The returns of the Agricultural Department for August, 1906, show that there were 77 Butter Factories and 13 Cheese Factories in the district, and that the number of Private Dairies producing butter was 228, which is more than half the total number in the whole Colony (340). The output from these factories varies considerably, but that at Okaiawa turned out 1000 tons of butter this last year, which, with the exception of the "Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Company (Ltd.)," which draws its supplies from a vast area in Otago, is the largest in the Colony. The total output of Butter and Cheese from the whole district for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1906, was 161,548 cwt., valued at £695,954. In addition to the figures above, the following table will prove of interest :—

Annual Return of Principal Exports (to Foreign Ports) from Taranaki Ports During Year Ended 31st March, 1906.

Export.	New Plymouth	Patea	Waitara	Total Exclusive of Opunake
	£	£	£	£
Butter	363591	266763		630354
Frozen Beef		811	69332	70143
Cheese	26222	39378		65600
Wool	1055	21095	35761	57911
Hides and Skins	8060		2868	10928
Frozen Lamb		927	9863	10790
Tallow	605	379	7059	8043
Frozen Mutton		32	7548	7580
Frozen Pork (New Industry)			1965	1965
Miscellaneous, including Leather, Preserved Meats, and Timber	3625	1161	2866	7652
	£403,158	£330,546	£137,262	£870,966