THE AUSTRALIAN FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 7

THE AUSTRALIAN FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

THE FIRST SHIPMENT TO EGYPT.

A little over two months ago there was delivered to the refrigerating stores at Port Said of Messrs Wills and Co. (Limited) the first consignment of frozen meat ever received from Australia. The experiment of sending frozen meat to the laud of the Pharaohs was inaugurated by Messrs Wills and Co. (Limited), of London and Liverpool, assisted by Messrs M'llwraith, M'Eacharn, and Co., of London and Melbourne, aud the meat was supplied by Messrs Nelson and Sons (Limited), of New South Wales. From private advices received in Brisbane, it is now clearly demonstrated that a new market for the sale of the surplus slock has been opened up, and the establishment ia a short time of a direct trade with the Mediterranean ports, the central depot being at Port Said, is hopefully looked forward to. The following extract from a letter received from Port Said, under date June 21, shows the condition in which the last shipment of frozen meat from Australia arrived at its destination: — "The Duke of Argyll arrived here at 10 a.m. yesterday. We commenced discharging at half-past 11, and had the 1000 sheep weighed into stores at half -past 2. We placed the scales in the passage and weighed seven, eight, and sometimes 10 sheep at a time. Weighing delayed us a good deal, but next time we shall make better arrangements, so as to get it done quicker. The aggregate weight of the 1000 sheep is 48,9281b gross, or an average of

about 49ib each. We agreed with the ship as to weight. We finished discharging before the ship had finished coaling. With improved arrangements for weighing we can easily discharge 1000 sheep in two hours, and the captain of the Duke of Argyll will report to his owners to that effect. Yesterday the first 100 sheep were discharged in 10 minutes, and tho first sheep reached the stores in four minutes after leaving ship's hold. Although unfortunately it was a very hot day, and notwithstanding that wo had to work in the hottest part of the day, I am glad to say that, so far as I could judge, all the meat was received into our stores in excellent condition ; in most cases tho linen wrapper was not even damp. As an extra precaution I had a large sack thrown over each sheop as it came out of tho hold, to protect it from the sun. Tho tomperature of the, rooms was well maintained."

lhe forty-third half-yearly general meeting of tho Sydney Meat Preserving Company was held on August 10, the Hon. John Lackey, M.L.C., in the chair. Tho report presented no unusual feature. No fewer than 378,010 sheep and 3192 cattle had been bought at the Homebush saleyards. But the European demand had been very slack, and prices were lower than they had been six months before ; still the sales of the company had beeu extensive. The machinery was capablo of dealing with 5000 sheep per day. Including L 21.319 brought forward, tho receipts had been L 170.358 and the expenditure L 148.765, leaving L 21.593 at the credit of profit and loss. Tho chairman stated that during the year ended 30th Juno 1892 the company's purchases (all of which were made at Homebush yards) consisted of 653,751 sheep and 4824 cattle, costing L 215.22 1; that during that term the wages paid at tho factory amounted to L 32.257 11s 4d ; and that the total cash expenditure of the company for the year in question exceeded L 300,000, whilst its capital is a little over L 21.000. The report was adopted.