MASTERTON ABATTOIR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9040, 5 March 1908, Page 7

MASTERTON ABATTOIR.

jRECENT AND PROPOSED IM--'/L. PROVEMENTS. A PRECARIOUS WATER SUPPLY

It was very fortunate for the Masterton abattoir that no delay was ■shown by the Borough Council in regard to placing the water supply at the works on a more reliable footing by erecting a large concrete storage tank. A Wairarapa Age reporter visited the establishment, yesterday, and the manager (Mr A. D. Gillies) said that had not the tank been erected there would have been a serious position at the works as regards the water supply. The spring which it was thought would supply an unlimited quantity of good water has dwindled down to a mere trickle -'•under the abnormally dry weather conditions, and the spring water supply has been augmented by water pumped from the .deep concrete well situated next the miniature reservoir. The new storage tank is covered with a corrugated iron roof, and h;:s the capacity of twelve thousand gallons, its dimensions being 30 feet long by 9 feet wide, and 7ft in depth. Originally the abattoir had to depend for its water supply—its most important feature—upon the well, the water from which was pumped into six 400-gallon tanks. Then it was found necessary to increase the supply, and water was used from an irrigation race on private property adjoining, but this could not be used for washing carcases. Afterwards tbo present spring was connected > wjfth two 400-gallon tanks, but this ! storage was far too limited, and the j present fine tank was the next improvement. ! "We have had to use great ingenuity to keep the big tank full." said Mr Gillies. "First the spring would almost give out, and then the well would pumped dry, and between the two we have had to 'enginneer' pretty considerably, and the pumps have had plenty to do." Mr Gillies said the works required four thousand gallons of water per day, but he thought the worst of the bad time was past, and ther3 was not now much likelihood of th: supply giving right out. Some other minor improvements have been carried out at the abattoir recently. Tha staff has concreted a , portion of the back yard, which Jf materially improves the sanitary appointments. Tlw g'drse in the paddocks has been great'.y reduced, and the boulders which lay in front of the buildings have been collected in a heap. Mr Gillies proposes to introduce an improved idea for distributing the offal among the various carts which arrive to take it aivay. The present method is to shovel the offal into barrels which are placed on a concrete staging outside the offal room. Instead of these barrels, Mr Gillies proposes to have concrete boxes constructed—a separate one for each butcher-and thus allow of a more frequent sluicing of the offal stage. The cattle yards have had their concrete floors fluted, and the concrete race along which the drainage is conducted now extends wc-ll into th-3 paddocks. Tho abattoir building, though the works have been nearly two years in operation, shows very little sign of wear, and is a place which would inspire a person with the most sensitive taste with confidence in that portion of his dietary which came from the works. The most notable feature of the place is the entire absence of smell. The ordinary slaughter-yard odour is proverbiai for its killing qualities, but at the abattoir the scrupulous cleanliness insisted upon and che first-class appliances for keeping the jnemises sweet obviate any odour arising. The new system of drainage which Mr Gilruth (Chief Government Veterinarian) advised the Council to instal, will be put into operation shortly, and the levels ure to be taken for the piping in a few day?.