THE TRADE OP OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 2

THE TRADE OP OTAGO.

THE FROZEN MEA'j? INDUSTRY. We are permitted, on the authority of the local traffic superintendent, to publish 11 return of the nuinbUr of elicep rniled during the past year to Canterbury from Iho stations comprised ill what is contended forms the legitimate source of supply for the Now Zealand Refrigerating Company's works at Uurnsidc. l''roiu stations betwam Clinton qnd fiimedin, including branch lines, the sheep jmflic to stations north of (jlennvy totalled 575 double-deck waggons—viz,, 353 trucks, of fat sheep, carrying approximately 20,00 sheep, and 242 trucks of stores, carrying approximately 18,000 shcop. From stations between Dtlnedin and Duubrick this traffio to stations nottli of Uleniivy totalled 18 trucks of fat sheep (representing 1030 sheep) and 119 trucks of stores (representing 8900 shiiop). Tho total traffic, consequently, from stations between Clinton and Dunbaek, including branches, consisted of 21,080 fat sheep and 26,900 stores. In addition to tlieso an unknown quantity of sheep was driven, but that quantity would not include fat shoot) nor stores that wero in a forward condition.

We have further been placed in possession of a retiirn of lho actual number of sheep and lambs killed and frozen for all purposes at the various works in the colony for the past year, and from this \ve extract tho following particulars of the killings at tho Otago and Southland works: — Sheep. Lambs. Total. Oamaru .. .. 36,0 ft 88,557 12-1,000 Burnsids .. .. 29,782 38,570 63,352 Mataura .. ~ 19,328 01,498 83,826 Occtui Beach .. 3,222 6,6=6 9,908 Wallncetown .. 44,251 71,697 115,951 These figures show that tile killings of sheep and lambs at the two Otago works totalled 192,958 animals, and that at the three Southland works tho killings totalled 209,665 animals. '

Anotiier statement which will be found of interest in its relation to tho problem litcscntcd by the state of trade of the port of Otago is the following, showing the annual export of frozen mutton mid lahib from Otago for the past 20 years ;- ear. Carcases. Year, Carcases. ■1881 72,429 1895 ,', 105,000 1885 ■ .. 101,879 1830 ">06577 : 1656 .. 100.081 1897 .. ISS7. .. 95.427 1898 .. 190.385 188S .. 1'1G,591 ISOO .. 200,358 1839 :. 177,501 1990 .. 189,069 . 1890 .. 232.333 1901 .. 173,561 Ml .. 255,304 190-2 .. 135,951 1892 .. 111,704 1903 .. 242,588 1593 , .. 122,190 1904 .. 221 308 IS9I .. 281,420 ' One rather instructive feature of'the above return consists in tho faot that tho export for the past two years has only been eneb exceeded by tho export of any' two consecutive years in the past. Th is curious, flJso, to notico hovy a vonr of largo export has generally beoii followed by a- decline. The trade, it will be seen, has fluctuated greatly.