DIRECT SHIPMENT OF FROZEN MUTTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7353, 13 June 1885, Page 5

DIRECT SHIPMENT OF FROZEN MUTTON.

As considerable interest attaches to the first direct shipment of frozen mutton for the London market by the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company, some notice of the progress of the freezing operations may prove of interest. The first batch of carcases was brought to the works from the company's abattoirs, St. Anno's Bridge, Ofcahuhu, on May 11th, and since then there has been a continuous supply, and the work of freezing has proceeded regularly in spite of difficulties naturally incident to the commencement of operations. At the abattoirs six butchers are in constant work, and each man turns out no fewer than 50 dressed carcases a day. Great precautions as to cleanliness in dressing are taken. The kidneys are removed whilst warm, and no water is allowed to touch the carcases during the various processes. Each carcfse is carefully inspected by the outside manager of the company 1 before it is placed on the railway truck 'foV transmission to Auckland. A truck contains '60 datfiases, e&ch of which is suspended i: from.; a sefferSte hook, ao that? any contact aneiwith another is avoided. The train which;reaches Auckland at half-past nine a.m. daily brings down five of these trucks containing in all 300 carcases, and any one ' who wishes to satisfy himself as to the sheep-raising capabilities of the Ulistrict, should make a point of seeing this splendid display of mutton. The carcase 3 aire thence conveyed to ime of three freezing! chambers, which arP each capable of receiving 300. The temperature of the chanibefr i* 30 degrees below zero, and the carcases become gradually frozen. The carcases remain in this temperature for a period of 36 hojnre, in order to ensure perfect safety, althougih it is considered that 24 hours is a sufficient .ajngth of time. They are then placed in bags, knd transferred to the capacious storeroom,} which is kept at a temperature between 10' and 15 degrees below zero. It is anticipated that by Monday next the whole of the present shipment, which comprises 7000 carcases, will have passed through - the freezing process. The largest consignor is Mr. 'JT. C. Firth, of the Mai amata Estste, who spends no fewer than 2000 carcases. The carcases .1-, in ! Mr. Firth s consignment are oi-:"the fine Shropshire Downs breed, and )att»in the high average of TOlbs. each. It naay be seated that each of Mr. Firth's sheep\tnm» out about 81bs. of inward fat, which is considerably in excess of that shown hy'vxf' other portion of the shipment. They-\are even throughout, iVery ripe and fresh, and should be most suitable"for the London xnarket, where they may be expected to realise the top prices. The other principal consigners are the Auckland Agricultural Company,Vnd the Wajkato Land Association, who eac» forward 1000 carcases, which are alfo ia splendid condition. Mr, Lai'kworthVj Of the Waitoa Estate, in addition to. a consignment of mutton, sends 150 lambs, .which are in excellent condition, and average 371bs. in weight. The direct steamer Aoirangi is due here on the 23rd instant, and it Us sincerely to be hoped that all 5 the expectations of the New Zealand Frozen Meat an/d Storage Company will be realized when] this first shipment is placed upon the London market.