THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1158, 29 March 1884, Page 1

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Concerning the frozen meat trade, the London correspondent of a contemporary writes : —" It is little more than a year ago that The Times Bpoke of the first 5000 carcases of frozen mutton received from New Zealand as ' a prodigious fact/ yet the steamers now running to New Zealand are fitted with engines and freezing chambers capable of carrying half a million frozen sheep each year. Contracts have actually been entered into by two companies—the New Zealand Shipping Company and Shaw-Saville-Albion Company —to carry during 1884, 440,000 carcases of New Zealand sheep, or more than 30,000,00C1bs of mutton. When the supplies from the Australian colonies are added, it will be seen that the frozen meat industry is indeed advancing by ' leaps and bounds.' The salesmen of the Metropolitan Meat Market recognise that in view of the immense trade which is springing up, it is necessary to adopt other means than those at present in operation for the rapid distribution of the meat amongst consumers, Attempts are being made to arrange for the carriage of carcases to the larga centres of {opulation in the provinces by the early mail trains, as the butchers are apprehensive that the meat might suffer if transported by the slower goods trains. If vans specially adapted for the traffic were employed, there ought to be little reason for apprehension on this score, It would be so much more expensive to use the faster trains that such a proposal would require to be deliberately considered before being sanctioned. Tha market continues much the same as last week. Messrs Ward and Simpson report that the best of the lonic's cargo is selling at 3s Gd to 3s ltd per stone of 81b. About 1000 out of .10,000 carcases have been sold. The condition of the car<;o is variable. kSome of the sh<ep are badly damaged by heat, 6moke and water. How this arose has not A quantity of the damaged carcases are selling at very low prices. The Teviotdale's consignment is in good condition. Out of 9000 carcases, about 2000 hare disposed of at prices ranging from 2s lOd to 3s 4d per stone. The Chimborazo's meat is selling at 4fd tosd per lb."