SMITHFIELD FREEZING WORKS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9990, 21 March 1898, Page 3

SMITHFIELD FREEZING WORKS.

EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS.

The extensive alterations and improvements recently effected at the Siuithfield Freezing Works, at Timaru, by the present proprietors, the Christchurch Meat Company, Limited, mark another important step in the expansion of the frozen meat industry in the colony. In order, therefore, to give those interested in the trade an opportunity of inspecting the works and seeing for themselves the preparations that have been made for dealing with a much larger number cf sheep and lambs than hitherto, the Directors of the Christchurch Meat Company invited a large number of the representative farmers of South Canterbury to meet them at the wo-ks on Saturday. The guests came from all parts of South Canterbury, including Waimate, Pleasant Point, ' Geivddine, 'J'einuka, &c, and, besides several directors of the Company, a number of gentlemen interested in the trade in Christchurch went down to Timaru by train and by the s.s. Tokomaru. Several apologies were received for absence. Under the guidance of Mr Gilbert Anderson, Managing Director, and several of the Company's staff, the visitors were shown over the works, viewing in turn the various processes from the drafting and slaughtering of the sheep (a consignment of lambs being put through at the time) to the grading, cooling, freezing, and storing of the carcases. The fellmongery and manure works were also inspected, bub the most interesting part of these proceedings was the examination of the newly erected " Hercules " ammonia compression refrigerator,-which was explained by Mr Anderson and then set to work. The great economical advantage of the new machine was at once apparent, and by working it and the Haslam air refrigerator in conjunction the Company will be able to freeze about 4000 carcases per day.

The "Hercules" ammonia compression machine was built by the E. P. Allis Company of America, and is similar to that which has been in use at the Christchurch Meat Company's works at Islington for the past tM'o seasons. It consists ot a Cornish tandem compound steam engine of 70 horsepower—a very finely constructed and smooth working piece of machinery—a special feature being the ingenious and complicated cut - off and feed of the steam to the cylinders. Coupled with the engine are two vertical acting ammonia compressors, which effect refrigeration under the following process :—The ammonia in a liquid form is imported from America in very strong cylinders containing about 1001b of liquid ammonia, at a pressure of about ten atmospheres. The cylinders are attached to the pipe system, and the contents are allowed to expand into gas and fill the pipes. The whole of the apparatus being once filled with ammonia, the gas is used over and over 'again,' and except to make up for slight leakages, one charge is sufficient for all time. The compressors being set to work draw ice-cold gas fioni the return end of the pipe system aud compress it into a hot one, at pressures varying from slb to 151b per square inch, according to the requirements of the work in hand. It is discharged from the compressors as a superheated gas into a condensor or liquetier, consisting of a series of coils of pipes over which large quantities of cold water are showered. The hot gas by cObling is thus converted to the liquid state, ready to become a powerful refrigerating agent by an expansion into gas in the pipe system. The principal cause of economy iv ammonia refrigeration, as compared with air refrigeration, is due to the fact of ammonia being a volatile cas which is easily liquefied, thus deriving benefit from the laws of latent heat; whereas air is practically a permanent gas, for the means ot liquefying air are beyond the reach of every day practice.

To enlarge the freezing chambers the brick walls, over au area of 80ft by 80ft, have been carried up another storey, and the whole of this space is utilised so that there is now freezing and storage capacity in the works for between 60,000 and 70,000 carcases of mutton and lamb. The capacity of the slaughterhouse has been doubled by placing the sheep pens down the §entre of the buildiug so as to allow the slaughtermen, to the number of forty, to work on either side. Mr Reakes, one of the Government veterinary surgeons, who was one of the visitors, expressed himself as very pleased with the arrangements made for slaughtering. A new fellmongery has been erected in order that the increased number of skins may be more readily manipulated. The manufacture of fertilisers being one of the most important branches of the company's business, increased facilities for carrying it on are provided in the way of further storage accommodation, and a larger drier is shortly to be erected to deal with the contents of the digestors before grinding. The works being built on the side of a hill possess this advantage that by means of gravitation the various operations can be carried on with a minimum of handling and expenditure of motive power. The company now possess a most complete establishment for promoting and carrying on the frozen meat industry in South Canterbury.

After the inspection of the works on Saturday, the visitors were invited to luncheon laid ma large marquee, the number sitting down being 150. The chair was occupied by Mr Gilbert Anderson, managing director of the Christchurch Meat Company, supported on his right by the Hon. J. T. Peacock, Christchurch (director); Mr Duncan Cameron, Springfield ; Mr D. McLaren, Timaru ; Mr Jas. Embling, Christchurch; and on his left by Mr A. H. Turnbull, Christchurch (director); Mr R. B. Bennett, Christchurch ; and Mr J. Guild, Temuka. The vice-chairmen were Messrs E. Elworthy and G. H. Rhodes. A capital luncheon was laid by Mr Alfred Budd, the mutton and lamb all having previously been through the freezing chambers, and the ham was of the celebrated Morepork brand, cured at the Company's Islington works.

When the toast list was reached " The Queen " was duly honoured.

