THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 686, 7 February 1881, Page 2

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

(Wanganui Herald.)

Three thousand carcases of mutton landed in'-Lpudgl} in safety-after a voyage, of six weeks in the steamer Protos is one of the'nioat important items of intelligence which has ever been received in the Colonies.- SkiU'-more'-.important announcement that the meat sold air w average of 6id per pound? 'Allowing.3d, or one klf, tor expenses, the result in the case of- 501b wethers: it-, encouraging. . It means a net prico of 14 7d per head, exclusive of fleece,' This for merino wethers would be as a permanency simply magnificent'. ' '■ Whafc '-sheep of mixed rbreedß will yield and of English pure breeds on this basis, can be safely left to the instructed imaginations of those who understand, aud are familiar with their ■fleshrbearing capabilities. We have allowed 3d "as the cost',' because that was, if we remember right, tfie price predicted aftertheStrathleven experiment. Besides, we observe that 2d-.is'the calculation on which the charterers.of the Great Eastern base their expectations. They will, of course, be likely to do things 'more cheaply than other people, on account of the scale of, their operations. It stands to reason that 20,000 litead of cattle and their meat can be handled relatively cheaper than a.smaller number., On the other hand they ...propose to. kill their meat for the' 2d calculated for expenses. They, do hot, ' moreover/ expect ..better. animalß than will average from 3001b to :4001b; which may be a good'result for Plate cattle, but in the case of Australa* 'aian or American cattle it' wouldfimply

Wean ruin. These things may tend to prove that the Argentine calculation of 2d leaves a considerable .-margin for Australians to_ count upon. But the calculation is only an estimate, on which it is hardly safe to count. The last news of the 1 rotoß, to the effect that the butter .fflttived after all quite sound and fresh, shows that the tjnie has come for develo- «• . a'Colonial trade in meat and perishable goods. Before' a company CpUld 09 raised in Christchurch some .precise information is wanted. Steps were, we remember, taken when the Strathleven experiment was in all mouths .to collect all. that was necessary. We 888111110 tliat it will be shortly forthcoming s the timn for the promoters of a company to strike; for the Protos has undoubtedly heated the iron,