HOW TO FREEZE MEAT.

Patea Mail, 7 January 1882, Page 3

HOW TO FREEZE MEAT.

ADVICE ABOUT EXPORT. An interesting memorandum is published for farmers and shippers, by the N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Company. It was prepared in London, and is evidently practical and well informed. It says :

FROZEN MEAT. In view of the development of this industry, the successful importation of frozen meat from Australia having been already practically secured, it is desirable that in order to its satisfactory disposal in this market great care and attention should be paid in carrying out the details attendant on the operation, not only as regards slaughtering, quality, weight, freezing, and preparation for shipment, but with respect to stowage in frozen chambers of vesecl, and time of arrival here. On these points the following remarks may prove of service. SLAUGHTERING, QUALITY,

AND WEIGHT ought to be such as to suit the requirements of the London market, the butchering being performed by experts conversant therewith. These wants will best be met by the observance of the following rules :—Beef: Care ought to be taken not to score the meat in flaying ; the carcases ought to be sawn, not chopped through the chine, thus separating the side with least injury to the bone; for this operation a bow meatsaw should be used. Bullocks compact in frame and in good condition, to weigh when dead from 680 to 8001bs, ought to be selected. If attention be paid in the separation of the body, that there is no injury to the chine or backbone, the meat may be sent in sides rather than in quarters, but if in the handling of the sides before being frozen there is any probability of injury by abrasure, the meat ought to be cut into quarters. Sides, if delivered in perfect order, will yield a better outturn per lb than if separated into fore and hind quarters, but in the transfer from place of production to this market it may be difficult to secure the needful care in manipulation to attain the desired end. Sheep ought to be wethers or maiden ewes; ought to be carefully skinned without “scoring” carcase; ought not to be cut through the “ aitches,” but the breast bones may be divided, the knobs of the kidneys with the suet and shanks being removed. Condition must be uniformly good. Merino sheep should weigh from 56 to 64 lbs, the latter weight being prefered, and cross-bred sheep from 64 to 80 lb; the meat of the cross-bred will generally command here a more ready sale than of merino sheep.

The memorandum also deals with modes of freezing, shipping, and times of arrival for the Horae market. Advice as to exporting butter and cheese as part of a meat cargo is also given. These useful hints will appear in Monday’s Daily Mail.

Commenting on the late action of Government in destroying crops at Parihaka to prevent the re-assembling of Te Whiti’s dupes, to the contemplated taking of land as per warning in proclamation if Government promises were not accepted by Te Whiti, and to the reasons urged in favor of this course, the Canterbury Times says—According to this reasoning the only correct thing to do is to massacre the whole native population. That would be a proof of strength which no native would think of resisting.