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				Taranaki Stories

				Farming - Chew Chong Plays Leading Role in Dairy Industry

		\| Lure of Chew Chong's Water Race \| Grandson Remembers Chew Chong \| Back to list



	Don Drabble: Had another go at getting to the end of the tunnel.

By Virginia Winder

When historian Don Drabble was a boy he used to have underground adventures that led to Eltham's past.

During World War II, the Drabbles lived next to Chew Chong's old Jubilee Butter Factory site.

This included an underground water race built with some instruction from Chong himself and was used to drive an eight horsepower waterwheel in his factory. "Which of course was the sole motive power for his factory at that time," Mr Drabble says.

This watery space begging to be explored by small boys. So, with flashlight in hand, the young Don and his brother, Athol, entered this dark and dank world dug by hand in 1887.

From 1939-44, the Drabble boys and friends frequently visited the hidden, 104-metre tunnel, marvelling at its pristine condition. Even the spade marks were visible as clear-cut dents in the dirt walls.

"We were conscious of the fact that this marvellous, mystic Chinese figure had much to do with that underground water race," Mr Drabble says.

Water Race

Tunnel Vision: As a boy Don Drabble used to explore Chew Chong's water race.

The boys always tried to explore its full length, but never managed to discover light at the end of the tunnel because rubbish blocked the way.

But in 1982, Mr Drabble did get there.

Reliving his childhood, he took two adult friends with him on a journey of rediscovery.

"I took them on a guided tour of the tunnel, you might say," Mr Drabble says.

"And of course, when you went through this underwater race, it was frequently thigh-high in water. You had to make the way through the water in the darkness – a very eerie sensation, but quite wonderful. It was a transport of delight really, because it carried you back to earlier times."

And a childhood of discovery.

Jubilee Butter Factory

Better Butter: The Jubilee Butter Factory in Eltham belonged to Chew Chong.

Published 9 May 2003

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	BOOK RESOURCES Drabble, Donald Alexander, The life and times of Chew Chong, (1996), Eltham: Don Drabble Burnett, Joan Margaret, The impact of dairying on lowland Taranaki, 1880-1920 Standish, Russell, Eltham: One Hundred Years, (1984) Eltham: Eltham District Centennial Committee. ARTEFACT RESOURCES Sterling silver trophy cup: awarded to Chew Chong for best export butter at the South Seas Exhibition, 1889. Tapestry (above): depicts birds, hanging flowers and a stream. Brought from China by Chew Chong. ARCHIVES Two cheques: issued by Chew Chong, presumably as payment for goods received. One is a Colonial Bank of New Zealand cheque (complete with impressed duty mark and cancellations) and the other was issued by the Bank of New South Wales (bears a 2 shilling stamp duty and cancellation marks). Both are dated April 1885. WEBLINKS Puke Ariki is not responsible for the content of these external websites. The Tawhiti Museum - See Chew Chong's butchers shop and exhibition. Technological Innovation in New Zealand - Innovation in the New Zealand Dairy Industry How Chinese Medicine Works RELATED TARANAKI STORIES Charles Wilkinson Known as Father of Eltham EDUCATION Multimedia Flash plugin required. See the Help page for more details. The Turnstyle Rotary Cowshed Interactive Worksheets For help with downloading and saving these worksheets, see the Help page. TreasureLink A weekly resource for teachers based on a Taranaki Story. Activities, ideas for more study and links to Puke Ariki's treasures. Chew Chong Plays Leading Role in Dairy Industry (28 January 2004) People's Milky Wheys A Puke Ariki Teachers' Resource Unit Click here for more details. PLACES TO VISIT The Tawhiti Museum is widely acclaimed as the best private museum in the country. The museum uses life-size exhibits and scale models to capture the past in a series of super-realistic displays. Chew Chong's Eltham butchers store is on display. Click here to view the website. MAPS Location of Chong's Taranaki businesses Chong's New Plymouth Stores Chong's Inglewood Store Chong's Okato Store Tawhiti Museum ORGANISATIONS Eltham & Districts Historical Society Cnr Bridge and York Streets, Eltham (open Thursday - Friday 1pm - 3.30pm or ring for an appointment) Charge made for research. Resources include: Early copies of Eltham Argus newspaper; Valuation rolls; Land titles; Local district resources and considerable local research material. Secretary: Mrs R. R. Jenkins, 23 George Street, Eltham, Telephone: 06 764 7107 Email: philrobenn@xtra.co.nz. Information South Taranaki 55 High Street Hawera Contacts: Fiona Greenhill and Tarin Meyer Phone: 06 278 8599 Fax: 06 278 6599 Email: visitorinfo@stdc.govt.nz Stratford Branch - New Zealand Society of Genealogists Branch Library is situated at 282 Broadway, Stratford (next to the Casa Pequena Restaurant and up the stairs). Open 10am-3pm Tuesdays and Fridays (February-November). Email for December and January hours. Open other hours by request. Email: c.spragg@xtra.co.nz Web: www.stratfordgenealogy. homestead.com

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