Frozen Meat.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5273, 1 June 1895, Page 7

Frozen Meat.

THE BELFAST WORKS.

The season which has just closed haa been a busy one for the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company. In addition to the Belfast worfcs there aro two others in the Canterbury district — at Islington and Washdyke — whicb. have also heen busily engaged in the export business, and when the number of stock dealt with at these factories is added to those given below, an idea of what the Canterbury province is capable of supplying to the English market will bo gathered. Killing was started at Belfast on Nov. 29, and the works were ehut down for the annual overhaul on May 25. During this period no fewer than 408,830 sheep and lambs hava been killed and treated; 4265 piga have been converted into hams and bacon, and 84 head of cattle have been ' frozen. This is by far the largest number of animals ever put through any factory in the colony in the same time. Of tho sheen and lambs killed for freezing, 169,263 carcases of mutton and 189,306 lambs, making a total of 358,569, have been shipped Homo, leaving some 1500 in the stores, which together give a grand total of 360,000 carcases frozen. In addition to this over 5000 cases ef preserved tongues and meats have been exported, as well ae over 3200 casks of tallow and 2250 bales of wool. The figures quoted above are those showing the company's actual output for the aix months. It must be borne in mind, however, that every client of the company has a free hand in the matter of the disposal of the bye-products of the sheep sent to be frozen, and this results in a certain proportion of the skins and fat being withdrawn for local aale and manipulation. Had the whole of these beon treated at Belfast, the total of tallow and wool would have been much larger. Other bye-products are treated by the company. Tbe oif nl is turned into a valuable manure, a very great deal of whioh is used locally, and the pelts, casings, &c, receive careful attention. Every part of the carcase is now turned to account. On April 11, 4017 sheep and lambs were slaughtered. On thia day also another record waa put up at the factory by John Carrington, a butcher, who haß been on the board ever since the company started. Being anxions to beat the previous world's record, he obtained permission to work on two shifts, and from 7 a.m. until midnight, with two hours off for meals, and two half -hour spells, he killed and dressed 83 sheep for freezing, 84 for preserving, and 66 for boiling purposes, thus putting through 233 sheep in fourteen actual working hours.

During the six months under notica 3139 tons Bcwfc 2qrs of native coal have been consumed. The actual amount of wages paid to the working staff, exclusive of the salaries of the heads of departments, which are not included in the wages sheets, was £16,868 15s sd, the number of hands employed varying from 317 to 349.