GREYMOUTH ABATTOIRS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 July 1918, Page 3

GREYMOUTH ABATTOIRS.

A Cb.tiV.tiJA jun VJiiYTION. For some time considerable difficulty lias been experienced at tne local abattoir in handling cattle immediately alter being' pitned or slaughtered. Aiany devices have been requisitioned to facilitate the delivery of tlie carcase from tlie smugiiter-pen, but .few have proved 01 any practical value. Tlie primitive meinod involved considerable annoyance, insomuch as that from the time the beast was pithed lo that when the animal is released much time was lost in freeing- the carcase from the pen to allow the butcher to operate. However, it is believed that these difficulties have been entirely obviated by an apparatxis invented by Mr O'Donnell,

Borough Engineer, and employed at the local abattoirs, the functions of which were demonstrated in the presence of Mr P. Hainbleton, manager of the Dispatch Foundry (where the iron work was made), Mr O'Donnell and a "Star" reporter this morning. The pithing pen at the works has been entirely reconstructed, and fitted with a tilting floor, upon which the beast to be killed walks. When killed attendants operate two levers releasing the floor and a pivotted door simultaneously, whereupon the carcase is immediately delivered to the abattoirs' floor ready for the butchers. Associated with the mechanism of the .apparatus are three floor beams raised above the ordinary concrete floor which sustain the wooden floor or tabic controlled in a horizontal position by a bolt running over the extended end of one of tliP beams. The attached swinging door being pivotted in the centre swings into a horizontal position when released at the bottom, thus opening the pen. The demonstralion nt~once convinced the lay mind of the astound in g simplicity of the dpvice and its practicability. Mr O'Donnell's...contrivance co. c t but £SO, and from the point of view of expenditure, utility and labour involved cannot but be considered of great economic value.