Mr E. Elworthy then proposed the " Christchurch Meat Company," and said it was some time since he had been over the works, and the improvements he had seen that morning reflected great credit upon the Company. It had made him perfectly astonished at the foolishness that had been exhibited by the old Company, who had thrown into the sea the bye-products, which were now the source of a large revenue to the present proprietors. About twelve months ago an agitation had been got up to build new works as the present ones were not large enough, but the directors of the Christchurch Meat Company were approached, and they had agreed to make the additions that had that day been seen. He had been specially delighted togo over the works, and they should all wish success to the Christchurcb Meat Company. The toast was drunk enthusiastically. The Chairman, in responding, said that when they considered its importance, everyone should be interested in the frozen meat industry in Canterbury, seeing that out of 2,711,307 carcases of mutton and lamb sentfrom the colony last year, 1,497,484 carcases, or more than half, had gone from this province. The value of the frozen meat industry to Canterbury, including preserved meat, wool, pelts, tallow and manure, amounted to one and a half millions per annum, and this was independent of the immense quautity of wool taken from sheep before sending them to the factory. The industry had raised the value of land after the depression, and had kept it up ; it had extended cultivation anl intensified it. It was an immense employer of labour, not only in the works but throughout the country, and had increased the revenue of the railways. The Christchurch Meat Company had paid to the Railway Department last year over £22,000, and their wages account was £53,000. They had put through their works last year 927,329 head of stock and sent away 8919 bales of wool and 7348 casks of tallow, besides a large quantity of preserved meats and manures sold. But large as those figures were they might have been larger, though they Were heartily pleased with the m .nner in which the South Canterbury fanners had supported them. The works had been purchased and extended, but last year more sheep were produced in the district thao could be dealt with, the number put through being 248,939. The company, therefore, readily fell in with the suggestion of Mr Elworthy and other producers in the district, and decided to make the works capable of dealing with 4000 sheep per day, and if the farmers would undertake to put that number through the company would do the freezing for nothing. (Applause.) It wa. the quantity dealt with and the bye-pro ducts that paid. The company made no restriction regarding the stock going through

the works, the farmers and dealers could send what number they liked, for the company did not look to make any profit out of the meat they turned out themselves. He was quite convinced that South Canterbury could send away fully three-quarters of a milbon sheep annually, as they had one of the best sheep districts in the colony. There was no fear of flooding the London market, and one of the objects of the Company was to consolidate the trade, as the time'must come when they must have their own stores in London and their own stalls where their meat could be sold for what it was. He urged the sheep producers of South Canterbury to take more interest in the industry, to put more sheep through the works and so lower the charges, and to become part-owners of the Company's works. (Applause.) MrF. LeCrek, in proposing the "Agricultural and P-istoral Pursuits," said the farmers were to be congratulated upon having such an industry in their midst, and he referred to the highly successful results of the use of the Company's manures.

The toast was responded to by Messrs D. McLaren, R. H. Rhodes and J. Guild. Mr E. Acroy, who was chairman of the late South Canterbury Refrigerating Company, rose to say that he had opposed the sale of the works to the Christchurch Meat Company, but he now admitted they had done better than the old company could have done in overtaking the wants of the district. (Applause.)

Mr A. H. TtTRNBtri.L proposed ''The Timaru Harbour Board and other Local Bodies," and quoted statistics to show that the number of vessels arriving in Timaru had increased from 268, of an average tonnage of 150, in 1879 to 269, of an average tonnage of 700, in 1897, while the exports had increased in the same period from £109,616 in 1879 to £518,025 in 1897.* The number of carcases of mutton shipped had increased from 11,509 in '1837 to 209,678 (in addition to which 30,078 were railed) in 1897, and he therefore asked the Chairman of the Harbour Board for an assurance that the facilities of the port had shown a corresponding increase during those years. He pointed out that ten years ago a 25,000 carcase boat was a large vessel, whereas they now had steamers such as the Tokomaru, then in port, carrying 90,000 carcases, and he urged the importance of providing accommodation for these large modern carriers. The Directors of the Christchurch Meat Company had stood by Timaru and insisted upon the large steamers calling at the port, and he regretted that the South Canterbury farmers had not taken more shares in the Company.

Mr J. Fraser, chairman of the Harbour Board, in responding said the fact that the Aotea had sustained no injury on her recent trip showed that steamers of 6000 tons could negotiate tbe port safely in rough weather. He could assure Mr Turnbull that whatever was wrong would be righted and that whatever was right would be improved upon. (Laughter and applause.) It was the predominant wish of the present Board that the harbour should be maintained, and that vessels should get as quick despatch as in any harbour in the colony.

Mr C. N. o_be_l also responded. The toast of the visitors was proposed by Mr F. R. 1-atman, M.H.R., and responded to by the Hon. J. T. Peacock, M.L.C., and Mr Duncan Cameron, and, after the presence of the Press had been duly recognised, Mr Thos. Tesohmaker in a highly eulogistic speech proposed the toast of " The Chairman," which was drunk with musical honours. Mr Anderson responded, and the proceedings terminated. Before leaving the woi'ks by the special train provided by the Company, the visitors were photographed, and cheers were given for Mr J. G. Mi tchinson, the representative of the Company, who had so successfully carried out the arrangements for the luncheon and the inspection of the works.