N.Z. FROZEN MEAT AND STORAGE CO.'S WORKS AT WAITARA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6774, 5 June 1885, Page 2

N.Z. FROZEN MEAT AND STORAGE CO.'S WORKS AT WAITARA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

This Company, which has erected a large building on the bank of the Waitara River for the purpose of carrying on not only the freezing process but that of tinning meat for the foreign market, will shortly commence operations. The site chosen for the erection of the works is on a Waitara Harbour reserve, facing the West Quay, and is bounded on the north by Stafford-street and on tho west by Queen-street. The buildings, including the slaughterhouse, sheep pens, etc., will cover a block of land of about 200 feet by 80 feet. On the side facing the river are tho cattle slaughterhouse, the frozen meat store, the freezing chamber, and the engine-house; facing Quecn-slreet are the sheep and cattle pens, the salting-house, and tinning-rooms; and at the corner is the tallow-house. On Wednesday last the refrigerating machinery in connection with the works i was tested in the presence of the Managing Director, Mr. Banks, and some other gentlemen, the result being eminently satisfactory. Everything worked smoothly, and a temperature of 60 deg. below zero was recorded by the thermometer. The machine used by the Company is one of Haßlam's patent dry air refrigerators, and was formerly fitted aboard the s.s. Triumph, which was wrecked at the Great Barrier Island, Auckland. The process of freezing is based on the principle that air compressed, and then cooled, afterwards expands, and cold is as a natural cbnsequence produced. The chief features in the Haslam machine are the production of dry air, the absence of snow, and the economy with which the lowest possible temperature can be produced. The air is first compressed upto4slbs per square inch. This operation should theoretically raise the temperature to 300 degrees, but owing to the water " jacketing " off the cylinders the temperature does not rise above 200 degrees. After leaving the cylinders the air is conveyed in pipes to the cooler, where the temperature is rapidly reduced to 65 degrees, by means of circulation. The air is next conveyed in pipes to the patent vapour collector. Here the cooling medium is the cold return air from the freezing chamber. From the vapour collector it is passed to the expansion cylinder, which it enters at a pressure of 451b5., and at a temperature of 60degs. Here it is by mechanical expansion reduced to a temperature of from 60 degs. to 80 dogs, below Zero. It is then conveyed and distributed into the meat rooms, four in number, by a wooden trunk, thus maintaining tho rooms, at a sufficiently low temperature, for the satisfactory freezing of mutton or beef. As an instance of the extreme cold, it may be mentioned that when the meat is thoroughly frozen no impression can be made on it with a sharp knife, and when a carcase is struck with a hammer it gives out a sharp sound as if the blow were dealt on a hard stone. The freezing rooms are of the best construction, and admirably suited for the purpose for which they have been designed; as are, indeed, the whole of the buildings. Steam is generated in two multitubular boilers, at a pressure of 90lbs. j per square inch, constructed by Messrs. I FraserandTinne, Auckland. The machinery i was started by Mr. S. D. Hatnn, who has ! entire charge of tho freezing department and machinery. Mr. Niver, the Company's Auckland engineer, was also present. Killing commenced at the works on Thursday morning, when Mr. F. Maw pithed the two first bullocks, after which they were handed over to the dressers — the operation of killing and dressing only occupying 27^ minutes. In a few days all tho departments will be in full swing. Mr. F. Maw is the manager of tho works, and the Company, in securing his services. I have obtained one who will evidently use every effort to make the establishment a success. The following are the dimensions of the several compartments of the building :—: — The cattle slaughterhouse is 60 feet by 30 feet. The uprights aro 16 feet ; but from tho floor to the ventilator it is 32 feet. The room adjoining is 61 feet by 46 feet — one side of the roof covering the sheep and cattle pens, which aro 10 feet by 12 each, and aro four in number. Tue floor of tho slaughterhouse is of concrete, with a drain running through it, and on the roof there are ventilators. Tho freezing stores come next (of which there are two, 24 ft. 8 in. by 35 feet), and a freezing chamber 17 feet by 35 feet. The roo£ over these comportments is of a peculiar shape. The height from the floor to the ridge pole of the first roof is 19 feet ; and abont 8 feet above it is a second roof, and on that is a ventiktor. Tho doors of the freezing house are specially constructed, being lived with wool between boarJs. Indiarubbor \z scresved to the rebates and doors, so as to make the rooms perfectly air-tight. Adjoiaing tho freezing compartment is the salting-house and tinning room. The ground floor, where the meat is salted, is about 8 feet in height, and the upper or tinning room 16 feet. The size of these rooms is 92 feet by 51 feet, and they open out to Queen-street by means of two doors. They are well lighted with six windows on each floor. The tallow-house which is at the corner of Queen and Stafford streets, is a brick building with two floors, and ia 61 feet by 31 feet. Adjoining it are the engine-house and machine room, both of brick. At the back of tho former is a chimney stack, which runs up to the hsight of fifty feet. The shaft is octagonal, and built on a base of concrete. If good muchinery, good buildings, and good heads of departments, mean success, we can sa£ely ; predicc a prosperous future for the New Zealand Freezing Meat and Storage Company, Limited,