FREEZING WORKS.

Opunake Times, 3 July 1894, Page 2

FREEZING WORKS.

Steps are being taken to bring the advantages possessed by Opunake for the establishment of freezing works under the notice of Messrs Nelson Bros. Mr Breach, who is very largely interested in the port, has taken the initiative and issued a circular to stockowners in the district with a view to obtaining their opinions on the matter, so as thereby to bring influence to bear on Messrs Nelson Bros. There is nothing that we know of to prevent the successful establishment of such works here. They could be erected on the shore of the bay and water power could be applied at a very small cost, as the land there lies some sixty feet below the level of the town and is very easy of access. Experience has proved that where water power is available the cost of freezing is reduced to about one half what it takes to carry on with steam power. There is splendid anchorage in the roadstead so that home going vessels could lie off and load without any difficulty whatever. The main element m the successful establishment of such works is the source of supply. In this respect Opunake stands unrivalled, as we have within a day’s drive of the port over a quarter of a million acres of the finest pastoral country in the colony, capable of turning off a sufficient quantity of stock to keep works ruVmiug. It was principally from this district that money and stock was required to resuscitate the Waitara works, and as they were not forthcoming for that venture, the late proprietors of the works had to close down. It must be remembered that there are three days’ driving to reach Waitara, 1 whereas this port can be reached in an average one days’ drive. Mr Moore has joined hands with MiBroach in this matter. We are very pleased to see him giving in his adhesion to the scheme, as we wore given to unnerstand that he considered all foreshore rights were flie

sacred property of the town, and such works as these now proposed would require certain concessions in that respect, which we feel sure the inhabitants would be only too glad to accede in order to facilitate the establishment of such an industry. We hope the promoters will not pledge the district to any particular firm too hurriedly, as a little competition on the part of capitalists who are only too willing to get such a favourable outlet for capital might be productive of substantial concessions to producers.