COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 860, 24 August 1888, Page 15

COUNTRY NEWS.

PALMERSTON NORTH

(from our own correspondent.) August 16.

At Messrs F. R. Jackson and Co.’s sale to-day, only a few pans of cattle came forward. There was a fair entry of sheep, which were sold at improved prices. Fat cows brought L 3 to L 3 14s ; weaners, 8s ; woolly hoggets, 8s 7d ; shorn hoggets, 7s 8d to 7s lid ; culls, 6s 3d ; inferior ewes, in lamb, 7s 9d. The attendance was good, and the bidding brisk throughout.

1 learn to-day that Mr J. Beale, of this town, has entered into a contract with Mr McLennan for slaughtering a large number of cattle from the Oroua Downs, at his Longburn yards, the carcases to be forwarded to Wellington and there frozen for exportation. This is a new departure, which I trust is only the commencement of a new and most important industry, respecting which I purpose writing you more fully iu the course of a post or two. August 17.

By arrangement with the local Chamber of Commerce, Mr Smith, of the Now Zealand Insurance Company, and Mr G. H. Harbroe, of the Colonial Insurance Company, visited Palmerston North today as representatives Of the Underwriters’ Association, to inspect the new fire-extinguishing appliances recently purchased by the Borough at a large outlay, It is understood, I believe, that the inspection was a satisfactory one. Some considerable reduction in Block rates may therefore be hoped for. The firebell rang out an alarm at seven minutes before 3 o’clock, and at 3 o’clock precisely the engine, with 17 members of the Brigade and about 24 assistants, was at work in front of the Commercial Hotel with double delivery, one hose playing on the hotel and the other on Mr Kerslake’s premises. After fifteen minutes’ pumping the water in the well first tried was found to have lost only Gin in depth, and on a further trial of 20 minutes with one hose only, the water had risen almost to its original level. At 3.35 all the appliances were disconnected, and the engine removed to the Clarendon Hotel, when within 8 minutes everything was again in full working order with two deliveries. The working of the brigade under Captain Tingey was all that could be desired, and Messrs Smith and Harbroe seemed highly satisfied with both the brigade and the appliances. One or two practical suggestions were made by Mr Harbroe, which will doubtless bo adopted. I trust the report tho Underwriters’ Association will be of such a nature as to warrant the concessions so much needed. August 22. I wa3 to-day afforded an opportunity of visiting the Longburn slaughter yards, which are owned by Mr Joseph Beale of this town, and which, at present, present a more than usually busy appearance, all hands beiDg actually engaged in slaughtering and dressing cattle, which are being forwarded by the Manawatu Company’s line to Wellington, and there frozen for exportation. The rapidity and precision with which the work is carried on are very striking to visitors, of whom there were quite a number, all of them much interested in what may be called a new industry, and one of no small importance to tho district. A grand lot of cattle from the celebrated Oroua Downs were being despatched at the time of my visit, and the process may be described in a few words. From the stockyard which closely adjoins the slaughterhouse, the animal to be operated upon passes through a small enclosed space over which ie a staging, where stands the slaughterman, who, with one dexterous stroke of his spear, painlessly and instantaneously effects what, in the old style of killing, was a work of time and accompanied by much torture to the poor brute operated upon. To disembowel and hoist to the box, where the carcases hang to cool, take but a very few minutes, and finally, after eutting into quarters and weighing, the meat is hung to beams in the Railway Company’s vans, which are specially constructed for the trade. Throughout the whole process there is as little handling as can well be imagined, and the meat is sent off to the freezing works in the very perfection of condition. While I’was at the works a splendid lot of bullocks, some 50 or 60 in number, arrived from Messrs Marshall’s estate, The Ridges, near Marton. These also are to be frozen for exportation.

Longburn is rapidly becoming quite a town with its stores, school, dairy factory, and railway shops, the latter and other works affording employment to numbers of hands. This being the terminus of the Welling ton-Manawatu Company’s system, there is a great amount of traffic, and when the numbers of cattle and Bheep which are carried by the Company are being trucked, the scene is one of bustle and activity. I hear that it is proposed to open a subscription here for the widow and children of the man Adams, whose sudden death in the Wellington Hospital was recorded in your paper a day or two ago. It seems to be a very sad case altogether. There are eight children, the oldest being 16 or so, and the only one able to work, and the youngest an infant born only three days before its father’s death. The unfortunate woman gave birth to twins, but one of them, happily—one cannot help feeling—was stillborn. Tho husband. had been out of work entirely for months before his death, owing to an

affection of the eye, which quite incapacitated him, and though tho wife, a hardworking, industrious woman, has done her best, they had been reduced to very groat distress. Now they have absolutely nothing, and the woman will not, of course, be able to do anything for some time yot. I believe the case to be a most thoroughly deserving one, and so earnestly hope both that the subscription will be got up, and that it will be successful. IE any of your readers should feel inclined to help the unfortunate family, I am sure that our clergyman, Mr Harvey, would be very glad to receive subscriptions or to answer inquiries. It is reported that arrangements are being made for a fancy dress ball in aid of the Palmerston Library, which useful institution is sadly crippled for want of funds. A meeting of the members will bo held to-night to receive the resignation of the present Directors and. to elect new ones.

At Messrs Stevens and Gorton’s Awahuri stock sale yesterday bidding was very spirited and good prices were realised. The advance in both cattle and sheep was well marked. In the absence of Colonel Gorton Mr S. M. Snelson acted as auctioneer.