THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE AT OAMARU.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1619, 26 February 1884, Page 2

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE AT OAMARU.

Mr John Reid, of Elderslie, has been interviewed by a reporter of the Oamaru Mail since'his return, and from the lengthy summary of the information received (which appears in the Mail of Monday evening) we extract the following in reference to the new steamer Mr Reid has chartered for tho frozen meat trade

The Elderslie will be a vessel of 300 ft in lengthand 40ft beam, with a depth of hold "24ft. She is to be ■of about 3800 tons, and capable of steaming from 11 to 12 .knots. She is to have two cold.chambers for meat carrying, and each of these compartments will be equal to 40,000 cubic feet of space, and estimated to hold 400 tons each of dead « eight, or equal in the aggregate to 25,000 sheep. The Elderslie will possess a larger moat carrying capacity than any vessel in the trade. The whole of the refrigerating machinery; will be of the latest and most improved and perfect cliarac ter. A discussion was going on as to whether Coleman's or Haslam's should be adopted when Mr Reid left Home, but that gentleman says that he has little doubt that Haslam's will be selected.' One of the present greatest dangers attendant upon the meat trade is the possibility of tho meat being spoiled through th e breaking down of the machinery. Experience has shown that the temperature must be kept below a certain point, and'that if the process of thawing is once'permitted to set in, no amount of' activity or promptitude in reducing it to a frozen state will prevent absolute injury to the meat. It is in this direction that we have the explanation of the. partial failure of several cargoes; and indeed we have been assured, though not upon any particular authority, that the disastrous results- of Auckland's maiden effort in the meat trade was due to the Mataura's machinery , coming to a standstill even before she left Auckland. Indeed, we havo been put in possession of many particulars which point to the correctness of'this explanation of the disastrous failure; but it is unnecessary to enter into the matter here, and we have merely referred to it in passing by way of illustration of the risk which naturally attends tho trade where a breakdown of the machinery renders it possible' for the process of thawing to set in. No such risk will however, be ; ran on board the Elderslie for, in addition to the machinery already mentioned, she will carry two other smaller sets, as auxiliaries.'These in combination with tho two larger ones, will be used while' in port for the purpose of freezing the carcasses, of which they aro estimated to freeze 800 a day. In the event of an accidentoccurring to the principal machines these auxiliary machines will be available to carry on the work and keep dowft' the temperature pending repairs being effected, and the possibility of loss .through-the breakage of "the machinery: is thus reduced to a minimum,- The- -idea is an entirely new one, no, vessel engaged in the trade being fitted with . extra machines, and herein will lie one of the advantages]which Mr Reid will be able to offer to shippers. The whole work of freezing the carcases will be performed on board the steamer, for which purpose ste will, under the charter, remain in port 35 clear working days.

Tho Elderslie. will have large carrying capacity for other cargo in addition to the quantity of frozen meat quoted above/ and she will be fitted up with accomodation for 150 third and and 50 second class passengers, but the owners will riot make any effort to secure firstpassengers, .who would prefer the fleeter class of Vessels, ' This reminds us that. the Elderslie is expected to make the passage between London and Oamara and vice una in from 50 to* 05' flayg.; 'With the passenger and

ordinary cargo business of the vessel Mr Reid lias, howover, no connection, his agreement simply having reference to the meat freight, He has, in fact, engaged the whole of the meat space for three years, and this space he intends placing at the command of the public, who will be allotted space according to their application. Mi' Reid informed our representative that it was impossible at present to state what the cost of placing meat in the English markets would be. This could not be ab3oluely determined until the vessel made her first trip and her carrying capacity was fully ascertained. But he will be able to offer very substantial advantage to shippers, not the least of which is the benefit of the special and exclusive arrangements he has made for the sale of the meat throughout the Kingdom, to which we shall have occasion to refer further on, Under his agreement with the owners the vessel is to lie at Londoa for 15 days, and to be available for the storage of the meat. To this term-can, too, be added any part of the time allowed for loading at this eud that may be saved, and he has also the right of extending the period by twenty days upon the payment of demurrage, whichwill not amount to the ordinary dock charges. Under this arrangement will be probably saved the' whole "of the charges now made for storage and dock charges, Mr Reid informed our reporter that the owners of the vessel are determined to make a bold bid for a share-of the shipping business" of the Colony, and that therefore tlio freight and- passenger rates will lie fixed at moderate figures, Mr Reid i:> well pleased with the arrangement.; lor though the venture is one which naturally involves a large amount of risk, he is confident that ho will be able to offer such advantageous terms to shippers that the venture must he a success, Heexpiesses his readiness, should it be necessary to do so, to lill the vessel himself with frozen meat, even though it may be necessary to purchase sheep in order to do so. This fact shows that Mr Reid is imbued with an unmisUkeable confidence in the permanency of tin; meat trade and in the arrangements he has made for the distribution and sale of meat. It only remains to bo mentioned in connection with the Elderslie that the \essel is contracted for to be delivered ready equipped for sea by the end of May; that she is under charter to load her first cargo here in August next; and that she is bound to do the round journey in six months. .