Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, JAN. 16, 1872.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 114, 16 January 1872, Page 4

Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, JAN. 16, 1872.

The turn of the tide of public feeling in the Home Country with regard to the preserved meat of Australia and New Zealand, which was at first received in the markets with only qualified expressions of approval, but which, according to the news by the last mail, is now very generally enquired after and meets with ready sale, is matter for congratulation. The industry is a most important one, and in the several Colonies of Australia and in New Zealand a large amount of capital has been invested in the erection of the necessary buildings and appliances for the prosecution of the enterprise. Otago has not been behindhand, as the extensive premises of the Otago Meat Preserving Company at Green Island, and those of the New Zealand Meat Preserving Company at Kakanui, amply testify. At the former Company's establishment—which has for its superintendent and manager a gentleman well known in this district, Mr R. Loughnan,—no less than 30,000 sheep and 1000 head of cattle were slaughtered, preserved, and tinned during the past season, for ex- j portation and home use. We have not seen the returns from the other establish- ! lishment we have mentioned, but doubtless ' they will be equal to, if not in excess of, those of the Otago Company. Tn other parts of the Colony, the New Zealand' Company have erected extensive premises and carried on operations with great vigour: noticeably at the Washdyke, Timarn, where a very large number of cattle and sheep have been disposed of. For the coming season, the Otago Company have promises of considerable numbers of both sheep and cattle, and active operations will in a few days be resumed. From personal trial we can vouch for the very excellent quality and palatableuess of the tinned meat issued from this establishment. In the United Kingdom and over the whole of Europe there is a limitless field for the sale of preserved meat, and so long as its present excellent quality is maintained, there is not much fear of the demand falling off. The " Anglo-Austra-lian,'' a shrewd and reliable writer in the European Mail, states that the trade is now fairly established, and considers that there is hardly any likelihood of the market being again overstocked. As in everything else, competition will no doubt become keen amongst meat-preserving companies ; but the large capital required is almost a sufficient guarantee that the industry will not be overdone. Moderate competition is healthy, and in the present, instance will no doubt have the effect of inducing those interested in rival establishments to devote all their energies to the production of a superior article. The firm establishment of this important industrial pursuit has added another article of export to our yearly-increasing list, and besides proving an additional source of ineome, has the effect of bringing the Colonv into closer relationship with the Old World. A fair field for the disposal of the surplus stock of cattle and sheep owners is not the least of the benefits which the introduction of meat-preserving has bestowed upon the Colony. Two or three years ago there were loud complaints of inability to dispose »f stock at anything like a reasonable figure ; but we apprehend

that now there can be but little complaint on that score. We hope that the news by future mails in connection wit*i the preserved meat trade will continue to p7ove as satisfactory as that to hand by the last i "° steamers \ and now that the article is looked upon with such favour, there seems no reason to doubt that it will increase in 11 1 • , r 1 • 1 UcUiaiiii SO iOUg aS ilo pl'caciiC iiigli Standard of excellence is maintained.