OUR NEW RIVAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1345, 18 September 1886, Page 3

OUR NEW RIVAL.

Regarding a new and formidable competitor with Australia in thefiiz-n moat trade, the European Mail of July 16th writes i " The r.r. Selembria, from the Falkland Islands, has arrived at the Fast India docks with over 30,000 carcases of frozen mutton on board, all in perfect coudi ion. This cargo forms the fir t contribution made by tho Falklai d Island', to the meat supply of this country. This Crown colony of Great Britain, about which so little is known by tl e general public, 1s likely ti be brought Into greater prominence than hitherto, on account cf tbe excellence of its mutton ; it is said to surpass in quality and flavor even the Home grown article, It is stated by those who visited the islands that no belli r mutton Is to be found anywhere than that which is grown in the Falkland?, This is probably owing to the care which has been exercised by the farmers in the selection of their breeding stock. The sheep are chiefly cr ssbreda from the best English and Scotch flecks, Cheviot, Romney Marsh, and others, and their carcases weigh, when dressed, between 601 b and 701 b each. Considering that East Falkland was only settled upen by English colonists In the year 1853, and West Falkland so lately as 18 51, the multiplication of sheep in those Islands has been extraordinary, there being now, It is calculated, neatly 1,000,000 pasturing there. The colonists, thanks to the progress of modern invention in the development of freezing machinery will now be In a position to send their mutton to the English markets. The Selembria, a steamer of 3040 tons register has teen chartered for this business by the Falklacd Islands Meat Company, and has been provided with all the best frecz Ing machinery and appliances. She has Insulated hold capable of containing about 950 tons of meat and four large cold-air engines, any two of which working to getber are competent to keep the mutton frozen during tee passage through the tropics. The position of the Faklaod Islands is very favorable to this enterprise, being only about half tho distance to Australia and New Zealand. and these islands possess the further groat advantage of a very equable and cool climate, the therm- miter, even in summer, rarely rising above 60deg; Fah-enheit.”