Frozen Meat Trade.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 31, 16 August 1883, Page 3

Frozen Meat Trade.

The N.Z L. and M. Company report under date of August 9th — This trade is being prosecuted at every centre of production. Already 84, 1 41 carcases of mutton have been exported from the colony as shewn by the undernoted table, to which muy be added about 24,000 already frozen for shipment, aud yet the trade is only in its infancy. In addition to the Companies alreaay in full operation at Dunedin aid Christchurch, no less than five others are floated or are in course of formation at other points, viz., at Invercnrgill, Wellington, Auckland, Kleiheim, and Napier. This displays a ( oufidence in the trade which we believe results fully justify. Up to the present, there has certainly been no difficulty in providing cargoes for" all vessels with the necessary machinery visiting these shores, but wheu seven co-i punies capable of refrigerating 50,000 to 60,000 sheep per month are in full swing, it iidoubful if so large a quantity will be forthcoming from the suri/lus of t flocks, keeping in view the faor that the requirements for stocking n^wiy j reclaimed country as annual./ in- j creat-iflg. Far be it from v us to discourage the trade, but w«i de^ni it advisable to draw attention to the fact that even in the n:atter of sheep, the resources of the colony are not illimitable. Reports to hand regarding the shipments per Feni-tan^on, British Queen, and Lady Ji-celyn are highly satisfactory and prove, conclusively that New Zealand mutton — even the merino growth — is pre ferred to that from Australia, and realizes accordingly better prices. Thcsbeep mo-t in favour are the £)own breed, which 15 worth nattiing iv connection with special breeding fur this trade, but plump quarter-bred ani h:.lM>reds up to 76lbs weight, are highly esteemed, and realize full market ratfS. Shipments r< of fn-zoh meat to /late have been as fojlows : From Duni din, 43,227 s.eep; from Lyttelon, 14,038 sheep ; from Wellington, 6,424 sheep; from Bluff, 6,550 sheep ; Auckland, 7,902 sheep ; total, 84,641 sheep.