Land of Possibilities

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 141, 15 June 1923, Page 9

Land of Possibilities

Moerewa Freezing Works Deep Water Port at Opua Quality of Mutton Improving

(By Our Special Commissioner.)

The establishment of up-to-date freezing works on the AA"hangarei-Opua railway line at Moerewa, near Kawakawa, is helping materially in the development and settlement of the North Auckland Peninsula. The works are in their tecond season, and have more than justified the enterprise of tho promoters. There are many who aver that the advent of the industry " saved half the cockies of the North," as they were able to send in their sheep and lambs at a time when wool was at its lowest ebb, and " fats " could not be sent to Auckland, the distance being too far to allow of such arriving in a condition to freeze. The works were opened on December 6, 1921, the season closing on May 31, the following being the figures for the season's killing:—

Lambs : 32,194 Sheep t... 31,402 Cattle 4,802

I cannot say what is the total for the present season, but when I visited the works a couple of months ago the following stock had been dealt with up to that time:—

Lambs 48,665 Sheep 13,763 Cattle 5,328

FARMERS BEING EDUCATED. Naturally the quality of the stock sent to the works for the first season was not all first class, as farmers in the more remote districts were not growing for freezing purposes, but a very different tale is being told to-day. The settlers are being educated up to what is required for export, with the result that already an all-round improvement has taken place. The works are thoroughly up to date in every way, and* all built on a plan that permits of extension in all departments as soon as business warrants. The maximum killing capacity per diem is 2000 iheep and 200 bead of cattle, and the works have gone very close tt> that figure on a number of occasions. Stock is brought in from as far seasii. as Dargaville on the West Coast, and from the "Whangarei district on the east, and frcan the f*r North. The HokLinga district has been supplying soaoe very good sheep and cattle, the works having given a great fillip to the "fattening" industry. The manager informed mc that it was his opinion that the North would turn out a great country for raising stock for export. "Last season," he said, "we handled practically no rape lambs. As a matter of fact, it appeared as if rape was unheard of in the North, the lambs all coming direct from the mothers, but this season we have had quite a number of lambs fattened off rape, while from what the farmers tell mc, next season will be a record for -ape fattening. The growers are quickly recognising the value of rape for fattening, and numbers jof them have assured mc that they are putting in rape next season. We are doing more than we anticipated when the works were established. A great change is taking place in regard to the sheep. Before tbe advent of the freezing works most of the suppliers were growing sheep for wool only; now they are growing for freezing as well, and eheep-'raisers are not slow to recognise that it is necessary to make some alterations in their flocks. They arc now commencing to bring in a good many Southdown rams, introducing the Southdown cross for good export lambs. These are the best you can produce, as they are even in shape and size and good quality. Everything is being exported from Opua,'and the wharf is ' now being extended to accommodate our'outpnt. Both this season and laßt we had to lighter the carcases, 'but the wharf accommodation will be completed for next season, when the Home vessels will come up to the wharf to load right out of the trucks. This will he a great saving and expedite greatly the loading. - ' OPUA—DEEP SEA PORT. In deciding on Moerewa for the freezing works of the North full consideration was given, and rightly so, to the important question of shipping. It was necessary to be as close as possible to a deep water port, where the loading of Home freighters could be carried out minus the expensive operation of lightering, and as Opua, in the Bay of Islands was looked ■ Upon as something in the nature of the ideal in this respect, the decision was made. Moerewa was selected as against , all other claims, and Opua conies into Prominence as "the port with a future." A Harbour Board was formed, and the support of the ratepayers was immediately forthcoming when a loan for necessary improvements was suggested. There nave been far too many instances in NewZealand and other places of the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of pounds in attempts to make poi fes where nature "ever intended there should be a har™Wj and the waste of public money in »U manner of "wild cat" schemes "has wen appalling. Not so with the BaT 2 "lands. Here is a natural deep "ater port, and when wharfage accommodation is completed for next season, Home-going freighters will be able to jomc up to the wharf at Opua and load tfleir cargoes direct from the trucks. J-nere is a depth of eleven fathoms in the airway coming into the harbour from lii?i open sea ' and en H - JI - 8 New Zea«na made her first visit to the Domion, a little more than a decade ago, c ste amed bravely in during rough

weather, and lay serenely off the historic port of Russell, New Zealand's first capital. The depth gradually decreases along the channel to six fathoms, off Korarareka Point. Between Motu Mia Island and Russell there is a bank for about a mile, which it is proposed to dredge, and authority has been taken to carry out the work. This is not urgent, however, as the bank will not be an obstruction to large vessels making for Opua on the tide. In the most shallow place on the bank, the depth is 24ft at half tide and 27ft at spring tide. Beyond the bank at Arnbi Island the water is 54ft deep and from there on to Opua wharf there is not less than 30ft. This season, as well as last season, the meat ships anchored off Russell and were loaded by lighter, records being established for quick loading. A contract has been let for the extension of the Opua wharf to 500 ft. and when the improvements are effected the vessels will come right up to the wharf to load. The freezing works are situated ten miles from Opua, in a scoria flat that gives plenty of room for yarding, paddocks, etc. It is on the railway line, and trucks are shunted to the doors of the refrigerators. The plant is as modern as any in the Dominiou. There are mechanical aids to efficiency in all directions. All the bj--products are treated at the works, fertilisers are manufactured, and tallow produced in large quantities. In future years it is anticipated that much of the butter manufactured in the North will he put into cool store at Moerewa for shipment overseas from Opua. (To be continued next Wednesday.)