ICE FOR SUMMER USE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8054, 1 November 1897, Page 2

ICE FOR SUMMER USE.

What a boon it would l>o in a hob climate like this if householders could depend upon getting in thesummer time a plentiful .supply of ice at a cheap rale. Every house and various shops might have their ice chests, in ■which perishable articles of food — meat, milk, butter, etc., — could be kept cool, sweet, and wholesome. Hitherto ice has been available only as a luxury, or as a necessity in case of sickness, the price being prohibitive to its general use, but there appeals to us to be no reason why ice should not be manufactured and sold at such a cheap rate that almost every resident in the town cnuM afford to take it as an article of every-day consumption. In conversation with Mr George Nelson the other day we broached the subject, and suggested that with the greater capabilities of tbeir works, as the result of the ammonia process, Messrs Nelson Bros, might be able to supply the town with ice at a cbeap rate. Mr Nelson said be saw no difficulties in the way. if only his firm could obtain agunraiitce that a substantial and regular supply would be taken. They would require someone, who would undertake the distribution of the ice, to contract for a supply, guaranteeing to take specified quantities. If that were done Messrs Nelson Bros, could supply ice to the town by the ton, and the dealer would obtain it at such a price that it should not cost the consumer more than one farthing per pound. We are sure that if residents could get the ice at that price many of them would take it liberally, and make it worth the \\ bile of a dealer to go in for the distribution. The Christchurch Meat Company, we understand, arc supplying ice to the residents of Christchurch at that price, and the Freezing Company at Wanganui have just had fitted up under Mr Nelson's supervision an ice tank which will enable them to provide ice for the people of VVangaimi at an equally low price. Ice should be more appreciated at Gisborno than at either of the other two places named, for the heat is greater in the summer time. Ice in our houses would have its sanitary value, and is worth going in for even as a means of precaution against various ailments that are so prevalent in the summertime, consequent, wo believe, upon the rapid multiplication of bacteria in heated milk, meat, and other

food