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The Rongotea Co-operative Dairy Company was established in 1893, and was acquired by the present Company in 1895. A large quantity of milk is put through the factory, and it is anticipated that the amount treated for the season 1896–97 will be 720,000 gallons, producing 310,000 lbs. of butter. The factory's brand for pat butter is “Makino” and for bulk butter “Milkmaid”.
The first directors were Messers Vincent Ransom (Chairman), Carl Anderson (Treasurer), Samuel Knight (Secretary), FW Koberstein, Walter Richmond, Alfred Richmond, and Neil Buchanan.
There were 40 suppliers in May 1895: Charles Burgess, Carl Anderson, W Braben, John Tompkins, Wilhelm Koberstein, John Mudford, Henry Thompson, Ben Gray, J Hanabey, John Satherley, Joseph Broadbelt, William Thompson, Willian Sexton, G Lucas, Samuel Knight, George Harper, Julius Simonsen, Neil Buchanan, Vincent Ransom, William Gardiner, Alfred Broadbelt, Martin Hunt, Warren William Hunt, John Bottcher, Alfred Richmond, Walter Richmond, Mrs Teaz, John Beckman, John Hemmingsen, John Baker, Richard Mudford, J Nicholas, William Makery, Harry Ehrhorn, Albert Arnold, Anders Persson, James Costall, Ernest Crabb, Percy Lasenby and Mrs Duke.
(Photo) This brick butter factory replaced the old wooden factory which was constructed during the 1890s. The Rongotea Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd was established in 1895 and was amalgamated in 1960 with the Awahuri Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd, to form the Manawatu Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd. Ronald Matheson is in the foreground wearing a bowler had and a waist coat.