was Mr Sydney Morris, Chew Chong's Mr. A. Brake of Lepperton, previously men• seen that there was a time when, in Taranaki himself from nearby farmers, and for the dairy-factory manager and buttermaker, and tioned, was engaged as manager for 12 months, at least, they were very near relations. purpose drove an old-fashioned two-horse previously manager of the Moa Dairy Factory. at a salary equalling £2/6/6 per week when express from farm to farm on set days of each butter only was made, and £3/6/6 during the Photographs: Under 'Pioneer Factories' fac• The Moa Dairy Factory Co. Ltd. week. part of the year when cheese was made. The ing page 46 in Mr. Philpott's book, shows a factory was therefore a dual plant making photo titled "Inglewood, Taranaki". This has On page 56, under the above heading he both butter and cheese. The Moa factory Mr. Henry Reynolds always been accepted as Reynold's factory on states, "This factory, built at Inglewood, was finally commenced operations. in September, Windsor Road, (Miro Street), while facing the first co-operative concern of its kind in 1885, but its troubles were by no means over. No history of New Zeala~d's dairy industry page 56, is Moa Farmers', Inglewood. Taranaki. It had a stormy career for the first The quantity of milk received was inadequate, would be complete without reference to Mr. twelve months of its existence, and indications and apparently the farmers did not keep to Henry Reynolds, one of the outstanding found• First Co-operative Dairy Factories point to the fact that it was, somewhat ahead their agreements regarding supply. The state ers and pioneers in the South Auckland Pro• of its time on account of inadequate milk• of mind of the shareholders is reflected in the vince. Mr. Reynolds was a Cornishman who On page 30, Mr. Philpott records that the supply. The erection of the factory was com• fact that at a meeting held on the 21st October, came to New Zealand in the early "eighties" first Co-operative Dairy Company in the world menced early in 1884 but, owing to differences 1885, it was decided to sell up if 100 cows were and took up dairy-farming in the Waikato. was formed in Norway. The RAUSJODAL of opinion as to the planning and construction not guaranteed by the following Saturday. In 1886 he built a butter factory at Pukekura, dairy was founded in 1855 by thirty small of the building and to delay in obtaining some Evidently this ultimatum had its effect, for the near Cambridge, which was the first butter farmers in an out of the way district in the of the plant, the factory was not finally ready factory seems to have run smoothly for the factory in the Waikato. north. Their initiative was consequently not for the reception of milk until May, 1885. A remainder of the season. The Company, how• Mr. Reynolds chose the brand "Anchor" and the product of external influence but of a local special feature of the opening ceremony was ever, lost £127/14/1 on the first year's opera• samples of "Anchor" butter sent to the Mel• need.

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