FROZEN MEAT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3770, 15 August 1883, Page 4

FROZEN MEAT.

(N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's Report.) The earnestness Avith AA'hich this trado is being prosecuted at eA'cry centre of production, and its rapid development at the chief ports of the colony, has remoA'cd it from tho sphere of novelty, and as Avas predicted somo time ago,' Ncav Zealand promises to become the greatest meat exporting colony of Australasia. Already 81,141 carcases of mutton luia-c been exported from the colony as slicavii by the undcrnoted tabic, to AA'hich may be added about 24,000 already frozen for shipment, and vet the trade is only in its infancy. In addition to tho companies already in full operation at Dunedin and Christchureh, no less than fh-e or are in course of formation at other points, A'iz., at Invercargill, AA r ellington, Auckland, Blenheim, ancl Napier. This displays a confidence in the trade Avhich avo bolicA'c results fully justify, though avc must oavii to a scepticism on the score of available supplies. Up to the present there has certainly been nodifficulty in providing cargoes for all vessels Avith the necessary machinery visiting these shores, but AA'hen soa'cii companies capable of refrigerating 50,000 to 00,000 sheep per month are in full SAving, it is doubtful if so largo a quantity -will be forthcoming from tho° surplus of flocks, keeping in view the fact that tho requirements for stocking ncAv-ly reclaimed country is annually increasing. Far be it from us to discourage tho trade, but avc deem it advisable to draAV attention to the fact that even in tho matter of sheep, the resources of the colony arc not illimitable. AYe aro induced to offer these remarks, because it has come to our knOAvledgc that some of the large sheep groAvers of tho South Island aro perfecting arrangements for the despatch of cargoes, independently of the companies, aud it is not improbable that from Canterbury alone, 40,000 to 50,000 sheep may be exported in this manner during the year 1884. Reports to hand regarding tho .shipments per Fenstanton, British Queen, and Lady Jocelyn arc highly satisfactory and prove conclusively that Ncav Zealand muttoneven tho merino groAvth—is preferred to that from Australia, and realizes accordingly bettor prices. The sheep most in favour arc tho Down brood, Avhich arcAvorth nothing in connection Avith special breeding for this trade, but plump quarter-backs and half-breds up to 7 Gibs Aveight are highly esteemed, and realise full market rates. Shipments of frozen moat to date have been as folloAVS : — From Dunedin .. .. 48,227 sheep ~ Lyttelton .. .. 14,538 ~ ~ AVellington.. .. 0,424 ~ „ Bluff ~ .. 0,550 „ „ Auckland .. .. 7,902 ~ Total .. .. 5t,141 ~