CHEESE-MAKING INDUSTRY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 456, 20 May 1890, Page 2

CHEESE-MAKING INDUSTRY.

The cheese factories can fairly take a high rank in the few industries with which this district is favored. It has the great advantage of being a wide distributor of the wealth which it assists in creating. Where a few years ago farmers on a small scale had no hope of any kind held out to them they have now always a steady market for their supplies of milk, which enables them to carry on their work with the certainty that they can rely upon a certain amount of ready cash at regular periods. It will therefore be a matter of gratification when it becomes known that very satisfactory prices have been received for recent shipments of cheese to the London market. Mr Townley yesterday afternoon received information from Mr G. H. Scales, of Wellington, giving a report oi sales in London. Sixty-three cases of cheese by the Duke of Westminster realised 525, and 164 cases by the Ruapehu realised 50s each. These prices are much above those that have ordinarily been received, and allow a fair margin of profit for the manufacturer, thus giving the assurance that with good management the industry has been made a great boon to the district.

The explanation of the good price realised is probably given in the fact that great attention is paid to the quality of the cheese produced by the Cook County (Matawhero) factory. On Saturday we were shownasampleof the cheese that was sent to the Dunedin Exhibition. It had been lying there for six months under conditions not very favorable for cheese, and which would probably have sent to decay cheese of a poorer quality. But the sample from the Cook County factory is of a very rich flavor, and enables us to say with assurance that, in whatever else the district may succeed or fail, it can produce cheese which will equal, if not surpass, that manufactured anywhere else in the colony. There is good reason to feel satisfied at such results, because they are an indication of what may be made of this fine district, when it has been more fully developed by energetic and far-seeing setuersi .

THE HARBOR BOARD. To-day the election of a member to fill the vacancy in therHarbor Board takes place. There are two candidates—Mr H. E. Johnston and Captain Chrisp. The latter, besides having against him the objection that he is the agent for the Public Trustee (with whom the Board has now some delicate matters to consider), has not thought it worth his while to address himself to the ratepayers. It is regrettable that a person posing as the candidate for a seat in a very important local body should forget the ordinary courtesy of informing the ratepayers of his intention, and it is also unfortunate in another respect, that it has caused some ratepayers to attach an amount of credence to a rumor that Captain Chrisp, on reconsideration as to his position as agent for the Public Trustee, had resolved not to come forward.

With all of Mr Johnston’s opinions we may not agree, but we can give him credit for having the courage to state his convictions, and also commend him for the brief and simply-worded but thoughtful address he makes to his fellow-citizens. He appears not to be ambitious to obtain the seat, but having once consented to become a candidate he gives evidence that he fully appreciates the respect of his fellow-citizens.