THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7065, 17 January 1885, Page 2

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Every day's experience shows more conclusively than before that if the frozen meat trade is to yield all that it is capable of yielding, the various companies must adopt some means similar to those successfully tried by Messrs Nelaon, Bros., to regulate the supply,. A recent letter from Mr Montagu Nelson, which was published in our columns, showed that by storing the meat and only placing it on tke market when wanted, an average of a halfpenny to a penny more had been realised for some of our Hawke's Bay shipments! But the other companies engaged in the trade seem slow to profit by the experience of Messrs Nelson, Bros., and by their irregular supplies continue to flood the market at one time and leave it almost b3re at another. A" long letter from Mr P. Cunningham to the Christchurch Agricultural and Pastoral Society shows this very clearly. He points out that the proposal to form a "Distributing Company " would not be a success, as though it might be started from sentimental or philanthropic motives it would Boon develop into a moneymaking concern, and would look after its own special interests instead of the interest of the exporter at this end. He continues; — "I think, if pressure were brought to bear by shippers from NewZealand, a Council would be formed in London from among importers, each returning a member, or members, aocording to the magnitude of their imports. The duty of Buch gentlemen would be to see that the meat would be placed on the market only in such condition and quantity as it could reasonably absorb from time to time. I do not think the difficulty would be great in establishing a fair and reasonable plan of deciding what brands and shipments should be sold and in what order. If wool brokers can establish rules for the sale of wool, I see no reason why regulations cannot also be devised for the sale of frozen meat. Another, and an important question this council of merchants would have to coneider, would be the arranging for the thawing chambers in connection with the dock warehouses. At present, to my mind, the meat is not placed on the market in a satisfactory manner. Sometimes it is taken from the freezing chambers early in the morning, passed through the middleman's stalls, and sold in the retail shops before noon on the same day. I have proved by experience and testing that meat cooked after being treated in this mode comes out hard and of a rather dark color, and quite unlike meat which recoives fair and reasonable treatment. By reasonable treatment I mean teawing it according to the state of the weather at the time the mutton is sold. I think the uncertainty of the condition in which the meat reaGhe3 the consumer is one of our greatest difficulties. At present the consumer has not sufficient experience to guide him as to the length of time the meat should be kept before being cooked, and I do not think the butchers take the trouble to inform him. A saddle of mutton that I took from the freezing chambers in the morning, and had cooked the same day, could hardly ba recognised as coming from the same flock with another to which proper time and attention had been given in thawing. , Until some means is devised of regulating the supply and quality I am certain we shall be subject to the same extreme fluctuations in price as we undergo at present." This conclusion is that to "which Messrs Nelson Brothers came some time ago, and lay the erection of large cold vaulta for storing meat so that the supply could be regulated, they secured, as far as one firm acting alone could secure, steady prices. But it is evident that their enterprise must be only partially successful when other companies continue on the old plan, for when the supply of meat is large and priceß low, the reserve in the vaults would have to be kept out of the market at considerable expense for storage. A combination of the various companies is required before the market can be properly controlled — not necessarily a combination using the same storage vaults, but regulating the supply on some defined baßis. Until then, as Mr Cunningham says, the market must be subject to extreme fluctuations, and while that is the case the frozen meat trade can never be regarded as on a satisfactory footing.

