The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1884. FROZEN MEAT FROM TINUI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 18 July 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1884. FROZEN MEAT FROM TINUI.

Mr John Cross some time ago forwarded from Tinuia mob 0f537 sheep to Petone to be frozen for the London market, and as many settlers are anxious to know the result of his venture he has forwarded to us the vouchers and returns for all receipts and expenditure connected therewith. From these we gather that the receipts on this mob were as follows: - £ s. D, 4GI carcases sold in London 591 G 11 G8 condemned, and sold in Wellington .. 21 4 9 sdead 15 0 Fat 33 5 0 ■' Tonexiea 3 G 1 Kidnoys.. .. .. 014 8 Skins 35 12 0 £OB9 14 5 Turning to the accounts for expenses we find the following items ; £ s, D. Marine Insurance ~ 40 1 9 Driving sheep, Tinui to Maeterton ~ .. 1318 G London dock,brokerage commission, &c, 79 1 G Gear Meat Preserving Co, Freight and primage 302 14 9 Freezing Bfi 0 1 Bags 1110 G Railage ~ ~ 17 4 0 Bill lading .. ..050

£550 6 1 From this it will be seen that sheep worth 10s Cd per head when they left Tinui realised for their owner a net return of 5s 6d per head. If we trace the sheep from Tinui to London, we find (hat the value of each sheep runs up as follows: £ s i) Cost at starting 10 G Driving ut ,„ 0 Eailaße 8 Freezing 4 0 Freight ~. 15 0 London charges 4 0

£1 15 8 Now, as the sheep only sold for an average price of £1 6s, to which may be added 3s for value of skin and fat, the result was a serious loss. The main cause of this unsuccessful venture appears to have been the low price at which lie sheep sold in London, viz,, 4|d per lb. Had s|d, a medium price, been obtained, there would have been little or no loss, and at 5-Jd or 6d there would have been an absolute profit. It requires an expert to criticise the detailed charges, but on three items, freezing, freight, and London charges, there is evidently room for a reduction. We call special attention to these account sales, not because we consider they are fatal to the prospects of the meat export trade, but to give those who are capable of expressing an opinion on the details of the charges an opportunity of criticising them, We are aware that there have been successful as well as unsuccessful shipments. We do not suppose Mr Cross will make another venture just at present, but even he has some reason to thank the frozen mea's industry, If he has lost by his "British King" venture, his whole flock has increased in value from the impetus given to prices by the meat export enterprise,