ROTTING DUMP.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1921, Page 1

ROTTING DUMP.

ABBEVILLE, December 16. Eleven guineas was the highest offer made to-day for the huge dump of Maeonochie Army rations offered for sale by the Disposals Board at Mautort camp, three miles from Abbeville. This stock of meat and vegetables, 75 ft. long, towers like a two-storied house. According to the official catalogue there was more than 1,000,0001 b. of totting food, but tlie auctioneer when offering the lot stated that the Disposals Board now estimated it as being a little more than 800,000. Something like 100.000 tins of Maconochic’s have therefore disappeared.

Once it must have stood a square mound of rusty bulging tins, but to-day when put up for auction the pile presented a crazy appearance. At the base of the pile was a little square hut built entirely of Maconochie eases. Inside this cosy guardroom was a small stove. Tn the summer, the guard, which is composed of London policemen dismissed the force for their share in the police strike, could not use the hut owing to the smell from the constantly bursting tins. About a score of dealers. French peasants and marine store dealers from neighbouring towns, stood around the monument' of “waste”. The auctioneer for five minutes vainly asked for bids. r |hcn two dealers consulted in a whisper: .“I will take the wooden cases off your hands if you will buy the tins” said one. Then came the one and mly offer. £ll 11s. The disposal officer who was supervising the sale shook his head sadlv and tho lot .was withdrawn.

The dump, I understand, was sold hi December. 1919 to Messrs Blackburn, Craig, Neill and Co, but they refused to accept- delivery on the ground

(he tins’ contents were unfit for consumption. French judicial experts agreed with them.