http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/chong-chew/1
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2c17/1
Last week, at the New Zealand at the South Seas Exhibition, there was an exhibition dairy produce show, open to all the colony. Tons of cheese and tons of butter were sent in. Men who had made butter in Devonshire valleys, and others who had done so in the mountains of Ayrshire, were amongst the competitors. The real exhibit— the great butter competition was for the best half a ton of butter, suitable for export. No one supposed otherwise than that the first award would go to someone who hailed from the British Isles. It did not so go, however. Among the first half ton exhibit there came one from a Mr. Chew Chong, of Taranaki, in the Mount Egmont region of the North Island, 500 miles distant up country, and the pluck, enterprise, and good work of this son of the Flowery Land wore rewarded by his obtaining the first prize. I think I can see some of my old friends of the Illawarra, the Shoalhaven, the Ulladulla, and the Eden districts opening their eyes at this, and shaking their heads, as did their fellow-countrymen on this side. There is no nationally inherited gift in doing work, and one good result of this defeat will be that the New Zealand farmers will apply themselves with renewed watchfulness and are to every part of their work, to win back the premier position which has been wrested from them. As Mr. Chew Chong's position, as the best butter maker in New Zealand, is somewhat unique, possibly a brief account of his career and re ference to his dairy may prove of interest. Born in the city of Canton, he received a good education, including a knowledge of the English language. From there he went to Singapore, and served eight years in a merchant's office; then emigrated to Victoria, where, in Castle maine, he was storekeeping for eleven years. From there to Otago, N.Z., in 1867, again trad ing and in 1870 he went north to the then new district of Taranaki, still as a store keeper. Here, thinking the butter he bought of the farmers should be better than it was, he started a butter factory with such success that he has now 120 milk cows, besides buying large quantities of milk of the surrounding farmers. Mr. Chew Chong ships large quantities of butter to Melbourne and London, packing it in boxes of his own invention. I add the following extract from the report of Mr. B. M'Callum, Government Inspector, on Mr. Chew Chong's Jubilee Farm. He says: " This is one of the beat butter factories I have visited. The machinery is good and in first-rate condition, and everything about is thoroughly clean. The machinery it driven by a water-wheel. There are two Danish cream separators, each capable of putting through 150 gallons of milk per hour, one large box churn, and a lever butter-worker. The water-wheel is inside of the lower part of the building. The butter, when churned, is taken to a space between the wheel and the outside wall to be made up. When the wheel is in motion it causes a current of cold air in the space, throwing at the same time a spray of cold water in the air, which assists to cool it in hot weather, a method invaluable for butter-making. The building of a tunnel to bring the water to the wheel and plant cost over $700." Mr. Chew Chong is a naturalised British subject,' has married a European lady, and has a large family of sons and daughters. ; ,',
The Queenslander (Brisbane) Saturday 5 April 1890
A Mr. Chew CHONG secured first award at the Exhibition dairy produce show in New Zealand for half a ton of butter suitable for export. He has been 30 years in the colonies storekeeping in Victoria, and then in Taranaki. Storekoeping appears to have been his forte. During the time he was thus engaged he was struck with what he con sidered the indifferent quality of the butter sold to him by the farmers in his neighbour hood, and it occurred to him to start a factory, and see what proper care would do towards producing a good article. He did not consider the idea long, but soon gave practical effect, and the factory he started then has proved a complete success. No less than 120 cows are kept in connection with it, in addition to which he buys milk from the neighbouring farmers. The super vision is entirely done by himself, and the labour employed is white. He ships butter in large quantities to Melbourne and Lon don, packing it in boxes of his own invention, which answer satisfactorily in every way. Mr. Chew Chong is a naturalised English subject, married to a European, and has a large family of sons and daughters.
The following is an extract from. the report of Mr. R. M'Callnm, Government In spector on : Mr. Chong's Jubilee farm, which is situated at Eltham, Taranaki: " This is one of the best butter factories I. have visited. The machinery is good and in first class condition, and everything about it is thoroughly clean.. The machinery is driven by a water wheel. There are two Danish cream Separators, each capable of putting through 150 gallons of milk per hour. One box churn, capable of churning half a ton of butter at once; and a lever butter worker. The water-wheel is inside of the lower part of the building. The butter, when churned, is taken to a 'space hetween the wheel and the outside wall to be made up. When the wheel is in motion it causes a current of cool air in the place, throwing at the same time a spray of water in the air, which assists to cool it in hot weather, a method invaluable for butter making. Mr, Chew Chong keeps a store in the neigh: bourhood, and the milk suppliers receive payment either in goods or cash. just as they choose. I was told this business pays well. The building of a tunnel to bring the water to tho wheel, and plant, cost over £700."
Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M., presided over this morning's sitting of the Magistrate's Court. S, Northrop and Wee On were each fined 5s, with costs, for having ridden their bicycles on the footpaths. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, 19 October 1917, Page 4
CHINESE RETAILERS IN TROUBLE
That the Chinese retailers of Hawera are law-abiding citizens and do as they are told was the opinion of Mr Houston, expressed at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when he appeared in defence of the firm of Wee On and Co , who were been proceeded against by Mr M J Mountjoy (Inspector of Awards and. Factories) on a charge of keeping their shops open on the Statutory half holiday.
Mr Coleman (Borough Inspector) conducted the case in the absence of Mr Mountjoy He said that on the afternoon of July 4 he found Wee On and Co’s shop open, and knowing that the sale of silks and cigarettes made it necessary for the shop to close on the half statutory holiday, he informed the Chinese assistant of the fact. The assistant immediately closed the premises. Mr. Houston said that the position had since been pointed out to the defendants, they being told that if they wished to keep open on a Wednesday afternoon for the sale of fruit they must register as a fruit shop and have a separate entrance for customers who wished to purchase silks or cigarettes. His Worship inflicted a fine of 30s and 7s court costs. The Inspector also proceeded against Wong Ling Pow on a similar charge. The defendant was not represented and did not appear. A fine of £2 and 7s court costs was imposed. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, 10 August 1923, Page 8
