DUNEDIN CITY ABATTOIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2268, 19 August 1897, Page 16

DUNEDIN CITY ABATTOIRS.

The buildings mentioned above, which have been in course of erection for Borne raonthi ' past, are now so far advanced that the roof is ' being put on. One half of the work — the foundations and walling — is almost completed, and the^boiler-house, foundations, and yarding j are also well advanced. The abattoirs are being ' built on the No. 1 site, immediately opposite | the cattle saleyards. The buildings oscupy an area of 124 ft by 88ft, and aro 32ft higb, aud s.va divided off into fivs cattle-killing departments, five sheep-killing departments, and one pig-killing department, fitted with dressisg and hanging rooms. Each stall is entered from under the central covered way, 36ffc in width, ' with loading platforms running along both sides in front of the banging room doors. Each i of the stalls and dressing roorm is fitted : with Scott's patent overhead tramway for I running out the carcases. The patent allows of I very easy working and a minimum amount of handling. These trams run cut into the cart- ' ■way, and provision is made so that whole bullocks may be taken out as well &b par s of , an animal. The floors and walla are cerut its J smoothly and arranged with fall and Bepadcei drains to take away blood and water, the blood ' beitg carried into blood tanks outside, which can be emptied, leaving the blood, &c, avail- \ abla for utilisation. The killing room floors ' are covered with gratings made in easy sections | for lifting. Hot and cold water is being laid ' on to each stall, and some of the tubs are fitted , with * hose for cleansing purposes. Tne • hanging rooms are fitted with cold «ir pipes, ! which can be Tised during very warm weather ! to cool the meat. Under the killing rooms ' there is mi und«rground alley with a tram- , way running out to the digester house at ' the back. The alleys axe fitted with ekin > and other troughs of cement. These troughs und bencheß are co arranged that ekins, &c, from the killing room's above are shot down here at once, leaving the room above clear. I The alley floors and walls are of concrete, cemented" very smooth. Hot and cold water is t laid ou throughout. The alleys are lighted from both ends and from deck lights in the floors above. Going back to the ground floor we find »mple provision has bepn made for holding pens arid races into the killing rooms. These races connect with drafting- aud holding ' yards placed near the Toad. These are pitched j in cement R»d drained into settling tacks, j The fencing, fee , is all bluegum, and is arranged &nd divided off to allow of easy j working. The races into these yards widen out into large gateways on the main ' road. The buildings are reached by two road- i ways — one going up between the cattle and sheep yards, and running right through the building and out at the back, connecting with the other roadway on the south side of the paddeck. At the junction of tbe two roadr, at a point at the back of the building, are the boiler and digester houses. These are built of concrete and brick, and are fitted with a boiler which is now in the ' hands of Messrs Morgan and Cable engineers, i of Porb Chalmers. The chimney stack is 50ft ! higb, and is placed in the prevailing wind , track, bo that smoke will not interfere vritb the J works. Tbe whole oF tbe buildings are con- ' struoted of concrete up to 6tc above the level of j the floors, and above that of brick filled iv ! with louvres and spars. All the angles inside ' are rounded off, and the doors &re covered with zicc. The woodwork is diesaed and all , edges rounded off to prevent dirt or dust hang- ' ing to them. The roofs are sarked and finished at tbe ridge line with lonvre lanterns. Every , provision has been made for ventilation and j cleanliness, and judging from what can be seen, ' the buildings and all the airangement3 Bhould ■ give easily worked premises; and above nil there i» every reason to believe that they will be exceedingly clean and thoroughly well , drained. A great amount of attention hts been given to the latter point. The architect for the works is Mr James Hislop, the contractor ifl Mr > George Morison, and the clerk of works is Mr j J>ihn Campbell. It is erpected that the , abattoirs will be completed before the end of | the year. _______________ 1