On the fourth page will be found an article entitled "Modern Methuselahs." The Bishop of Waiapu will hold a confirmation service to-morrow morning at St. Andrew's Church, Port Ahuriri. The Rev. Thomas Taylor, Congregational Minister, who has just arrived from England, will conduct the morning service at Trinity Wesleyan Church to-morrow. Evangelistic services will be held in the Presbyterian Church, Hastings, every evening next week except Saturday, at 7.30. Several ministers will take part in the services. The subject of the Rev. J. G. Paterson's sermon to-morrow morning will be " True Friendships." In the evening Mr Paterson will discuss " Sabbath Concerts and Sabbath Excursions." Residents in the Puketapu district will be glad to learn that there is now a daily mail to and from Napier. The mail from Puketapu to Napier closes at 8 a.m., and that from Napier to Puketapu at 2.30 p.m., arriving at the latter place at 4.30. Our Woodville correspondent writes stating that the site purchased by the Government for the railway station fronts the eastern side of the Masterton-road, beyond the township, and that at present the section is occupied as a slaughter-yard by Mr Troup. The Harbor Poll Committee met last night to make final arrangements for the polling on Tuesday. Very satisfactory reports were received from the countrycommittees, both as to the determination of the ratepayers to poll for the harbor, and as to the means provided to take them to the poll. The Union Steamship Company's new vessel, the s. s. Ohau, is arranged to leave Dunedin for this port on Tuesday next, via Oamaru, Timarn, Lyttelton, and Wellington. The Ohau is timed to arrive here on Sunday, 25th instant, and will discharge cargo at once, leaving for northern ports on the following day. Dr Schwarzbach, the celebrated oculist and aurist, writes asking us to state that he will arrive in Napier to-day, and that intending patients would do well to consult him during the early part of his visit, as he cannot accept serious oases for treatment at the end of his stay. Dr Schwarzbach's notification will be found in another column. Those interested must not forget that entries for a number of events of the Wellington Jockey Club's Summer meeting close this evening ; also, that acceptances for the Wellington Cup, the principal event of the Wellington Racing Club's meeting, and general entries for the same meeting, are due on Monday next, the 19th instant. The paths across the Government lawn are in a very bad condition indeed, and if the curator does not wish to hear of a few broken legs and neoks during the ensuing few months he will take the steps necessary to rectify what is complained of by every pedestrian who crosses the lawn. The work of repairing these paths might be usefully performed by the hard-labor gang. In the Superior Court of Bankruptcy j yesterday, before Mr P. A. Birch, Eegis- '

. trar, Mr Gk E. . Lee, solicitor for the debtor in the bankrupt estate of William Jarvis Harker, applied under section 139 of the Bankruptcy Act for a maintenance allowance to his client out of the estate. The Assignee was represented by Mr Carlile, and the creditors and supervisor by Mr Cornford. The application was strongly opposed, and the Eegistrar refused to order any allowance. The F Battery of Artillery, Captain Garner in command, paraded in front of the Athenfeum last evening, and were inspected by Major Eoutledge, officer commanding the district. There was a very strong muster, and the men, who wore their new uniforms, presented a very creditable appearance. The Garrison Band played a selection during the parade, attracting a large number of sightseers. Captain Garner put # the battery through a number of evolutions, and at the conclusion of the drill the men marched out, headed by the Garrison Band. Shortly before one o'clock yesterday morning a man named Thomas Watts was set upon by two men as he was passing through Dickens-street, and after being severely beaten about the face and body, was robbed of notes and cash amounting to nearly £14. A person named Crease, residing near the scene of the outrage, hurriedly clothed himself upon hearing Watts' criea for assistance, and went out to render aid, whereupon the two ruffians decamped. Information was given to the police, who now have the matter in hand. We understand that the two thieves are known. We have received from the publishers, Christchuroh, a copy of a practical and useful little work entitled " Mistaken views on the education of girls," by Johanne Lohse. The authoress has condensed into this small volume, which contains nine chapters of clearly-written comment upon modern educational systems and tendencies, a deal of information and _ suggestive criticism likely to be of service to all who take an interest in the mental and moral culture of girls. The work contains much that is worthy the earnest attention of teaohers and heads of families, and will no doubt be as widely read as it deserves to be. The first annual meeting of the Taradale Rifle Club was held at Ryan's Hotel on Thursday evening, Mr A. Napier in the chair. The report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The report showed a list of 47 members, and that four competitions had been held during the past year, at which prizes to the value of £41 10s~"were shot for. