A "WINDFALL" OF MEAT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 32, 8 February 1915, Page 4

A "WINDFALL" OF MEAT

IN HOKITIKA'S GOLDEN DAYS J'ood was usually very dear at Hokitika dirring the golden days of 1865. Yet once relief suddenly came for consumers. On 14th December, The Post rdjrftihted the following report from the Hokitika correspondent of the Grey lliver Times : — *,Qn Thursday morning last, butcher's meat was selling here at Is 6d per pound retail. On Saturday evening it had. fallen to 2d. A fact! And this is how ib was. On Thursday afternoon, the btrbchOTs had slaughtered cat-tie sufficient for "the requirements of their customers fox the week. On the day after, Friday morning, the GothenbuTg, from Melbourne, sends on shore several tons of pnme carcase beef, which had been killed in Melbourne- The legitimate batchers could not buy, because they had stocked themselves. -So the meat being pljft to auction was cold to speculators aJj/d dealers at from 5d to 6d per pound. Toen came a war of competition. On Friday, while the butchers attempted to maintain the old figure of Is 6d, the d&leza, erecting temporary shambles on tlfe street, cold prime joints at 9d, and yffli may be sure succeeded in knocking tltt butchere out of time to some tune. Bflt Friday afternoon set in close, sultry, a£l 'muggy,' and the imported beef began to a&Mime an unwholesome appearaftce although the dealers hallooed and iNrore that it was as sweet as if it had c<£ne front oxen just off a clover field. On Saturday morning the price had ccime down to 6d per pound, and in the evening to 2d, at which rates the whole oHbe balance was cleared ottt. >ip