The Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1882.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4342, 24 March 1882, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1882.

Thb Oablbobams which hare informed us of the result of the lost speoial shipment of meat to the London market, per steamship Protos, convey lome important lessons. These iessons must be fully appreciated and aoted upon in New Zealand, if wo are to fairly partioipate in the export meat trade initiated by Australia. The trade has already been demonstrated to be capublo of yielding u satisfactory profits ; and it has also come to be clearly understood that there is no insuperable difficulty in the way of securing uniformly flood results in the delivery of shipments. The Frotos consignment, although it appears to have been all disposed of at the average price of fivepenoe-halfpenny per pound, dia sot reach London in » satisfactory condition. For this, two reasons have been assigned. The first is, that during the voyage of the Frotos, the refrigerating machinery was stopped — from some unexplained cause — and that the meat Buffered in consequence by being rendered somewhat soft. The other reason is, that the meat was "badly shipped" in the first instance. It it, however, quite poasible that both the alleged reasons may have operated in bringing about the objectionable state of things— one that must bo deeply regrotted, if only beoause of the extra time that will bo required to extinguish the prejudice oxisting in the minds of many English consumers. It is of the highest importance that in the first shipments from this Oolony the mistakes of others should be. avoided, even if we may not be so fortunate as to keep clear of all mishaps. But there is good reason why wo should look for success of the moßt pronounced type. The New Zealand Shipping Company's Mataura is fortunately fitted with a perfeot duplication of the required machinery, so that she is provided with the one reliable safeguard against the ill results of a breakdown ; and we regard it as specially fortunate that the refrigerating apparatus whioh Bhe carries is of the dry air type. There can, we believe, be no question that experience will demonstrate this system to be immeasurably superior to one in whioh the air is moistureladen ; for it must not be forgotten that, if air bo perfectly dry it constitutes, per te % a preserving medium. The system upon which the Mataura's apparatus is baaed, seems to bo specially adapted for securing economic rojulte ; and this point can scarcely be overestimated in the pecuniary benefit it promises for the producers of meat for export. In tho Haslam apparatus, the incrustation difficulty attendant upon the use of Bait water in generating steam for tho roqnired motive power, is largely obviated ; and the recurring uso of tho exhaust stream of cold air from Iho rofrigerating chamber similarly tends to a cheap as well as reliable inodo of working. Tho time record of engine work done during the Mataura's outward passage, fully demonstrates that the eoonomio principle hat been

effectively studied. And this means that a cargo of fresh meat can be sent by » line of sailing vessels with perfect Bafety, at far lower freight charges than those which any steamship can quote. The one benefit whioh has been anp* posed to attach to the employment of a a steamship for the frozen meat trade, is the quicker transit. But when the boilers of a steamship are drawn upon for running the refrigerating machinery, the speed of the vessel must to some extent be interfered v il\ ; S/nd ibis interference has been stated to amount to at least half a knot per hour. The large working oxpenßes of a steamship must always necessitate high freight charges ; theee can, by the use of sailing vessels, be rerufvrl <o v ir.injinum ; and the lowest possible rates of carriage are essential if an export meat trade of any magnitude is to be established between this Colony and the Mother Country. As carriers, the New Zealand Shipping Company have made an admirable beginning in the facilities they hare provided. Producers have to do their part by taking care that meat of uniformly good quality is selected, and that it is shipped in first-rate order.