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £6 14s. The folldwing officers were elected : — President, Mr P. Dolbel ; vicepresidents, Messrs W. Beslop and Cartwright Brown ; committee, Messrs J. Drummond, C. W. Cato, R. Guppy. G. Pram, and W. Howard ; honorary secretary, Mr S. F. Anderson; honorary treasurer, Mr W. Harpham. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday Captain Preece, R.M., gave judgment in the oivil case of Irvine v. Macalister, a claim of £69 13s 2d on a promissory note, heard on Tuesday last. His Worship found for the plaintiff for £67 12s, costs £2 Is, witness's expenses . 10s, solicitor's fee £3 3s. Mr Lee, who , appeared for defendant, applied that 1 execution might be stayed for a fortnight, as he intended to ask for a rehearing of . the case. Mr Lascolles, for plaintiff, opposed the application unless on condition that the amount should be paid into , Court. His Worship decided that the amount of the judgment must be paid into Court within a week, and that if that were done execution would be stayed for ' a fortnight as requested. The cricket match on the Recreation Ground to-day, between bachelors and benedicts of the town clubs, is likely to afford a good display of the game, some of the strongest players in the district being included in the teams. Play will 1 commence at 1.30 o'clock. There is likely to be a large number of spectators present, as ladies will be admitted to the ground free of charge. The following will represent the bachelors: — Percy, White, G. Newton, Buchanan, Gibbons, Jarman, Finch, J. Martin, R. Hunter, Roskruge, Hamlin, and W. G. Cato. The benedicts will be chosen from the following :— Kendall, Spivey, Edwards, Liddle, Hill, H. Monteith, 0. E. Williams, A. Williams, C. Monteith, Ravenhill, Mayo, Tuke, Spaokman, Logan, and Humphries. The Garrison Band will give a sacred concertin the Botanical Gardens at 2.30 tomorrow afternoon, in aid of the fund for erecting an ornamental drinking fountain in that pleasurable place of resort. The following programme of selections will be gone through : — Quick march, " Memories of Galilee " (Newton) ; grand selection, " Judas Macca^seus " (Handel) ; fantasia (by desire), "Reminiscences of Moody and Sankey " (Linton) ; grand selection, " Weber's Mass in G " (arr. by Newton); "The Church Parade" (Millais) ; grand chorus, " The Heavens are Telling" (Haydn); " God save the Queen." Contribution boxes will be placed at each entrance gate, and as the object for which subscriptions are sought is such a good one, there is certain to be a liberal response from visitors. In reference to the sad death of the young man Griffiths, it may be stated that he was admitted into the Napier hospital on December lOfch, in a low condition. On the following day he was seen by the acting surgeon-superintendent, Dr de Lisle, who certified that Griffiths was suffering from melancholia, and communicated with the police, considering that the patient was more fitted for asylum treatment than for detention in the hospital. The police took charge of Griffiths, and preferred a charge of lunacy against him, with the view of procuring his admission to the asylum as suggested by Dr de Lisle. For reasons best known to the authorities Griffiths was not ordered to be medically examined, but was permitted to go at large. The fatality of Thursday at Tarawera may be looked upon as the result of ignoring medical testimony. The teams have been selected to play in the muff cricket match which is to take place on the Recreation Ground next Wednesday afternoon, commencing at half-past two. The following playera will represent the " black belltopper " team : — Messrs Bourgeois, G. H. Swan, T. W. Bear, M'Dougall, Arrowsmith, Jacobs, S. Oarnell, E. Ashton, Garrett, Saeffer, Garner, Niven, and Leonard. The " white belltoppers " will consist of Messrs Hooper, Peddie, Sawkins, H. P. Cohen, Fraser, Blackwell, Fowler, Morley, Sheath, Bell, Owen, and Captain Bower. A number of other gentlemen will take part in the match, but their names have not yet been received. The charge for admission to the ground will be one shilling, ladies being admitted free, and the surplus receipts will be devoted to some local charitable object. The match will no doubt cause considerable amusement, and attract a large number of visitors to witness the efforts of the gentlemen who allow themselves to be styled " muffs." We understand thatthe teams will entertain themselves at a supper in the evening by way of commemorating the occasion. Between 9 and 10 o'clock yesterday morning two lads named Jeremiah O'Rorke and George Worsfold found the dead body of a female infant on the beach, nearly opposite the end of Byron* street. The police were communicated with, and at 2 o'clock an inquest was held at the Clarendon Hotel, before Captain Preece, district coroner. Mr F. W. Garner was chosen foreman of the jury. No evidence beyond that relating to the finding of the body was tendered, as owing to the recent discovery .the. police were not prepared to go on fully with the

