CHRISTCHURCH CITY ABATTOIRS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11084, 1 October 1901, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH CIT V ABATTOIRS.

The plans for the Chrtstchurch City abattoirs, to be erected atSockburn, as.drawn and prepared by Mr 3. 0. Maddison, F.R.1.8.A-, show the most complete and up-to-date set of buildings of the kind in 2sew Zealand, and yet at the. same time not a penny Iβ proposed to be expended on ornamentation. The area covered by the roofed buildings will be something like 20,000 cubic feet, and if necessary 70 or 80 cattle, up to about 800 sheep and 260 pigs could be slaughtered and dressed in one day. It will be remembered that Mr MaddLson prepared plans first for a two-storey building, which he held to be more economical to work, but as the cost would have been greater to erect, the one-storey design was chosen.

The slaughter-house proper will be a fine building, 125 s 36- feet, and at each end will be a skin aim offal bouse, the one for cattle being 28 x 24 feet, and that for sheep 38 x 28. One-third of the slaughterhouse is to be used for killing cattle, and tlve balance for stheep. Gut and offal tables are to be fitted up, and separate placed divided off for each slaughterman to dispose of-his fat, etc. A stout brick wall will divide the slaughterhouse from t3ie "hanging-room," which will be 125 ft x 38ft in extent. The carcases are to be run from the slaughter-bouse to .the hanging-room, really a cooling room, but termed a "hang-ing-room"' to distinguish from a chilling room, which at present it is not proposed to pro Tide. An, overhead railway enables the carcases to be sent- on to the loading platform, a covered way being .provided for the oarts of the butchers when they come to take fcbsir meat away. A special.feature will be the killing pens for bullocks, each constructed for one animal, which 1 , when pithed, falls forward, a gate Kiting at the same moment, allowing the bullock to fall out ready for tfhe outeaer. There are four of the.«e pens,, and they are a very, decided improvement on the Old system of placing three or four bullocks in the one pen, the danger to the butcher being very much greater when more tihan one animal is in a pithing pen. Six htoldmg pens for sheep are provided for, each 12 x lOfb, and wkl be arranged so that two.butchers can work-in each.

Toe pig-killing room is to be a separate building, about 30ft square, witib a hangingroom attached, 20 x 30ft. Pigs are. to be killed on a platform, the caicases rolling down to the lower floor, where hot and cold water will be provided, tanks under the platform catching the blood. The building will be mainly of pressed bricks, with solid concrete floors and foundations, and iron roof. The hanging-room will be of wood. Men's bathrooms end other conveniences for the workers are provided for in, accordance witih the regulations. The engine-room will be 25 x 36ft, and the boiler (house 60 x 16ft, leaving sufficient room to allow machinery to be erected which will provide all the motive power required, as the Council may see fit. The whole of the buildings ■will.be lighted with skylights,'and fitted with louvre windows for ventilating purposes. It is probable thiat the Council will do ite ownldlling, - and by ao doing arrange the work, that by a careful division of labour the meet economic results are obtained. Arrangements have been made with the Government. for the loan of the £15,000 necessary to erect? the city abattoirs under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. The sum of £10,000 will be -available the first year, and the remainder during, the second.