FROZEN MUITON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3026, 5 December 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

FROZEN MUITON.

f.xgusit TEsrnnxru,s lTi« well known that Lord Onslow tak-i great, interest in t.],n agriculture of this colony, mid al.ovo all special interest in the development of the frown mutton trade. Lately ho lias boon making experiments to uoeortairi whether tho difference in price of English and Now Zoahmd mutton was duo to any divergonne of rju.-ility or u, prejudice, and if ro, whether the latter had any just 0111*1 for its existence. ITis Excellency supplies tho following particulars of his experiments to the Lyttelton Times :—

Six sheep wore selected by Mr John Griggat Belfast, and were transmitted in 111 tho usual way to Messrs Fitter His Excellency selected from the different classes of London Society six gentlemen ef his acquaintance who arc known to have first rate cooks, and to have no personal interest in the English sheep breeding. Messrs Fitter were desired to deliver a sheep thawed and ready for consumption at the London house of each of these six gentleman.

In writing to advice them of tho .shipment, his Excellency informod them that tho sheep was not sent as a prosout for which any thanks wore excepted, but that ho might for his own personal information, ascortain wliethor the freezing process in any way caused deterioration in a joint of mutton which he had found when eaten in tho colony to bo equal to that which careful breeding and considerable expense had enabled"' him to produco from his own flock of pedigree Southdown*. To make certain that the opinion-! given were without favour or prejudice, His Excellent caused n seventh sheep to bo sen' round too world and brought back to Mm at CorUichu'ch, and he has no r 10 doubt the perfect good fiith* of hi-MrrespjudentH. J-ho gentleman selected wer"— Baron Henry de Worms, M. P. : tho E irl of Roscbory ; Sir Augustus Harris, of Drury Lane Theatre, Sheriff of London ; London ; Sir Moroll Mackenzie, M.D. ; M. Waddinjrton, tho Ambassador in Lon« don from the French Ropublic, and General Sir Henry dp Bithe, one of tho committee of the Beefstake Club whoso members h iv« a house dinner oneo a week, at which one member of the commiteo has to dine, to select the principal dish, and to be rejpon-iblo for its sxcellence.

The following l are the ooinions which His Excellency has received : —

Baron De Worms, M. P., Under Secretary for the Colonies—" We found it quite excollont. The frsezing did not hurt it in the leist, in fact the greatest epicure would fail to discern that it was not homo grown."

Lord Ros2hery—" The mutton was excellent, and not to be distinguished from English mutton.

General Sir H. T)e Bathe, of the Beefsteak Club "Last Friday wo had a largo assemblage at B S.C. to oat your mutton, Ttie concensus of opinion was that it was most excellent. Dick Grain, Frank Burnand, Bancroft, G A. Sala, Alf. Watson, and some dozen others all so agreed. I, who am 1 dweller on tho Southdowns, can safelv aver that your individual sheep was better than I can buy in ClnVho-fer where it al jrays wants ago and color. It was as tender as chicken. Could tho Club make arrangements for a regular supply- of mutton, and if so >honld wo hive to pay more than our London butcher's prices ?" Monr. Waddington, French Ambassador in Loudon—'- The New Zealand mutton wis a great suoee-s; 1 had recommended it to my cook, and it was carefully masted : all present pronounced it quite equal to the best Rnqlish mutton. Tho freezing of the meat had produced no appreciable difference."

Sir Morell Mackenzie—" Last weok wo had a littlo dinner of connoisseurs on purpose to sit. in on tho mutton. I can only s<iy tint my friends "lid I were unanimous in giving a most favourable opinion. It. had a great deal of flavour, and was very tender. In fact I only recollect tasting mutton as good on one or two occasions . I suppose, however, that the specimen you were good enough to send melwas much better than the ordinary uornignmonts from New Zealand."

Sheriff Sir Augustus IJ;irris, Drtiry Lino —'*\W* duly rerjL'ivort tho shoc'p. TF.id it eon'cprfnn.| ifnn. Jt was ]v.-illy delivioiH. Xcv-t had 1 tast'-d anvUiimr moiv londor or hrtlor flivoun.-d. .Ml

Icm s:iy is ;thfj trial w.-is nii'i'-M'ily siinc.cssfiil, if, :is T i' is ;ui »x----jh-rnneiit, n* m-w |n*

Mr Grigg had since assured Ills Kxe.-l

I.MI.'V tlui t-v --thinls of ill" BllPOp ■.•'lit fr-rni 15 -1 I"-l-=*- mi-.' .if fiiiiihi-ijimlmv in t.hut .-out. Til.! iufi'iciic" t'i Ii" dr.nvn i< tint tlnri't' n n-> f»'i!iiliiio.'i f-ir unv pr ju.li.io wlii.oi m.y in-.-.' bc.-'ii fonnV i ;i-..in.~t Nmv Z-mlui'J iini'trm, ,-iiid tint -omo offn-l mii;)it. -.vii'i i-lvr t:iL'.-, !>•> nnl,- to iiiituc" tli.>«'.■ ;i' ll'iiim wliD iii'(> in a p.i.sit.l'.ill t'ls.'Vt-|.> f I - ! li-.n lOllll) till? piillK'St y..\vZ".-il!)iiii in-Mt. .■■nil theivby remove :itn- f. .'liar nf pr.'indiot! which 'nnv still i-xist in th ■ miiuU of the m;issw. Also tin' it should be miir'o ciisy for thosß who <l.'-iiv t'ulo so to obtain in th,' \V?st Ivnd of London the lu-sf joints from rarofullrselected carcases.