National Dairy Association or New Zealand. Mr. J. Cuddie, Mosgiel (President), Mr. James R. Scott (Colonial Bank Buildings, Water Street, Dunedin), Secretary, South Island; Mr. Newton King (New Plymouth) Chairman, North Island; Mr. George Finn (10 Custom House Quay, Wellington); Secretary, North Island. This useful organisation is the outgrowth of a meeting convened by Mr. John Sawers, Government Dairy Instructor, in the month of April, 1890. It was held in Dunedin, and the necessary steps were taken to form the New Zealand Dairy Association. The objects of the Society as quoted in the rules were “To disseminate practical information with a view to improving the manufacture, to obtain the best means of transit and disposal of dairy produce so as to produce a uniformly good article, and generally in improving the interests of the dairy industry.” Up to this time it had been found very difficult to obtain shipping facilities for dairy produce for the Home market, the space available being very limited, and the cost enormous. It was anticipated that a combination of dairy factory proprietors would be the means of effecting substantial improvements in many ways; and the result has justified the expectations that they cherished. The New Zealand Dairy Association was formed in 1891, with a membership of South Island factories numbering but fourteen. These each contributed £5 as an annual subscription. In the following year the membership had all but doubled, the number affiliated being twenty-seven, which was increased to twenty-nine in 1894. In this year the name of the Society was altered to that of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, a North Island Executive was appointed, with a Secretary and central office in Wellington, and the membership increased to seventy-eight. The total number of dairies now associated with the institution is one hundred, of which about forty are in the Southern Island and something like sixty in the Northern Island. The value of combination has been apparent in the considerable reductions in insurance charges. The magnitude of the Society's operations may be estimated by referring to the statistics published of the shipments for the year ending May, 1895. Of cheese, 33,269 cases, containing 4,776,9491bs. net weight were dispatched from the South Island, while 22,554 cases, aggregating 3,040,2901bs net weight, were sent from Wellington. The North Island supplied by far the larger quantity of butter, the figures being 65,707 packages, containing a total of 4,121,9661bs. net, against 4,316 boxes, having 241,6961bs. net weight. With but few exceptions, the whole of the dairy factories in the Colony have joined the Society, to their manifest advantage. The services of experienced secretaries in Dunedin and Wellington have proved invaluable, not only in making the necessary arrangements for space, but particularly in keeping a careful supervision over each shipment, with a view to ensuring that the proper positions are allotted. Though the importance of this matter can hardly be exaggerated, the Society is entrusted by its members with the duty of advising as to the best channels for marketing the produce in England. This is of the utmost importance, as, if consigned to unreliable and dishonest agents, the best quality of dairy produce would hardly realise satisfactory returns. The Association has been able to make arrangements of a most satisfactory nature at the other end, and the interests of its clients are thereby conserved. Besides these considerable advantages, the Society undertakes to indent materials required by its members. Voluminous reports are issued annually for each Island, and these contain valuable suggestions for dairy farmers, as well as for factory proprietors. The operations of the Association have been most successful hitherto, and there can be no doubt that under the present able management its usefulness will be increasingly manifested.

Mr. George Finn, Secretary of the National Dairy association of New Zealand for the North Island, was born at Christchurch and educated at Waimate. Joining the railway service on the 15th May, 1877, Mr. Finn rose to the position of relieving officer, and was stationed respectively at Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. In 1886 he was transferred to Wanganui, where he became chief clerk in the office of the District Traffic Manager. This position he retained till 1890, when he resigned to join the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. He was employed for four years at this Company's establishment at Wanganui, and acted as agent at Hawera. Mr. Finn left the Company in October, 1894, removing to Wellington to take up the duties of Secretary for the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, and subsequently founded the business now conducted by the firm of Finn, Rigg and Co.

Broad, W. G., Belmont Dairy, 62 Cuba Street, Wellington. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. The Belmont dairy is one of the neatest and most attractive of the dairies that are so noticeable a feature of the east side of Cuba Street. The shop which has a frontage of about twenty-two feet, has a large window, nicely arranged with ferns and pot plants, which are interspersed with attractive dairy products. Milk, butter, cheese, eggs, and cordials are sold in considerable quantities, all leading brands of butter being kept. Mr. Broad, who came to Wellington in 1890, is a native of London. In addition to the shop business, Mr. Broad has a milk run in which he disposes of about seventy-five gallons of milk daily, and in which he has a competent assistant.

