FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143587, 28 August 1911, Page 5

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

THE FIRST SHIPMENT FROM NEW ZEALAND.

The first shipment of, frozen meat from New Zealand to London was made in 1882, and when it was«placed on the ■market at Home the shippers met with a ready sale as a reward for their enterprise, The total shipment comprised 4311 carcases of mutton, 598 carcases of lamb, 22 pigs, and 222(i sheep tongues. That was close on 29 years ago, and the amazing expansion which this side of New Zealand’s export trade has since then undergone may be ganged from tho fact that it is now represented by a value of close on four millions sterling annually, and, with the opening up of new markets on the Continent, the trade is capable of still further expansion. The Otago A. and P. Society recently had tho. opportunity presented to it of establishing a permanent record of the circumstances of the first shipment &f frozen meat from New Zealand to London, and in view of the enormous value which the meat export trade represents to the country. Mr. H. V. Pulton (the society’s secretary) undertook to have this given effect to. The record, which is mounted and framed, is a most comprehensive one. It is surmounted by an enlarged photograph of the ship Dunedin, 1248 tons, which was the first vessel to convey frozen meat from New Zealand to London, and winch is shown taking her cargo on board at Port Chalmers. Then follow the actual account sale sheets of the shipment, which was successfully disposed of by Messers. John Swan and Sons, stock agents, Edinburgh, and it is in these that tho real value of the record is contained. In 1881, it is further set forth, the New Zealand and Australian Land Company entered into an agreement with the "Albion Shipping Company, of Glasgow, to charter its sailing ship Dunedin for the purpose of making a trial shipment of frozen meat to Great Britain. The vessel was to he fitted with a Bell-Colcman freezer, and, there being no refrigerating works in New Zealand, the moat was to he frozen on board ship. The Dunedin, according to agreement, arrived at Port Chalmers in November, 1881, under the command of Captain John Whitson. The New Zealand and Australian Land Company arranged to provide the stock, and tho sheep and pigs were slaughtered at the ooihpany’s Totara Estate, and convoyed to Port Chalmers in special railway vans, and, after being cooled down, wero to be frozen and stored away in tho Dunedin’s freezing chamber. After about 2000 carcases had been successfully treated an accident occurred to the freezing engine, the crank shaft breaking. This necessitated tho sale locally of the moat that had been frozen up to that time, and a new crank shaft was made at the engineering works at Port Chalmers. ‘When this was accomplished freezing operations were resuincd, and the Dunedin finally sailed from Port Chalmers for London on February In. 1882. She reported off the Lizard on Mav 18, and was docked on May 24. The rate of freight was 2Jd per 11)., which included the first freezing of tlve carcases on board the ship, this being rendered necessary until freezing works wore established on shore. The London Times, in an article dealing with the arrival of the Dunedin, described the safe carriage of frozen meat from the colonics to the Home Country as “a prodigious fact.” Tile New Zealand and Australian Land Company was awarded a bonus ol £590 by tho 'New Zealand Government for tlie safe carriage of the first shipment of frozen mcn.t from the country. The shippers on the occasion of the vessel’s first vovulco arc set out as follows: The New* Zealand and Australian Land Company, Murray, Roberts and Co., James R. Elder, J. H. Smith and James Shand. The New' Zealand and Australian Land Company subsequently chartered the Dunedin for nine furthei voyages, and after making ten consecutive trips the vessel carried her colours in the frozen meat trade- until she was lost in 1889, no trace of her ever being found.