SOUTHLAND FROZEN MEAT COMPANY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1427, 12 January 1885, Page 2

SOUTHLAND FROZEN MEAT COMPANY.

Invexoargill, Yesterday. The annual meeting of the Southland Frozen Meat Company was held yesterday afternoon. In their report the Directors regret that owing to circumstances beyond their control the result of the year’s operations has not proved more favorable. .Two vessels were despatched during the year with frozen meat, the Canterbury, undejc. the National Mortgage and Agency Company, and the Mataura, loaded partly by this company and partly on open occount. Unhappily neither shipments arrived to a good market, and that by the Matanra was partially damaged, owing to a derangement of the machinery. The freezing machinery ordered to replace that lost in the Waitara has arrived, and will shortly be in position. An ad- . mirable site has bean obtained at the Bluff from the Government at a molerate rental for the erection of refrigerating works. It is expected the' works will be completed in less than three months, and it is intended thereafter to ship by steamer only, the D.rectors having been assured that if they can supply frozen meat there will be no difficulty in getting direct steamers to call at the Bluff for it. A long discussion followed on the motion for adoption, several shareholders speaking strongly re the mistake made in commencing to erect works on a site where no foundation existed, whereby a loss of LSOO had been sustained. It was explained that the Engineer in boring found a hard bottom at 14ft, and having rock all round supposed he had struck a good bottom, which afterwards proved cemented gravel. The mishap had, however, been greatly modified by obtaining an excellent site close to the shipping. The loss on the year’s transactions was L 228 19s. The report was adopted, and the retiring Directors re-elected.