The Feilding Star. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17, 1883. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 61, 17 January 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17, 1883. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

— ■ ■■% By telegrams from Dunedin we learn that by a private letter received by Mr Hackworth, Collector of Customs there, from Dr Johnston, who was a passenger by tbe ss. Marsala, he gwes the following information with regard to the failure of her frozen meat shipment. The letter is da f ed from Batavia. It reads :— The whole cargo has been discharged into the mighty deep. The machinery broke down, and the space allotted to the machinery was fo constructed that it was impossible for men to remain long enough in the engine-room to make the necessary repairs, the temperature ranging from 120deg to 150deg, Fahr. In my opinion, there are several causes for the unfortunate catastrophe. A n immense iron steamer witb an iron deck, in the tropics will naturally attract the heat, and I have seen the decks so hot that sacks were laid down for the coolies to run upon, when taking in cargo, to protect their feet from the hot deck. The engine-room belonging to the refrigerating machinery was only 7ft in height, and the temperature there sometimes went up to 137 and even HO degrees. Ihe man in charge of the machinery was an ordinary workman, who, I should think, was never in such a position be.ore, and did not realise the responsibility. He could net stand the excessive heat of the ■engine-room i-ong enough at. a time to keep the engines in order, an-d he says that the engines were constantly heating, and some brass screws which were fitted into cast-iron were not protected Jrom sea-water, and therefore became corroded and loose. The new patent snow syphons connected with die machinery became choked, and in addition to this, the external atmosphere was so attenuated that no amount of pressure could be got up sufficient to condense, and this difficulty, in my opinion, was increased by the fact th-ere was a large space left vacant in the refrigeratiug chamber sufficient to contain nearly 1000 more sheep. This void made the condensation still more difficult. It is thus seen that notwithstanding all possible care haying been taken by the shippers, as fur as lay within their power, yet there were influences against the success of the shipment that it was impossible for a person unacquainted with ships to contend against. After the damage has been done and heavy loss entailed, it is discovered that the steamer employed was altogether unfitted to carry a meat cargo, and that she was so unfitted must have been known to her owners. Experience ws useful, but we think the form in winch it has been gained in this instance has come in a most questionable shape. It appears singular that an ordinary workman who was not in any way qualified as an engineer should have been put in charge of the refrigerating machinery, more especially as he appeared to be "unable to realize the responsibility."" The only interpretation to be put upon this latter fact is that the owners or whoever were the persons interested, were quite aware that an experienced engineer would have declined to go to sea in charge oi refrigerating machinery where the engine-room was so small that be could not properly attend to his duties. We have no doubt but that a most searching enquiry will be instituted.