The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 126, 1 June 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1867.

A letter appeared in our issue of yesterday urging the feasibility of procuring an abundant supply of ice during the summer months, not only for fthe purpose of reducing the temperature of the water in the ponds which it is proposed to construct for the reception of the salmon ova, but also to 'enable our citizens to participate in those additional agremens in the way of cooliag drinks, etc., etc., of which other communities in this part of the wo^ld have not been slow to avail themselves. The suggestion of our correspondent seems practicable enough, and we trust that it will not be shelved, without, at least, some ventilation. We believe that ice-houses, constructed of rough slabs, and surrounded by au outer wall of brick, leaving an interval of two feet between them, to be filled with charcoal rammed down tightly, as is the case at home, might be built on the top of the Dun Mountain, for the reception of the ice which can easily be collected in their immediate vicinity. Each of these houses should be about 15 feet square, and 8 feet high, and such a building would contain 65 tons, which, allowing 5 tons for waste, would make the contents of each house 60 tons. This quantity — 60 tons — allowing for a consumption of one ton per diem, would last for two months ; three such houses would afford a sufficient supply for six months, and if the demand proved to be greater than one ton per diem, it would only be necessary to increase the number of ice-houses. We believe that it may be asserted, without fear of contradictiou, that the supply of ice might be considered to be unlimited, and if it be alleged that the ice collected in the ponds which already exist on the summit of the Dun Mountain (and which could easily and inexpensively be increased in size and depth), is not thick and solid enough, this, surely, might be obviated by flooding the. ice on the surface, and by keeping up a running stream under it, thus preventing the vacuum caused by the intervention of air between the ice and water, and by this means perfectly pure ice, soluble in our drinkables, etc., might be obtained. Sufficient ice might be collected in two or three weeks' time for this supply, and the houses might then be closed until tho summer season- set in, We have thus placed before our readers these hasty remarks, which, at all events,- may serve to illustrate the practicability of such a scheme. We may also remark that ice will be almost absolutely necessary for the hatching of the salmon ova. From experiments recently made, it has been discovered that the general temperature of the water from the Brook-street Valley is too high for this purpose, the requisite temperature being about 40 degrees. It is well known that a block of ice placed in the vessel containing the ova, will almost immediately reduce the temperature, and create a corresponding animation amongst them. Whilst, therefore, we are making arrangements to meet this requirement, would it not be expedient to provide at the same time for a supply of this useful addition to our comforts during the summer season ? We are disposed to believe that such a project might be made decidedly remunerative. A company might be formed, with a capital of, say, £1,000 (which would probably be more than would be required); and supposing

that a ton of ice were brought down to Nelson, by 9 a.m. daily, by the railway, and sold at threepence per pound, on delivery in town, this quantity would produce a daily income of £28, and we need hardly add that sixty tons, the contents of only one ice-house, and the estimated supply for two months, would give £1680. And did the demand for ice in this city prove much less than we anticipate would be the case, a sufficient income might be realised from its sale to pay up the capital, even in the first year. We have thrown out these hints in the hope that the suggestion made by our correspondent may receive some thoughtful consideration. There can be no question that, independently of its application to the propagation of the salmon ova, the value of ice as a refrigerant and anaesthetic in medical practice, as well as for purposes of the table &c, in hot weather, can hrrdly be over-estimated, and we heartily hope to see the pleasant anticipations of our correspondent realised before many months have elapsed.