NELSON BROS'. WORKS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVIII, Issue 78, 31 March 1892, Page 2

NELSON BROS. WORKS.

x ■ - — +-. A VISIT TO SPRING CREEK. The actual relults of the introduction of . meat freezing into New Zealand have been Buch aa'to need little comment from anyone conversant with the value or worth oitha sheep and cattle industry. In Marlbqrough - there ib possibly less to be shown than elsewhere, for one or two reasons. The isolation of the province affords an excuse for the methods adopted m the past, and for objection to change them. Merino mutton had its headquarters m this province, and so far as eating quality goes it cannot be beaten here, but for Home requirements it is not desirable. This may seem to some of our readers a paradox, but if the looal representatives of Nelson Bros, would only undertake the duty of showing m a practical way that the meat is not presentable after freezing they would do our local breeders one of the best turns possible. The flesh gets discolored; and after thawing it not exactly what one would like to buy. As this is a district where the merino largely predominates may we be allowed to suggest that the firm should place m one of the local butchers' shops n merino carcase that has been thawed and one of their best crossbreds, so that the farmers may for themselves form an idea of what the meat is like when it is offered to the English consumer. Having promised to " do " the new Spring Creek works for some time we took advantage yesterday of an offer to aocompany Mr T. Watson to Spring Creek. No one to speak to, or casually know this gentleman would imagine for a moment that he knows anything either about merino sheep or politics — but he does. Somehow or other he drafted sheep when young and he has drifted into politics m middle age. With a lucky memory for faces and names he knows a shearer and a musterer as well as he can tell of the votes of a politician during the last session. But we haye v not advanced at all towards Spring Creek. . Starting from Allen's stables with a flash dog-cart we had no trouble till the bridge was reached and then ."yours" truly" nearly came to grief. ThVwheels got locked m those abominable contrivances which are placed at each end of the bridge, and we had to get out and lift ttye trap over, the horse starting before we had properly realised it was all right. Beabhing Spring Creek was then a matter of no trouble whatever, but if the Nelson Bros' people are going to put up buildings and improve their property it is certain that the looal body will have to make a road to th« works as that at present m use will not stand much traffic. And might we say to.' Mr Nelson that the gate leading into the premises is a mighty awkward one when you have to get out of a trap, and either open or shut it. Arrived at the scene two things at once arrest your attention. First of all there is a supply of water that cannot be beaten, and secondly there is plenty of feed and shelter. In the paddock were some as niqe. crossbreds as could be wished for—but they came from Nelson, not Marlborough. At g the works we were met byJJIr Gregory, the ¥ manager, who greeted ctl^cordially, and showed us round. The first place we entered was the boilingdown establishment, and here let us say that the sheep rejected as being too fat or too poor pass through this place. It contains two receptacles,, one for first-clasa tallow and the other for second. One of theseis the invention of Mr Nelson himself, and m every respect it seems an improvement on the ordinary run of boiling-down appurtenances,' especially as fo th« hinged *aoors. Those m attendance explained fully to us the modus operandi, and, although it sounds almost impossible, the keenest scent could not have detected the fainteat smell arising from the buildings. The quality of tb.6 tallow seemed to the inexperienced eye of a journalist satisfactory, and also the arj rangements for casking, etc., saving of labor ) After inspecting the drainage and the truck system for carting away the offal we passed on to the kilJing shed. Though riot a large plaoe this affords a capacity of ' QSQ shegp a day killing power, arid had it not been foe the culls yesterday that number would have been reached. The sheep are driven up by a couple of races, that are unique m construction, into the pens that lead to the place of death. There the work of slaughtering — at all times unpleasant to a beholderis accomplished speedily, and the turning of sheep into mutton is effected m an expeditions and skilful manner. From thfc shed they are passed to the next room*, where they are weighed and hanged'tiU they set, all being ranged according to weight, class and value, with tickets " attached to each. The carcases shown us were d§. cidedly away above the. average, and We/ learnt that the general run of sheep tha* have been sent m this season are a groat improvement on tho3e of last year, The arrangements for killing and hanging are all on the most approved Btyle, but we cannot imagine why the Government and Mr Nelson went m for such an expensive railway siding, more particularly as the Railway Department will not shunt their engine on to the ground, but compel the hrtn to 3eadthe sheep trucks backwards and forwards for fully quarter of a mile Enquiring as to the bye-products we find that the tongues are salted town and sent over to the Gear Company, while the runners are exported Home for catgut, <feo Mr Commander, who has oharge 'of the slaughtering department, seems to be just as cute as they make them. He can tell the weight of a sheep by looking at him and so can Mr McNanghton, the buyer, who is one of those donee Scotchmen whose word is i tjaeir bond, whether for or against you. passing the sheep killing shld wo came to the canteen, if so it may be oallef when on the mantelshelf, there stands 4 placard to the effect that no liquor ik allowed to be introduced on to the grounds Mr Gregory is sorry that he cannot offer 'ufl anything strongerjhan tea/ but tt'oft&J

Bhows were run on the same lines there would be less unhappinsss and more economy. The tea was good, the bjead baked on theT>remises better, ar*d the butter passable, while the cleanliness of the rooms, and tne general arrangement of the premises reflected the greatest possible credii on the cook. The next building was the men's sleeping house, one which Mr Buicfc conld certainly not find fault with, and thence we went over the bag store, and the two cottages now being erected for the manager and a married couple. We did not visit the greater portion oi the peninsula, having seen it before, but we can say this- that nowhere m New Zealand has the firm obtained a better place for its purpose than it has at Spring Creek. But if they have secured something good 80 have the Marlborough farmers, and,the sooner they thoroughly realise it the better for them. Here is a firm which, without solicitation, pnts m thousands of pounds to further the industry of sheep growing and freezing; not only do they fetch a hulk here, but they are arranging for building works as soon as the output warrants_it. Labor is provided for over 30 men a weekj the railway receipts increased, price of sheep raised, and an option given to sellers whether they sell on their own risk and sell outright to the firm. J3ome of those who have sent m sheep have had them rejected and felt no doubt riled," but the lesson taught them they acknowledge now is of value, because they will know next time how to grow , sheep to meet the London market, and if they will not learn that leßson then they may as 'well give up sheep-farmingj.for there is virtually ' no other market open to them. From what -■'■ we could learn the quality ia improving al] round, and it only requires a year or two to raise the 20,000 that may be Bent this year g from this province to 50,000 and these oi ' better quality than any yet exported.