CONSIGNMENT OF CHILLED BEEF

Southland Times, Issue 23780, 30 March 1939, Page 4

CONSIGNMENT OF CHILLED BEEF

Loading On Doric Star INTEREST TAKEN AT BLUFF 800 QUARTERS SENT ON BOARD A new industry for Southland was opened yesterday when the first consignment of chilled beef to be sent from the South Island to the Smithfield market was loaded at Bluff by the Blue Star Line steamer Doric Star. The actual shipment comprises 800 quarters of beef, which came from the Makarewa freezing works. Considerable interest was shown in the loading of the meat, which was carried out with care, but without waste of time. Approximately 450 quarters of the shipment were loaded yesterday and by 4 o’clock in the afternoon all the meat had been carefully packed into the specially prepared hold of the ship. The other 350 quarters were taken on board tne previous day. Some of them were loaded on Tuesday evening despite the rain, specially constructed boxes being used to ensure the meat remaining dry during transit from the wagon to the ships hold. An ordinary railway wagon with its sides lowered was placed alongside the truck containing the meat and on this stood the chilled beef box, its open side being placed against the door of the truck. Thus the meat was transferred from the truck to the box and the box was hauled up and lowered into the hold without the contents being affected by the rain. Great care was exercised by the men who clad in white coats, were responsible for the “slinging” of the meat. To convey the beef to the port railway wagons packed with ice boxes were used to keep the temperature at the required degree. Neither in the wagon nor the ship was the meat allowed to be packed quarter on quarter. In the truck the beef was hung on chains suspended from a beam and the same principle was used in the hold. The loading of the chilled beef at Bluff was attended by Mr A. Derbie, general manager of . the Southland Frozen Meat Company, Mr R. Hutton, manager of the Mataura freezing works, Mr R. McGregor, of the New Zealand Meat Board, Captain Henderson, superintendent of the Blue Star Line, and representatives of most of the shipping companies and stevedoring firms at Bluff. When the Doric Star leaves Bluff she will be a full ship and it has been mentioned that she will probably have to carry some of her cargo of wool on her decks.