OTAGO LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 125, 30 August 1866, Page 3

OTAGO LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

In our columns we have from time to time described the various local industries of our own immediate district — such as the fellmongery and wool-scouring establishments, flour-mills, quartz reefs, &c, &c, and we have observed that our Dunedin contemporaries have furnished in a similar manner their readers with a description of the Metropolitan breweries, iron-works, &c, but as yet, we have not seen any notice taken of a branch of industry, in which up-country settlers are more immediately concerned, — • we refer to the solution, of the question which may naturally present itself to many of our rural friends. What becomes of all the cattle, sheep and pigs, that are disposed of in our district for the Dunedin market ? We think we can satisfy the curiosity of any such enquirer, for wh le waiting the arrival of the up-country mails one evening about a week ago, we sauntered along Princes street, when the glare of light proceeding from the establishment of the City Butchering Company attracted our attention, Aye walked forward to the- shop, and was undertaking the task of numbering the sides of beef and mutton, when one of the partners approached, and most courteously furnished us with the following statistics, and at the same time inviting us to inspect those mysteries connected with sausages and mince-meat, and other delicacies which are consumed by the gourmands of Dunedin, in such large quantities. The stock then displayed was

6 bullocks, 40 sheep, 6 pigs, 4 calves and 4 lambs ; their weekly consumption even in the present hard times being 18 bullocks, 150 sheep, 25 pigs, 12 calves, 25 lambs, (in season.) Three years ago they cut-up on a Saturday, • 13 bullocks, their weekly sale being 52 bodies, and one customer alone, a hotel keeper, who somewhat unceremoniously left Otago for England, leaving the firm a balance due of 4,600 for two months, which will give our readers an idea of the enormous amount that must yearly pass through the hands of their lady cashier. The daily supplies furnished to the occupants, of the gaol, average about 100-11 is., this being exclusive of what is daily consumed by the wardens and the members of the police force, whose supplies are of the best quality, equalling that of the first-class hotels in variety and price ; no wonder therefore, that the prison officials, and Mr Brannigan's staff in blue, who daily patrol our streets, should be well conditioned, presenting models of symmetry for the popular admiration ; their proportion of exercise being such as enables them to enjoy their bill of fare. The cockney who wished himself a brewer's mare, had he been in Dunedin, would doubtless have chosen instead, to have become one of this happy family. The most extensive portion of the premises occupied by the City Butchering Company, is situated in the rear, which consists, of a sausage manufactory, salting-house, and a brick building for smoking those meats in course of curing, stable and a large hall used as a storeroom. The sausage department is conducted by an Italian, and 2001bs. per day is the average demand ; the meat used in this process is perfectly fresh, and not of that . questionable nature which is presumed to be characteristic of such delicacies, and in which, the inimitable Dickens records the discovery of certain buttons, a sign that the unfortunate body of the wearer had become incorporated in the process of manufacture. The rapidity of the chopping and mincing process is astonishing, for in a few minutes about 301bs. are cut into pieces of a square inch ; the motive power of propelling the mincing machine is by a horse, who being confined in a sort of frame, is on a similar principle to the treadmill, compelled to move along on a revolving platform ; the animal employed is an old favorite, and is considered a pensioner, nothing degrading being attached to the treadmill worker, but rather the opposite the job being considered one of ease. Besides this pensioner, there are other four horses included in the working stud of the establishment, two being required for stock-riding purposes, and two for the deliveryof butcher meat throughout the city ; the usual staff employed, consists of twelve hands in all, including stockmen, slaughtermen, butchers, sausage-makers, clerk and collector, &c, besides these, how many families are employed in rearing, feeding, and tending stock, thus as it were preparing the ' raw material' for market. As this description only applies to one of many such establishments existing in Dunedin, it can give but a faint idea of the large consumption of meat, and the number of men employed in furnishing such supplies to the inhabitants of the capital of Otago.