The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1887.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4945, 22 June 1887, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1887.

The circular addressed to the sheepfariners of Hawke's Bay by Messrs Nelson Bros., a copy Of which will be found in our advertising columns recalls to mind the immense value the works at Toirioana are to the sheepfarming industry of this* provincial district. They are of more especial value at this period when the tallow market is so depressed that there can be no profit from boiling down. The days have passed, apparently for ever, when the finest mutton was consigned to the pot for the sake of its fat. Mineral oils havo largely usurpedthe places ' occupied in various industries by tallow, and hence the price of the latter compels attention to be turned to the better utilisation of sheep by slaughtering' and freezing for human consumption. The consequence is that thousands of sheep, that formerly would have been boiled down, have now to be frozen, and it speaks highly, for the enterprise of Messrs Nelson that they have kept on exteriding their works to meet the increased demands upon them. They, are ' now Capable of disposing of . 36,000 ; sheep a month, or 180,000 sheep during the season of ■ five months, although this is constantly extended to eight months. The appeal now made to the ' sheepfarmers is a' very reasonable one. Messrs Nelson Bros., indeed, claim support on the' grounds of having borne the' whole expense of Mr Dobson's' visit to England when that ■ gentleman went Home to-negotiate for, cheap rates of freight on frozen meat. The very '• responsible mission ' "on • which Mr Dobson was engaged was most successfully conducted by him, the history of which showed-the delicate nature of the negotiations that resulted in the formation of the Colonial Union Company. It follows that unless the sheepfarmers combine loyally! to support -the new' shipping company its proprietors will withdraw from the trade on- the completion- of their, contract; What would follow such a ter-: minatiori of so successful a beginning is not difficult to predict. The Shaw Savill and Albion Shipping Company would be placed in an impregnable position with regard toj the New Zealand trade, and would be able to dictate their own terms, and, indeed, to ruin the frozen meat industry. in those parts of the colony that had endeavored to throw off the yoke of their monopoly. Having put their hands to the plough the sheepfarmers dare not look back, or disaster must overtake them. It is well known' how hard a matter it was to arrange for frozen meat freight. outside the' circle influenced by Shaw, Savill and Co., and it may be taken for granted that in the- event, of the withdrawal |.of tho Colonial Union Company from these waters,, the sheepfarmers, who were instrumental in estab-: . lishing competition 1 and cheap freights,' would be made to feel the full weight Of the displeasure that their action has incurred. Messrs Nelson Bros.' circular cannot be too carefully studied and acted upon by the sheepfarmers of Hawke's Bay.