AUSTRALIAN MEAT IN ENGLAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 912, 28 January 1868, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN MEAT IN ENGLAND.

"Thk Father of a Family, having nine bellies to fill," to the Times on the 19th of October : — " I bought a 6lb. case of Australian boiled fresh beef, without bones, for which I paid 7d. a pound. We tried it first in the Irish stow fashion. The quantity was a quarter of a pound of the beef and gravy to a pound of potatoes,, with chopped onions according to taste. This we called 'an allowance' for one. The potatoes and onions were cooked up to the same point as if the meat was in the stewpan ; we then put in our beef and gravy, perfectly sweet, seasoned with condiments, covered it up, and let it remain for a minute or two. It -was then served up, thoroughly hot, and the odour of beef gravy that filled the room was something appetising indeed. I sat down somewhat suspicious, but before I arose the ' tuck out' I had enjoyed was very gratifying. We had thus a good dinner at a cost of If d. a head for meat. We have since tried it as gravy soup and bouilli, with the same allowance per head, and with the same satisfaction. We had twenty-four good single meals of perfectly fresh, rich, delicious meat for 3s. 6d. ; that | is, the whole nine of us clinnered — not ' dined' — twice, and six of us a third time for the money. Now, let a family of, say, six meat-eating people; commence the week on the regular Sunday joint. You cannot allow less than two pounds a-head all round with a couple of cold meat days to provide for. No joint can be economically cooked -for anything having the pretence of ' a family' at less weight than. 121bs. To be sure I have heard of a man speak of his " wife and family," the said family consisting of the infant at the breast ; but that has not been the case at our house for many years. Well, this joint will cost 10s. say, and in cooking it will come down to about 91bs. All this will be finished on the Tuesday afternoon, as the bare bone will certify. Let the family. then take to Australia. Let them have Irish stew on Wednesday, louilli on Thursday, gravy soup on Friday, and any non-starvable make-up on Saturday. They will here have rich beef meals for all six,- at a cost of 10 kl. per clay, or 2s. 7id. for the three days. Compare that with the cost for the same kind of fare per butcher, to say nothing of the trouble. The only drawback to the English palate is that the Australian beef is over-cooked in the fibre; but I have been told that no more will be prepared so much in that way. It appears that the whole thing was an experiment, and now that it has answered, the price will be lower, and the cooking will be more like what we are used to. I know nothing whatever of anybody connected with the affair, except my provision dealer, who sold me the article ; and, I confess, so deeply-rooted have publicaus and grocers succeeded in establishing an inveterate character for adulteration that I opened the can with considerable misgiving. I feared some new • tricks of trade.' If beef can be sent over in this way, why not mutton ? With respect to such a novelty in food, we must give way a little in our prejudices ; we must imitate the give-and-take Tartar, who, on condition that he should have a joint of young horse occasionally, agreed to eat roast mutton one clay a week. I have spoken of my Australian feeding experiments among my own acquaintances, but incredulity and narrow-grooved thinking in some people are hard to overcome. There has been considerable laughter and wit-sharpening at my expense, as it is thought. But, nevertheless, as I have stated before, there are niiie bellies to fill, bellies that want more and more cveiy month, and I must fill them wholesomely and well in tho cheapest way I cau, notwithstanding any quantity of fun my friends may choose to take out of me. Now, sir, let every family, according to their means, do as we do — economise for their position, be it level or upwards, and you will soon have to chronicle a ' tremenous fall in meat ;' the butchers will then be brought to their marrow-bones in, earnest."