THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. • I

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 8986, 20 January 1891, Page 2

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

VISIT TO S.S. RANGATIRA. A largo number o£ persona left Waitara on Monday onjboard the steamer Manaia to pay a visit to the direct steamer Raugatira, now loading frozen meat, wool, tallow, dairy produce, etc., in the roadstead off the river bar. The Manaia took out a cargo of wool and tallow for the big steatcer, and as the hour of the day — 2 o'clock — suited, a great many people availed themselves of the opportunity to have a look over the largest steamer that has ever been in New Zealand waters. A large number of persons also went out on board the meat punt, which was towed out by the Bteamer Waitara. In all there must have been sixty visitors to the Rangatira, a fair proportion of whom were ladies. The visitors were treated most hospitably by Captain Burton and his officers, their stay on board being made as pleasant as possible. THE VESSEL. The measurements' and tonnage of the Rangatira were published on Monday.' She was built at West Hartlepool on September 5, 1890, by Messrs Gray & Co., and is, therefore, a new boat. This is her first trip to New Zealand, being what is termed her, guarantee trip. Her cargo for New Zealand consisted of 6000 tons of Welsh coal shipped at Cardiff, which was intended to keep up the supply that had been reduced by the recent strike. The coal was landed at Lyttelton. THE OFFICERS of the steamer areas appended :—Commander, Captain George Burton R.N.R. ; first officer, Mr W. G. Innes ; second, .Mr W. BurwiJl Holmes; third, Mr Ben H. Ashford ; first engineer, Mr A. Hollingworth ; second, Mr J. Fraser ; third, Mr C. Trewhitt 3 fourth, Mr H. G. Paul ; first refrigerating engineer, Mr P. McKellar ; second, Mr J. Bowland ; chief steward, Mr G. T. Phelps ; boilerraaker, Mr W. Rowland. The total strength of the ship's company, including officers, is 50. THE CARGO HERE will consist of 5600 carcasses of frozen meat, 350 bales of wool, several barrels of tallow, and a quantity of butter. It is expected that the loading will be completed on Wednesday afternoon. The Rangatira has room for 50,000 carcasses in her freezing chambers, and so far she has about 21,000 on board, which were taken in at Lyttelton and Wellington. From Waitara Bhe ,will proceed to Napier and Gisborne, at which places she will complete her loading. THE FREEZING WORKS. The management at the Freezing Works in loading and despatching the meat punt is all that could be desired, but the system of working with only one punt seems to be a slow one. It is, however, understood that the next steamer will be worked with two punts, which will be an improvement on the present system as far as expedition is concerned.