FRESH MUTTON FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2355, 20 October 1881, Page 4

FRESH MUTTON FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Tho following particular* regarding the ship Dunedin being fitted with refrigerating apparatus are from the “ Glasgow Ne ws ” of August 20th : —The conveyance to this country of refrigerated beef and mutton by steamer from Australia has already been accomplished with success, and an attempt is now being made to bring fresh meat for the Home market from New Zealand in sailing vessels. The experiment is being made on hoard the Dunedin, one of Messrs Patrick Henderson and Company’s Albion line of sailing ships, A powerful refrigerating apparatus has been fitted up on board that vessel by the Bell-Ooleman Mechanical Refrigerating Company, Glasgow, and the results obtained at the official inspection yesterday demonstrate that, provided no mishap occurs to the refrigerating apparatus, moat, or indeed any commodity which in ordinary conditions is perishable, may be preserved for any length of time. The refrigerating machine on board the Dunedin is capable of circulating about 60,000 cubic feet of air per hour, and being reduced to a temperature of from 50 to 70 degrees below zero in tho box. The refrigerating chamber on board tho Dunedin is one of the largest which has yet been provided on any vessel. Its -capacity is 400 tons ship measurement, and it is lined with a non-conducting substance 12 inches thick. In the refrigerating machine which has been designed by Mr Coleman all the improvements which past experience has suggested have been incorporated. It has been partly built by Messrs Dsnny and Company, Dumbarton, and partly by Messrs B. and W. Anderson, Fmnieeton; and its presence on board the Dunedin is due to the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, who have chartered the refrigerating chamber for the first voyage. The results of the official inspection yesterday proved tho efficiency of the refrigerator. The temperature at 2.30, when the experiments were commenced, was in tho centre of the chamber 122 degrees Fahrenheit, as recorded on a suspended thermometer. At 3.30, at thirtysix feet from tho opening of the chamber, the temperature was 18 degrees Fahr., while iu a thermometer hanging in the bulkhead, tho centre of the chamber, the temperature was 50 degrees Fahr., and on the other, suspended a few feet from the opening, tho temperature was 5 degrees below zero. At 4.30 the temperature was found to be 6 degrees below zero, as recorded by a thermometer suspended in the centre of the chamber, and 27 degrees at the point farthest from the aperture giving admission to tho refrigerated air. At a distance of five or six feet from the opening the thermometer suspended from the bulkhead gave 12 degrees below zero, while the temperature in tho box from which the current enters the chamber was 50 degrees below zero. The lowest temperature attained daring the first series of experiments was 55 degrees below zero, although it is claimed for the apparatus that a temperature of 70 degrees below zero o»n readily be obtained. The result of the experiment which is being made on board the Dncedin is one which will be watched with much interest on the voyage home. The refrigerating chamber, of which the carrying capacity is 200 tons, or 7000 sheep, will, as arranged by the company who are making the experiment, be fully occupied. The results of yesterday’s experiments are that the temperature necessary to preserve the mutton fresh can be continuously maintained ; and the question whether the trade can be so conducted as to leave a profit for those who are promoting it will be indicated by the result of the first voyage.