Visit to Mataura

Southland Times, Issue 12105, 9 April 1908, Page 1

Visit to Mataura

EBO3EW MEAT CO.’S PICHTC. About Uireo bundi-ed people iiccepted Hie invitation of the Southland Frozen Meat Co. to take lunch yesterday at Mataura and afterwards to make a visit of inspection to the freezing works. Of (he visitors a large proportion went from Invercargill and extra accommodation had to he provided in the ordinary morning train. Lunch was readylaid in the Horticultural Hall on the arrival of the train and it provided the first part of the entertainment. A party of active and attentive young ladies kept the luncheon moving along briskly and a few speeches followed. Mr John McQueen, managing director of Hie company, who presided over the gathering, referred in Ills opening remarks to the splendid turnout of people and to the grand response to the company’s invitation. They had been told that an unfortunate date bad been chosen because of Die Invercargill Races on the same day, but, Hie speaker pointed out, it was a mercy dial that particular day bad been selected else they would have had the whole racecourse tinned into the hall. Speaking of the works he said that they were constantly being enlarged, and though this might be supposed to be the affair of the shareholders still every person in Southland had an interest in the Southland Frozen Meat Co. They were not only engaged in freezing but they supplied lighting, and had bound Gore to Mataura with Iwo .Vo. 7 copper wires, high tension line. They had indeed enlightened the Gore people whose common talk was of watts, and kilowatts, and units, and oilier technical terras, the use of which showed an increasing knowledge of electricity. These two places were all one town but which was the suburb lie was not going to say. The company had endeavoured to keep up with the times. He referred to the other works, at Bluff and at Wallacetown, which lie would like his hearers to see also. The Mataura works were the only freezing works driven by waterpower in New Zealand and be believed in Australasia. This pul them to a certain extent in a unique position and gave them a financial advantage over other works. They had come together, however, not to listen to speeches hut to visit the works and he would set an example of the brevity which he was going to insist upon from the other speakers. Mr J. H. Watson briefly traced Ibo past history of the company along its somewhat chequered career lo its now truly magnificent condition. If Uie company's bankers could see the attendance gathered there- they would want no oilier security and would be willing to give it unlimited credit. After referring to tire additional buildings and machinery and to tlie new and enlarged water race, Sir Watson went on to -ay that something more than these was necessary fo- success. They wanted the brains and tbe intelligence of those who controlled the undertaking, and Uie brains and energy of the opex-ators who did the work. He took tbe opportunity which sucli an occasion fittingly afforded to pay a tribute of appreciation lo tlie work of Mr Jno. McQueen who had taken charge several years ago and had made such a conspicuous success of tbe company. The office staff under Mr Cochrane in whose hands were the financial operations, the managers of the different branches, Messrs Hamilton, at Mataura, Thompson, at Wallacetown, and Cruiekshank, at Bluff, and the loyal and efficient men under them, all came in for their meed of praise. The company, said Mr Watson, could congratulate itself on having men with whom it could get on in a friendly spirit. They had been able to avoid tbe court so far in the matter of settling any little misunderstandings and he hoped that such a state of affairs would long continue. At tliis stage Miss Cameron added considerably to the pleasure of an already enjoyable gathering by her tasteful rendering of the song, “Mv Ain Folk.’’ Mr W. B. Scandrett spoke shortly, m ing that the wise action of the diJf ftors in instituting the annual inspec*on of works and the reunion tended to I.rouse interest in the affairs of the company, and the dix-ectors would benefit by the knowledge that the shareholders were aware of what was being dene. He concluded by saying that nothing had been so Instrumental in developing New Zealand as the frozen meat industry, and gave an instance from his own personal knowledge to show the comparison between the pastoral industry of about twenty years ago and tbe same industry at the px-esent time. Mr Harley, as a representative of (he Western District, was next called upon by the chairman. He said that the land wouldn’t be of any value at all lint for the sheep freezing industry. He spoke of a trip ho had made north in the early days when only a stray patch of land here and there seemed to lie any good at all. At that time farmers wore shearing their wethers, and then boiling them down for tallow. He remembered wiien farmers used to drive .shoo]) into the gullies and over Uie cliffs into the sea to get rid of them, because they w-ere a nuisance. As a contrast lo that state of affairs he painted a glowing pictux-e of the conditions tjjiich obtained at the present time. Mr Buxton, who was the last speaker, endorsed the appreciative remarks which had been made relative to the manager. He xeferi-ed to tbe early trials of the company, driving his point home by means of an apt scriptux-al illustx-ation. He urged on all, now that the time of the greatest tribulation was past, to continue to give loyal support to the company, the niox-e so as in the past the directors had kept down the dividends, and had spent the money on the works, so that they now had the most up-to-date plant in New Zealand. During lire hour or so which remained befoi-e the departure of the train the visitors scattered themselves throughout the works, in the limited lime only an expert could make full use of the opportunities- provided to leai'n something of Uie work which was being carried out in Uie various departments. The majority of the visitors were not experts. But they were keenly interester 1 , and the visit was eminently instructive. The new- water x-ace was inspected and the new turbine, which when installed in about three months’ time will give about TOO h.p- Other extensions to Uie works during the past year include additional boiler power, extensions ro the cooling room, including the elevators, and the installation of the overhead rail system. Great interest was shown in the new suspension bearing in connection with the turblne. This bearing carries B% tons of (lie 7% tons which would otherwise rest on the footplate and lend lo wear it out frequently. In this connection it was explained that the more power there is generated the less weight there is bearing on tbe footplate, but with the new hearing the smallest amount of power generated will have no detrimental effect on the footplate. It has been a thorough success, and has done away with alt the disadvantages of a vertical footplate. The working of the oil pump which, working against a 5% ton pressure, keeps tbe bearing thoroughly lubricated, was also studied with intense interest. In one of tbe rooms several electrical appliances were shown in full working order, and proved a moans of practical instruction in the direction of electrical utility. Heaters, smoothing irons, various cooking appliances, a sewing machine, implements used for massaging. and other cunning contrivances wore all shown in going order from electrical power. ShorUy before train time an exhibition of what can be done on the occasion of a fire alarm gave convincing proof of Uie water power which has been arranged to reach every part of Uie building.