THE PRINCE ON COLONIAL PRESERVED MEAT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 53, 4 March 1868, Page 3

THE PRINCE ON COLONIAL PRESERVED MEAT.

Tbo following practical and sensible letter bas been addressed by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, to J. B. Hughes, Esq. the leading promoter iv Melbourne of the new Preserved Meat Company, in reference to the samples of his preserved meat placed on board the Galatea, for the use of ber officers aud men : — ' Government-house, Launceston, loth January, 1868.— Dear Mr Hughes, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter on the Bth inst., which I received just as I was starting from Hobart Town to come here. I tried the preserved meat which you placed on board the Galatea at Melbourne, and so did my officers and some of my men. A leg of mutton was placed on my table, which I consider was remarkably good cutting, much finer than any preserved meat I had hitherto tasted. The officers liked what they used, and the men highly approved of the beef which I gave them to try. I consider that so far tha trial is very satisfactory, but of course it remaius to be proved whether the meat will be as good after a longer time of keeping, Should such be the case, always remembering that preserved meat can never be quite equal to fresh, I am certain that many who canuot afford to pay the present very high prices in England would gladly avail themselves of such good food. The meat preserved in tins which is occasionally given to the ships' companies of her Majesty's ships, more especially to the sick, during long voyages, as a change from the salt, is inferior in quality to that ■which you sent on board, and I believe costs the Admiralty 11 pence or a shilling per pound. Should the Admiralty, there fore, approve of your superior article — •which I understand you could deliver at sixpence a pound — they would make a great saving, and perhaps would give the men more of it, which would be a great benefit to the Royal Navy. When I receive the other cases which you propose to send me, with the tins painted, so as to withstand corrosion by the atmosphere at sea, I will try them on the homeward voyage, when they have passed through changes of climate, and let you know the result.— Believe me, yours truly — Alfred. To John B. Hughes, Esq., Melbourne Club."