THE ABATTOIR QUESTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10496, 21 October 1895, Page 4

THE ABATTOIR QUESTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —Mr H. S. Fish, mayor, is doubtless acting in perfect good faith when this morning he quotes from a periodical" The Hospital," a' deliverance of Sir Henry Littiojohn's, that private slaughterhouses had been abolished ia Edinburgh for 100 years. -■-.."■

The statement is false—absolutely false!—' and, knowing Sir Henry as I do, I am certain thafc the lie did nofc emanate from him. How matters are at present in the capital of Scotland is nofc to the point; but half a century -. ; _£o the High School callaats knew.half a dozen killing homes, scattered over the town, which some of them looked up occasionally on, " killing days." Ifc was an even chance that they were saluted with a sheep's head, flung in their faces, bat taking theser risks they occasionally experienced tbe fearful joy of witnessing the poleaxing of a bullock, and ifc requires no effort on the writer's part to recall the clattar of the poor brute's hoofs on theMriood. stained floor as it staggered beneath tlie brawny arm of the flesher. '.''*.-'-...

There was no anachronism in the story of thi* day of how the screaming of the butcher's boy was quolled by his mother's indulgence: "Be a quid laddie, and I'll mak yeir father gie ye a c_af fco stick." So muoh for public abattoirs in Edinburgh, 100 years ago; but the mayor may be interested in knowing that 300 years ago the good citizens of Edinburgh let their first contract few supplying the city with pure water from the PentUnd Hills, tharein setting an example TjfiiclTit-wonld be well for us to follow. ' '-j..

The Spanish proverb says there are two- precautions never to be dimfcted :—"Nover sign a paper without reading it, and nsver drink water without inspecting it."

But I bave trespassed long enough on yous space.—l am, &c., f .:..—.. f

October 19.

ROEEBT BOENS.

P.S.—One word more. Since writing the' above I have consulted the "Encyclopaedia Brifcanaica." eighth edition. Under abattoir I Cad " in 1851 the Corporation of Edinburgh con«trt_cted a greatly improved abattoir," and further on, " before the erection of these buildings private slaughterhouses were scattered all over the city, olteu in the most populous districts." The same authority (article,'■'.'* Edinburgh") gives 1680 as the date when the Comist ton water was led in through a lead pipe. Mr James Grant (author of '(.Old and New EdmbmJh") gives 1632 as the date when -[German er-^fcer contracted fco furnish the sime, acd for^Jrafcuity of £50.— R. B.