THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1072, 12 May 1882, Page 2

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

The ship Mataura, which has been chattered by the New Zealand Refrigeratin? Company for a shipment of frozen meat to England, has within the last few day commenced loading at Port Chalmers. She is a \ essel of 898 tons register, and no trouble or expense has apparently been spared to ensure the success of this the second experiment of the kind in New Zeaiand. The machinery which hasbeeri placed on board for the purpose of refrigeration differs' Boraewlkt froni that supplied to the Dunedin, and is a patent Messrs Haslatu. It may be correctly termed a dry-air mßchirie h .that being the most important point on superiority is claimed. The engine W' ' horozontal, of 80-horse power; and the mode of working, as is well known, is by compression aud expansion of air. The air is compressed, in the first instance, to a pressure of about 461b to the square inch, and leaves the compressors at abont 250 dagrees of heat, On passing into the tubes it is cooled by the circulation of water, and when it is expanded and leaves the exhaust, averages a temperature of from 60 to 80 degrees below zero. The freezing-room, wliera the meat is placed when first taken on board, averages 30 degrees below zero, and the hold where it is stowed when thoroughly I frozen is kept at the same temperature, The Mataura will in all probability leave ic the course of this month with about 500 carcases on board, shipped by various firms and companies of Dunedin. The New Zealand Land Company and Mr Shand are amongst the largest Shippers, —Otago Daily Times.