FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2997, 23 August 1911, Page 18

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

THE FIRST SHIPMENT FROM NEW ZEALAND. The- first shipment oT frozen meat from New Zealand to London was made in 1882, and when it was placed on the market at Home the shippers met with a ready sale as a reward for their enterprise. The total shipment comprised 4311 caircases of mutton, 598 carcases of lamb, 22 pigs, and 2226 sheep tongues. That was close on 29 years ago, and the amazing expansion which this side of New Zealand's export trade has since then undergone may be gauged from the fact that it is now represented by a value of close on lour millions sterling annually, and. with the opening up of new markets on the Continent, the trade is capable of still fuinther expansion. The Otago A. and P. Society recently had the opportunity presented to it of establishing a permanent record of the circumstances of the first shipment of frozen meat from New Zealand to London, and in view of the enormous value which the meat export trade Teprcscnts to the country, Mr H.. V. Fulton (the society's secretary) undertook to have this given effect to. The record, which is mounted and framed, is a most comprehensive one. It is surmounted by an enlarged photograph of the ship Dunedin, 1248 tons, which was the first vessel to convey firozen meat from New Zealand to London, and which is shown taking her cargo on board at Port Chalmers. Then follow the actual account sale sheets of the shipment, which was successfully disposed of by Messrs John Swan and Sons, stock agents, Edinburgh, and it is in these that the real value of the record is contained. In 1881, it is furtner set forth, the New Zealand and Australian Land Company entered into an agreement with the Albion Shipping Company, of Glasgow, to charter its sailing ship Dunedin for the purpose of making a trial shipment of frozen meat to Great Britain. The vessel was to be fitted with a BellColeman freezer, and, there being no refrigerating works in New Zealand, tho meat was to be frozen on board ship. The Dunedin, according to agreement, arrived at Port Chalmers in November, 1881, under the command of Captain Join, Whitson. The Now Zealand and Australian Land Company arranged to provide the stock, and the sheep and pigs were slaughtered at the company's Totara Estate, and conveyed to Part Chalmers in special railway vans, and, after being cooled down, were to be frozen, and stored away in the Dunedin's freezing chamber. After about 2000 carcases had been successfully treated an accident occurred to the freezing engine, the- crank shaft breaking. This necessitated the sale locally of the meat that had been frozen up to that time, and a new crank shaft was made at the engineering

works at Port Chalmers. When this was accomplished freezing operations were resumed, and the Dunedin finally sailed from Port Chalmers for London on February 15, 1882. She reported off the Lizard on May 18, and was docked on May 24. The mat© of freight was. ‘2id t>er lb, which included the first freezing of the carcases on board the ship, this being rendered necessary until freezing works were established on shore. The London Times, in an article dealing with the arrival of the Dunedin, described the safe' carriage of frozen meat from the colonies to the Home Country as “a prodigious fact.” The New Zealand and Australian Land Company was awarded a bonus of £SOO by the New Zealand Government for the safe carnage or the first shipment of frozen meat from the country. The shippers on the occasion of the vessel’s first voyage are set out as follows: —The New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Murray, Roberts, and Co., James R. Elder, J. H. Smith, and James Shand. The New Zealand and Australian Land Company subsequently chartered the Dunedin for nin*j further voyages, and after making 10 consecutive trips the vessel carried her colours in the frozen meat trade until she was lost in 1889, no trace of hex ever being found.