Farmers' Co-operative Dairy Company (Cecil Roadley, proprietor), 82 Cuba Street. Established 1887. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This dairy is said to do the largest retail business in the line in Wellington. All leading brands of butter are kept, and a tastefully arranged window with a display of butter and eggs attracts attention in passing. Mr. Roadley was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1853, and finished his education in York. Upon leaving school, he learnt the printing trade. He came to New Zealand in 1874 in the ship “Berar” page 615 Landing in Wellington, he found employment at his trade for one year with Mr. Hughes, and nine years with Messrs. Lyon and Blair, Lambton Quay. At the latter place Mr. Roadley had charge of the mechanical department. After some time he turned his attention to dairying on a farm he had acquired at the Hutt. From this farm he opened a dairy business in Taranaki Street, and eventually came into his present premises. The original farm at the Hutt was sold in 1889, and a larger one of 200 acres acquired. This is worked by Mr. Roadley's sons, John Cecil and Albert Frederick. Mr. Roadley served on the Wainui-o-Mata School Committee as its secretary for one year, and was twice elected to the Mount Cook School Committee. He is an Oddfellow and is promoter and secretary of the Woodville Special Settlement Association, which has a grant of 6700 acres of land from the New Zealand Government. Mr. Roadley was prominently connected at one time with the Woodville Examiner and Marton Mercury newspapers.

Fitchett, Ashton Buddle, Dairy Farmer, Ohiro Farm, Wellington. From his farm, Mr. Fitchett conducts an extensive wholesale and retail milk business. This business was established by the present proprietor's father in 1852. The farm is a large one, and almost wholly freehold. Mr. Fitchett has 90 cows in milk all the year round. The average output is 140 gallons of milk daily. In winter fifty cows are housed, and the whole herd is fed on ensilage, brewers' grains, corn, pollard, and meal. Hay is sometimes added. Mr. Fitchett is a noted maker of ensilage, and makes about 150 tons every year. He got a prize for his ensilage exhibit at the Wellington Agricultural Show of 1892. The cows on the farm are a good strain of the colonial bred cattle. Mr. Fitchett acted as a judge of Ayrshire cattle at the Palmerston Show of 1895. The machinery used on the farm includes a digester and bone crusher, and, in the dairy, a Tuxon and Hammerich Cream Separator, with a capacity of about 40 gallons an hour. The separator is driven by a 4-horse power steam engine. Mr. Fitchett was born in Wellington in 1844, educated at Toomath's School, Wellington Terrace, and upon leaving school entered the present business. He is a member of the Vogeltown School Committee, is a widower with five children, and employs thirteen hands in his business.

New Zealand Farmers' Dairy Union, Limited. Directors: F. Barnard Brown, (chairman), Messrs. W. Bewley, Alexander Farmer, W. Udy, C. W. Grove, D. Matheson, R. Matheson, T. Parsons and N. Reid; secretary, Mr. A. S. Biss; manager, Mr. James Young. Butter manufactory, Davis Street, Wellington. Telephone 803. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. This large Company has, in addition to the Wellington factory, situated as above, a large factory in Palmerston Northland twenty one creameries. The head office and central factory, which is erected on the reclaimed land, Wellington, is a building of wood, two stories in height, with a floorage space of over 6000 square feet. The power is furnished by a twenty-horse-power steam-engine, made by Messrs. J. and E. Hall, and the refrigerating machine is a No. 4. They have splendid cool storage accommodation, equal to about 4000 cubic feet. The factory at Palmerston North is a wooden structure of one, two, and three stories in height, with a floorage space of from 5000 to 6000 square feet. The cream separators in use are of the most modern design, viz., the Delaval (Alpha), and the Alexandra separator, driven by three-horse-power Tangye's engines. Twelve of the creameries supply the Wellington factory, the other nine contributing to the Palmerston North establishment. The Company's trade extends throughout the whole Colony, and they are also large shippers of produce to England. The output is about three tons of butter per day during the summer, the milk of from 7000 to 8000 cows being put through. The New Zealand trade mark is the well-known brand “Black Swan.” The capital of the Company, £50,000, is in 20,000 shares of £2 10s. per share. They have about 1000 shareholders who are resident in the district between Taranaki, Napier, and Wellington, most of whom take advantage of the Company for the purpose of turning their produce to account. Such is the popularity of the “Black Swan” butter that the Company have recently had to refuse contracts to supply it.

Page, W., Dairyman, Thorndon Dairy, Molesworth Street. Mr. Page was born and educated in Sussex, England, and wenfarming until sixteen years of age. He then worked for some time with the London, Brighton, and South Coast, and South Western Railway Companies. On coming to New Zealand he took service on the New Zealand Railways. He was guard on the first train that ran in the Auckland Province, and assisted in building the first carriage and waggon used on the railway there. He was a subcontractor for railway-making in Otago, and also worked in the Railway Department there for years. Coming back to the North Island, he, after working out of the department for a little time, rejoined the service as guard on the Wellington section. After fourteen years' service he became a sub-inspector of permanent way. He was retrenched from this office on the Seddon Ministry going into power. After conducting a wood and coal business for three year; in Thorndon, he bought the present business as a going concern from Mr. Mumford. While living at the Upper Hutt he was a vestryman for six years in the Anglican Church there.

