Visit to a Freezing Works.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 61, 11 August 1885, Page 4

Visit to a Freezing Works.

A contributor to the Huwera Star, wlio has bseu visiting tho Smith Tslnnd, gives the Hollowing interi^tin" description of the BoHU-t meat fiv-jziim" establishment m Canterbury : — Among tho different moat- freezing osUUilishnvnits of Canterbury,- that of lialf.ist i.s considered to bo the most complete, and has hitherto proved to bo the most successful. Boing turnished with a luttor ot introduction to the manager by the chainvwn of directors, I was received by the former with much courtesy, and shown almost everything oC interest connoctod with the works. Being altogether ignorant of the knowledge of the different kinds of machinery reqnired to carry on such a concern, I am unable to give you anything like an accurate account. On first entering tho slaughtering shed I was very tavorably impressed with the air of good oi'dor and cleanliness prevailed, and the entiro absence of the offensive smells which are generally associated with places of that sort. On further acquaintance with the system of working, how ever, I was quite satisfied that with anything like ordinary care objections of that description need never exist. The build ing, which resembles a large wool shed, is furnished throughout with a concrete floor, the open part being intersocted with gutters running the long way of the building, and having a slight fall at the one end. The standing psrs for the sheep are ranged along on the one aido the entire length, each separate pen being on the same principle as the dripping pens of the ordinary sheep dip, being raised above the other part.-! of the floor and provided with skeleton boards. The drainage from each pen falls away at the back, and passing through a pipe m the wall, empties itself into a concrete drain outside the building, along which runs a constant supply of water. The platform on which each killer works is provided with square wooden tubs, into which is deposited all the loose fat from the animals. The hooks on which the sheep are hung are arranged very conveniently. Bach hook is attached to a small iron block resting on a rod running the length of the shed. When the carcases at the upper end are required at the lower, instead of having to carry them down they only require a shove to send them of their own accord right through lo the freezing chamber. The sheep usually hang about twelve hours before being passed on as above. From 450 to 5.00 per day is the usual quantity put through when m full working order. At the end of; each day the place is washed down with a powerful hose; sheep-pens and everything are thoroughly flooded, which accounts for them being so clean. At night the electric light is used, it boing found to be the least objectionoble as well as the most successful illuminator. Te Whiti might well astonish his followers when he told them that the pakehas down south build big fires to make frost and snow. •On the one hand we see tho cause, on the other the effect, but to the uninitiated it still remains somewhat of , a mystery. ' The massive cvlinders'thronu-h which the compressed air is being forced are almost red hot, yet the blast which leaves the tube about two feet away, and which is forced into the freezing chamber, is like the breath of an iceberg. In fact, there is only about three i'eei between almost red-hot iron and iron coaled with snow and ice ! A few moments m the freezing-room is quite sufficient to satisfy the curiosity of anyone. The first breath pierces through the very thickest clothing, the next roaches the bones, wh 1g fche third — well, I don't know what it would do, as I did not stop the feel it. The men employed m an adjoming room puts me m mind of a crew about to start for the north pole. Thick woollen clothes. Fur caps with lappets of fur to protect the ears, woollen wrappers for the nock and face, and gloves for the hands. The dim light of the room (for here it is very feeble), only sufficient m fact to show its utter darkness. Tho rnuiued sound of footsteps, the weird festoons and shapes hung out m the pureat white upon tho wall, and above all the intense cold. One could well imagine themselves buried deep, deep, down beneath an Alpine mountain, and entombed m a sepulchre of snow and ice.