FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1508, 4 March 1882, Page 3

FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

Late&t accounts concerning this new and promising industry are more encouraging. The experience of the past year has suggested many improvements in storing and freezing the meat, of which advantage has been or is about to be taken. From the annual report issued by Messrs Goldsbrough & Co., dated Melbourne, Feb. 15th., which is just to hand, we make the following extract: — "The operations of the Australian Frozen Meat Export Company of Melbourne, although not on an extensive scale, have so far been highly satisfactory ; and the fact has been established that under the cold dry air process shipments of prime meat can be placed upou the London market in first-rate order at remunerative prices. The Company has made four shipments to London during the past twelve months, aggregating 18,081 caicassea of sheep ami 334 qwarteis of beef. The chief obstacle the Company has had to contend with from the commencement has been the high rate of freight by steamer ; but this difficulty will, no doubt, be surmounted when operations assume larger proportions. Arrangements have been made with the Orient Steam Navigation Company for regular consignments by four of their boats, in addition to which the usual shipments will be continued by the steamers alieady in the trade. The average prices realised to date are sd. per lb. ior Beef ami 5V\ per lb. for Mutton ; but it is piobable that higher rates -\\ ill be obtained when proper storage aceomoiiation in London lias been seemed, and the prejudices which, no doubt, exist on the part of consumers have been removed. These prejudices, it i& to be hoped, will soon disappear, as the .shipments aie now landed in perfect condition, and the meat is pronounced by competent judges to be quite equal to the English article. The average weight of the sheep per " Protos," ,5.,5., which sailed on the 2nd January, was 75 lbs. per carcase. " In its issue of the 20th Februaiy, the LytUllon Tunes published an aittcle which concluded thus: — "The drop in the pvlco of Australian moat reported on •Saturday docs not bound '\Giy encouraging to the expoiters of frozen meat." Mr John Giigg, a well-known Canterbury settlor, writes in answer to this, " Now, what is that report ; I find it is as follows: " The cargo of frozen meat per Cuzco is not selling well in the London market, the pi ice having fallen to 5d pei lb. TJio caigo was rery badly packed, the shape of a number of the carcases having been spoilt. A portion of the cargo consisted Of the carcases of old ewes." This was .supplemented by the .statement that be&t mutton Avas, at the same time, being sold by the butchers at lOd per lb. From this it appears that i a portion of the meat by Cuzco consisted of the carcases of old ewes, further that it was very badly packed, that svich infci ior , stufl sold at 5d per lb, and that good mutton, such as I submit can be s ent from New Zealand, was being ictailed at lOd per lb. In this report cncoui aging or discouraging ? I submit, sdr, it is most encouraging. Even if tested by the lower price named, 5d per lb,, it is certainly not disooiuaging. As a practical test of this assertion, I would take the case of the shipment of meat per City of JDunedin now loaded at Poit Chdlmcis, estimating the total cost of shipment, sale, expenses, &c., at the same late a*, that shown by the several shipments from Australia, which, including every charge, has not exceeded 2\(\ pei lb. The .sheep per City of Dunedm arc .stated to avongo about 801b Giich : the refill would bo as follows—Bolb of mutton, at 3d, XI I3s> 4d ; nctt Aalne of skins, say 2s Sd ; total, £] lGs ; total cost of shipment, ke, including insiuanco against loss or depreciation fio}\i any cause, 2UI pet lb— MjsSd, leaving a nett balance of 19s 4d per sheep.

Tur. kind of gaiter that we do not hanker after the alligator, thcie's too much snap to him. Ovi, difference between saikns and soldiciij is that sailoi'b tar their ropes ami soldieis pi tcli their tents. "Di'K\ the dog !" ho said. I'll settle his lush for him when I go do"\\n to sec Kate to-mqiit." And he pioceeded to Siitmate the seat of his tiouseis with strychnine. "Two Totx\k."— Theio was a slight blaze on the lbof of a house on Russellstieet a few days ago, and when the insurance adjusters went up to make their surrey they found that about two dollars ■would covei all the los.s. " Two tollar," exclaimed the owner when he heard the decision — " I can't take no two tollar." " But you sec for yourselves that a dozen shingles and an hour's woik will make good all damages. " Gentlemens, you doan' put me oft" like dot. Vlicn my vhifc finds dot avc vims on fire she screams boleeeo and murder, nnd falls down sthairs. Would you let your wife fall down sthairsfor dot sum ? If sol goeshome inifc you und sops der fun.'' "We do, not insure husbands and wives, but buildings," was the reply, "I know, but niein oldes poy he runs for der fhe-box und falls a picket-fence oafev und breaks his good cloths all to pieces. Two tollar ! Dot doan' bay me for coming up here." "Yes, but we can only pay for actual damages." "Dot's all I vhant. Who stole my dog vhen my house was on fire ? Dot dog isli gone, and he was 10 tollars wort." "We did't insure tho dog." " Und may be you don't insure dem poys who sat on dei fence and called out : Dot old Dutchman's red nose has set his house on file ? Do you expect X take such sass like dot for two tollar ! Und A r hen dor fh emeus come here (ley break nieiu clothes-linos down mit dor ladfleis, und day spill wasscr all oater my carpets. Two tollar ! Vhcll, vhell, you go right avhay from here, und I take dot old insurance policy and steps him into der nmdt. — Detroit Free Fia,!).