Reed, John, Dairyman. Private residence, Oxford Street, Newtown. Established 1891. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Reid was born in Sunnybrow, Durham, England, in 1861. He attended Wellington State School till about 11 years of age. He was then taken from school to assist his father in the grocery store. He applied himself to the trade with diligence, and after five years experience with his father he went to serve with Archd. Elliott, grocer, of Wellington. After being some time with Mr. Elliott, he went to Mr. Harris, of the same town, and then to Mr. W. I. Retter. While at the latter's place, Mr. Reed's health broke down, and he went Home to stay with his parents for a year or so, to recruit it. In 1886 he left for New Zealand in the s.s. “Rimutaka.” Landing in Wellington, he took a billet; but a week of it was enough for him, and he went to Wanganui. He spent six months there, employed as a groom to a gentleman residing there. When the work of constructing the Manawatu Railway was commenced Mr. Reed found his way to it, and got employment. Six months at this work satisfied him, and he returned to Wellington. He got work at his trade for six months with Mr. Downer, grocer, of Manners Street, and left him to start for Mr. Tonks, baker, Herbert Street. Mr. Reed remained in that employ for five years, and left it to open his present business. He has been a member of the D Battery Artillery, and is a Rechabite. Mr. Reed is married, and has two children alive. His business requires the services of two employees and three carts. The equipment for the milk delivery business is the finest in the city. Mr. Reed took first and second prizes for the best dairyman's turnout at the Wellington Labour Day Demonstration in 1895, and a first prize at the Horse Parade of 1893.

Mr. J. Reed.

Ritson, Mrs. M., Opunake Butter Depôt, Taranaki Street. Telephone 832. Established 1886. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Mrs. Ritson occupies for the purposes of her business a two-storey wooden building, with two shops, having a frontage of thirty feet to Taranaki Street. The principal makers of butter sold in the Opunake Depôt are the “Crown” and “Nut” brands. Besides doing a large retail trade in butter, cheese, and eggs, Mrs. Ritson has a good stock of groceries. In her business, which was the first butter depôt established in Wellington, she is assisted by her son and daughter. Her family consists of three boys and two girls. Mrs. Ritson is known in temperance and social reform circles, and is generally respected for the energy and ability she has displayed in conducting to a success a difficult business.

Small, William, Dairyman, Cross Keys Dairy, 89 Taranaki Street. Established 1891. Mr. Small was born in Monmouthshire, South Wales, in 1861, and attended school until twelve years of age. He then went to work in the coal mines, where he worked for over eighteen years. He came to New Zealand in the ship “Rangi” in 1891. His father being in the dairy business, Mr. Small turned his attention to that on arriving in Wellington. He commenced business from a private house, but soon opened a shop in Ingestre Street. After being fourteen months there, he transferred his business to Taranaki Street, where he was nine months in the upper part of the street, and has been fourteen months in his present premises. Besides milk, butter and eggs, he sells bread and a few lines of groceries. Mr. Small is married, and has one child.

Others In The Dairy Industry.

Bull, F., Dairyman, 133 Tinakori Road. Established 1895.

Bruning, Mrs., Dairykeeper, Wairarapa Dairy, Cuba Street. Taken over by present proprietor in 1896.

Burbidge, William, Aylesbury Dairy, Webb Street. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1888.

Clarke and Co. (C. S. Clarke and R. E. Drinkwell), Dairymen, Willis Street and 66 Tory Street. Established 1895.

Cowley, Mrs. Wm., Dairykeeper, 91 Adelaide Road. Established 1893.

Fenton, 11., Dairykeeper, 132 Taranaki Street.

I.X.L. Milk Depôt (A. J. Powley), 35 Courtenay Place. Established 1895.

Judd, George Frank, Dairyman, Roslyn Dairy, Webb Street. Estab. 1895.

Kells, Robert James, Dairyman, 159 Cuba Street. Bankers, Union Bank of Australia. Established 1892.

Linnell, Mrs., Southern Cross Dairy, 92 Cuba Street. Established 1895.

Newell, Wm., Dairyman, Adclaide Road. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1883.

Osborn, John, Dairyman, 4 Taranaki Street.

Osborn, Mrs. Lucy, Dairykeeper, Finsbury Park Dairy, 52 Ingestre Street. Established 1886.

Phillips, A., Dairyman, Premier Dairy, Molesworth Street. Established 1895.

Scott Bros. (Issae Scott and James Scott), Dairymen, Nelson Street. Private resid ncc, Nelson Street. Established 1893.

Small, Joseph, Dairyman, 41 Tory Street. Established 1889.

Stunnell, Henry, Dairyman and Grocer, Nai-Nai Dairy, 6 Abel Smith Street. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Established 1892.

Oriental Bay