CHILLED MEAT FOR, ENGLAND. THE GOTHIC EXPERIMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1895, Page 4

CHILLED MEAT FOR, ENGLAND. THE GOTHIC EXPERIMENT.

An experiment— the first of its kind made from New Zealand, and the eecond from the Australian colonies — is to be made on the Gothio'a homeward voyage. A syndicate' consisting of Meßsra. Thomas Borthwiok (of London and Liverpool), T. C. Nelson (Glasgow), William Elliot (Lanark), and Dr. Alexander Shiels (Glasgow), has chartered a space on the Gothic for the fitting np of a chamber for the carriage of chilled beef from the colony to London. The experiment is to be carried ont on the moßt modern scientific methods, no expense being spared in affording a fair test, and the result will bo watched with much interest. Shonld the experiment achieve the success its promoters anticipate, a new and most important development and extension of the tiade in New Zealand meat may be expeoted. The first experiment made from Australia was by the steamer Fort Pirie. It was not a success owing, it is said, to mechanical reasons. It is now hoped to secure more reliable appliances and machinery, profiting by the previous failure. Mr. A. W. Prentice, who has had considerable experience as to what is required, has come out from London by the Gothio in order to personally superintend the fitting up of the requisite machinery, the selection of bullocks intended for slaughter, and the placing of the carcases in the chamber. A belter site for the chamber conld not have been chosen, situated aa it is in tho after hold in the upper " 'tween" decks. The space will accommodate about 1100 carcases, whioh are to bo hung in rows on hooks so compactly as to prevent any chafing or bruising, and though by this method some 15 or 20 per cent, of space is lost in stowage, the deficiency will be made up by the additional price realised by chilled meat over frozen shonld the process prove successful The bullocks will be specially selected by Mr. Prentioe from tho herds of the Meat Export Company and Gear Meat Company, and will be placed on board at Wellington. The objections urged against frozen beef aro that the ice crystals cut up the fibres and tend to causo " weening " while tho meat is being thawed, giving it an unattractive appearance. The flavour in snch cases is affected, and the shrinkage after cooking is nearly 33 per cent. It is thoße defects which the new thawing methods profeßs to remedy. Chilled beef is maintained at a temperature just short of freezing, and when carefully killed, prepared, and afterwardß kept within a small range of variation, retains the bloom and flavour of fresh killed meat for a considerable period. Dr. Shiel's thermostat is to be used during the present experiment, with a view to automatically regulating the temperature. It consists of a series of tpirit-filled tubes arranged around the sides of the hold or chamber (elected, in whioh a steady temperature has to be maintained. The tube system is entirely closed, except one connection, which is takon to the refrigerating ongincroom and connected on one side of adiaphragm, which is loaded with a spring. When a email riße from the normal temperature takes place in the refrigerating chamber, the spirit in the tube system expands, flows through the connection to tho diaphragm in the engineroom, and causes it to move or compress the spring. If, on the contrary, the temperature falls slightly below the normal state the spirit in the tube Bystem contraots and the loaded spring forces down the diaphragm. This rise and fall of the diaphragm is utilised to oontrol the amount of cold air sent into the chamber. A rise of the diaphragm inoreaseß and a fall deoreases or entirely stops the supply of cold air to the chamber. An eleotrio motor and circulating fan has keen fitted np since the vessel arrived in Wellington by Messrs. Cable A Co., for purifying the air and oiroulating it equally throngh the chamber. Those engaged in this experiment are satisfied that should the venture turn out a suooess New Zealand chilled beef will prove a formidable competitor to American and Canadian sup-

' d have not the slightest doubt plies, an o ff O rts will be orowned with buo- . that their , temperature maintained on the sees. Thi avertt ge about 29deg. voyage will . _________