BANQUET OF AUSTRALIAN MEAT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2595, 30 April 1869, Page 3

BANQUET OF AUSTRALIAN MEAT.

The Times of Feb. 9 has the following;— Last night a banquet was given at the City Terminus Hotel, Cannon street, by the Messrs M'Call, importers of Australian meat, for the purpose of demonstrating the practicability of adapting beef and mutton preserved in Australia for ordinary domestic consumption in tl’-s country, as well as for the use of our naval and mercantile marine. The Australian Meat Company was formed in 1866, its manufactory being established at Ramornie, on the Clarence River New South Wales, and during the fiisl two years of its operations no less than 1,164,9701 b of preserved meat, principally beef, were shipped to England in a perfectly fresh state, free from salting or smoking. The system of preservation adopted involves the removal of the air from the meat in the process of steaming, and the article is exported in hermetically sealed tins. It is sufficiently cooked by the heat employed in the manufacture to be eaten without further dressing; hat, if preferred, it may be stewed and served hot. More recently a similar company has been started at Melbourne, in "Victoria, for the preparation on the same principle of intended for the British market. The Bamornie beef is sold retail in London at 7d per lb., and as it is without bone it is reckoned that at this price it is equal to buying ordinary butchers’ meat at sid per lb. Being cheaper, and at the same time more wholesome, than salt provisions, its advantages as an article of diet for seamen are obvious. The object of the dinner last night was to test the quality of these novel viands in the various forms in which they reach this country. About 200 gentlemen partook of the fare thus provided for them, among whom were Mr M’Arthur, M.P. (who presided), Mr S. Morley, M.P., Mr A. Kinnaird, M.P., Mr Alderman Lusk, M.P., Mr T. Cave, M.P., Count Claremont de Tonnere, Sir R. W. Carden, Alderman Lesley, Captain Mangles, Dr Letheby, Mr G. F. Verdon, C.B. (of Victoria), Mr J. Wheeler (of Queensland), Mr T. S. Dutton (South Australia), Captain Mayne (New South Wales), Mr Douglas Gallon, C.B. (Assistant Under-Secretary for War), Mr J, Bailey, C.B. (Assistant-Commissary-General), Mr A. Brady (of the Admiralty), &c. The menu . though not entirely composed of Antipodean dishes, included kangaroo soup, spiced and corned beef, and also preserved boiled mutton from Melbourne, as well as preserved boiled beef from Ramornie. The kangaroo soup was very good, and the hot and cold preserved meats which followed also appeared to meet with pretty general approval. Although somewhat over-cooked and rather deficient in flavour, as compared with ordinary fresh beef and mutton, they were nevertheless eaten with heartiness and relish even by the fastidious. A pleasant, substantial meal might easily be made from them by most persons; and no better wish could well be entertained in respect to the the material comfort of the masses of the people than that their larders should be at all times amply stocked with such excellent provisions. The company were also regaled with Australian puddings, creams, cakes, and ‘‘raffles,” together with Australian wines and liquors—all of which were pronounced very admirable in their way ; although, of course, the wines of our colonial fellow-subjects, while, perhaps, giving fair enough promise of future excellence, failed as yet to command equal favour with the old-established vintages of Europe. Ample justice having been done to this experimental repast, and the usual loyal and patriotic toasts duly honoured, the chairman proposed “ Success to the importation of meat from our colonies,” remarking on the vital importance of a reduction of the price,'of butcher meat in the country, especially to the working classes, and expressing his high approval of the entertainment they had that night enjoyed. Mr M'Call, in responding, referred to the amount of pauperism and destitution which now prevailed in England, mainly because the foodproducing power of the country was not equal to its ever-increasing population. On the other hand, there was a great superabundance of prime beef and mutton in our Australian colonies, and therefore we ought either to send our surplus population to the place where that superabundance of food existed or bring the food home to our surplus population. For the latter object the Ans-

tralian Meat Company had acted as a pioneer, and by its operations, though undertaken for purely commercial purposes, a great public end would be attained. Mr A. F'nnaird, M.P., proposed “ The Mercantile Marine and Commerce of this Country,” pointing out the bearing of the Australian meat trade upon the question of economy in the public expenditure. They were disappointed in not haring Mr Childers—himself an ex-colonist—-among them that evening ; but he trusted that that gentlemen would see that the Royal Navy was supplied with Australian beef and mutton, whereby the health and comfort of the sailor would greatly be promoted and a large saving at the same time effected in the estimates. After a few other toasts the company separated.