caee. At the request of Detective Grace the enquiry was adjourned till Thursday next, the jury being bound over to attend on that date. The body is that of a prematurely born infant, and when found bore traces of blows or compression about the head, but did not appear to have been submerged for any length of time. The umbilical cord was not tied. Dr Spencer was instructed to make a A post mortem examination. The resul£_ will not be made known till Thursday, but we believe that it will be to the effect that the child had lived after birth. The police are engaged making enquiries, and hope in a short time to be possessed of proof relating to the parentage of the infant abandoned in such a heartless manner. A correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette has called attention to the alarm* ing mortality among bishop's wives. It appears that at present there are six bishops who are widowers, five who have been married twice, and one, the Bishop of Liverpool, who has been married three times. It is not likely that even these alarming statistics will permanently detract from the value of a bishop in the matrimonial market, but a few plausible theories on the subject might be interesting. A Fact Worth. Knowing. — Are you suffering with consumption, coughs, severe colds Bettled on the breast, pneumonia, or any disease of the throat and lungs ? If so, go to your Druggist and get a bottle of Boschee'a German Syrup. The people are going wild over its success, and Druggists all over our country are writing us of its wonderful cures among their customers. It has by far the largest Bale of any remedy, simply because ifc is of so much value in all affections of this kind. Chronic cases quickly yield to it Druggists recommend it and physicians prescribe it. If you wish to try its superioi virtue, get a Sample Bottle for 6d. Large size bottle, 3s 6d. Throe doses will relieve any case. Try it. 197 The Timaru Herald says : — Despite the cry for work which is constantly ringing in our ears in Timaru, it is a strange, but none the less significant fact, that when employment is offered by the Government few, if any, men can be induced to take advantage of it. The last instance of the kind surely proves, if anything were wanting to do so, that there is little real distress here. Acting under instructions, Mr E. H. Lough, Town Clerk, prepared free passages to Little River early last week for men who were desirous of obtainiug work there. He advised the fifteen men to whom they were to be issued to -*-■ be at the railway station in time for the first, train on Friday, but not one of them turned up. Several of them who were afterwards met made various excuses, some of which, were we to publish them, would rather startle those who are so ready to uphold a certain class of men as deserving of the warmest sympathy. In reference to the murders in the South Seas, for which M'Neil and Williams were sentenced to death in Brisbane, verified information, collected by a Mr Millman, and forwarded to the Premier of Queensland, shows, says a correspondent of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, that the whole of the Hopeful's voyage was nothing but a series of butchery, fighting, and murder. On one occasion the crew landed and burned huts, in consequence of which a fight ensued, when 38 natives were shot. On another occasion, on the coast of New Guinea, at a place between South and East Capes, the boats landed and obtaiued recruits, including two brothers, whose mother ran down the beach and endeavored to stop her sons, when she was struck on the head with the back of a tomahawk, and then thrown into the boat and taken aboard the ship. The natives seeing the outrage attacked the boats, spearing two whites. The boats fired, and three of the natives were shot. Women have also been frequently outraged by the whites. How to get sick. Expose yourself day and night, sit too much without exercise, work too hard without rest, doctor all the time, take all the vile nostrums advertised, and then you will want to know How to Get Well. — Which is answered in three words —Take Hop Bitters ! Bead 198