The idea was worked out apart, of Coarse, from the Association, but the Association gave ft its most kindly countenance- The factory w*3 not m the end a success, but it had much against it In those days that it would not be handi capped with now ', and, perhaps, were the same men who so gallantly initiated it all tliose years ago to have the thing to do over again with ail the advantages of Cible communication to feel the pulse of the markets, direct steamers to run their products Home m forty days instead of a hundred; the more handy and effective distributing machinery at the other side, the greater knowledge m manufacture and treatment that ia now possessed, and, chief of all, the experience they would now have which they Jacked then. the results would be .vastly different. The promoters of that factory dint noble work m fchejr day, and if only the practical lessons tJaey learned by their own ex perience of what #«# to do were all that they left us, they would have done the county good service. There was an agita tion at the time to start a fasbory for tl.#e Wakanuidiscrict. Jt was perhaps as wejl that the hopes of the promoters did not: reach fruition. Wakanui has always been a strong wheat district, and while wheat mM worth growing lb could, with th.at an 4

its bit: of wool and mutton do very wel! 1 indeed, without bothering greatly about j } dairying. ISiow, however, thab wheat is J fetching m tha Knglish market about as I ! much as it costs the Wakanui farmer to j grow it, the cheese and butter trade may I not be altogether unworthy of attention even by the farmers of Wakanui. The farmers round about Tin wald have thought it worth a trial, and it is to be hoped their venture m a butter factory will repay them well for their pluck and enterprise. One thing the renewed interest m dairy ing will certainly do. It will draw m creased attention to the breeding and rearing of cattle. Ashburton has never been a stronghold of the herd. Wheat has been its great staple ever since the land was first broken, and for many year* the rich soil repaid cultivation with generous returns. It was an easy crop to grow. 