GORE ABATTOIRS.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1034, 17 May 1902, Page 2

GORE ABATTOIRS.

OPENING CKIIKMONY. The Gore municipal übattoirs were formally opened yesterday afternoon. Owinn to a previous postponement and the unfavorable weather, the attendance was limited to the Mayor, some half dozen Councillors, Town Clerk, and about a dozen ratepayers. The premises (which have been used (or the preparation of a portion of the local meat supply during the past few days) were inspected with interest by those present, being found beautifully clean and admirably suited for tho purpose. An especially noteworthy feature was the abundance of ventilation, ensuring the coolness and sweetness of everything, even during the hottest months of summer. The Mayor (Mr D. McFarlane) said it had been intended to open tho abattoirs on Wednesday lust, before Mr A. A. Mac Gibbon's term as Mayor closed, and all preparations had been made with that object. Owing, however, to the demise of a daughter of one of the Borough Councillors it was decided to postpone the formal opening until that day. Since Wednesday he (iho speaker) had come into ollico as Mayor, and he thought the honor of opening ihu abattoirs should bo bestowed upon Mr MaeGibbon, as ihe building had been decided upon and erected during' bis term, and he det-orved very great credit for carrying the project through. Mr MaeGibbon had been piincipally of providing the town with facilities for obtaining wholesome and inspected meat, and be (the speaker) hud much pleasure in calling upon him to perform the opening ceretnonv. —(Applause). t Mr MacGiblion thanked the Mayor for vis kindness in offering liini the honor of opetffig the abattoirs. The speaker traced the steps leading up to the introduction and passing last session of legislation making it compulsory for boroughs either to erect abattoirs of their own or else to make arrangements to get their meat supplies piepiued in suitable abattoirs. In Gore it was thought by soma that local abattoirs should be established, and others were in favor of getting the stock killed and inspected at Matuura. The speaker and others «ho were ill favor of local abattoirs fought the matter through, and finally gained their point. The result which they saw that day was a credit to all concerned, and ratepayers could congratulate themselves 011 having a building that.would be suitable for many years to come. The plans (prepared by Mr A. Latham) bad been approved by the Government, and that being so no fault could be found with them by anyone else. Of course, there were some little details that would have to be attended to as time proved their necessity, but those were only of a very minor character. The system of private slaughterhouses was not satisfactory. Individual butchers could not be expected to go to the expense necessary to keep such places thoroughly ellicient. In the municipal abattoirs all the slock would be slaugh tcred at the one place, and everything could be kept sweet and clean. He was sure the result would bo to increase the business of the local butchers, as the people would buy their meat with the utmost confidence that it was wholesome, and had been prepared under the best conditions. All meat sold in the Borough in future would have to be killed at the abattoirs, and pass the Government inspector, liy and by tho pigs brought in from the country to be sold in town would have to be killed at the abattoirs, but a by-law was required to meet that case, lie noticed it had been stated recently by a newspaper writer that the sum set aside for the abattoir had been largely exceeded. Such was not the case. A loan of £I2OO had boen raised, the building cost £'J75, fencing, roading, etc., had to be provided, and there was still over £IOO of the 11200 loan left in hand. He thanked the Mayor lor his kindness in allowing him to perform the interesting ceremony that day, and had much pleasure in declaring the abattoirs open.—(Applause). At the invitation of the Mayor those present partook of a glass of wire, and toasted the prosperity of the establii,iiment. From the appearance of the whole premises, and their evident suitableness to the purpose in view, the architect (Mr A. Latham) carried out his responsible duties most taiisfactorily. The cooling apartment is 40ft long by :tolt wide, and every facility is provided t!.ere, and in the killing and dressing pens, for the bandling of carcases under the very best conditions. The contractor (Mr M. Hay) also discharged his task with great credit, and as inspector of works, Mr A. Little, of lnvercargill, proved a most acceptable ollicial to all parties. From Monday next the whole of thu Borough meat supply will be prepared at the 'abattoirs, and no meat will be permitted to be sold in the town without bearing the Government inspector's stamp.