MEAT PRESERVING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3211, 29 May 1871, Page 3

MEAT PRESERVING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE INDEPENDENT,

Sic, — As a resident in New Zealand I am much infcereated in the queation of meat preserving, which ia now exciting so much attention, aa I am convinced thafc noinduafcry could be started that will tend more to fche welfare and prosperity of the colony. Having had some little experience in meat preserving oompaniea, being one of the promotera of one of the moafc succeaaful now in operation in Viotoria, and being accustomed to atock for many yeara, I may perhapß be enabled to add a little to the information now posaeaaed on the subject — and would therefore make a few remarks on your leader in thia day's iaaue, and Mr Williams' letter.

Firat wifch reapect to the two proposed companies. I fully endorse what you have written on the subject. One will pay well, two will only injure each other. In the course of a fow yeara, as the country becomea aettled nnd improved, thero will in all probability be ample room for two or more, but at preaenfc I do not think fcho East Coaafc would furnish more tban a sufficient number of fafc stock to jkeep one properly organiaed company employed. In a meat preaerving company there must be a certain number of skilled workmen who can be employed only in their particular departments. To keep them occupied, the establishment must preserve from 2,000 to ? ~00 sheep per week, or a correpponding t^nfcifcy of cattle, aay from 180 fco 200 head, n fcho Eaafc Coaafc, from the Hufct to Nnpiersupply a sufficient number to keep two companies going ? I think nofc. The next question is, the site to be selected. The Upper Hutfc or on fhe other aide of fche Rimntaka ? No one who had any experience in fche matter, and waa nofc locally interested, would hesitate one moment in deciding on the latter. Mr Williama' arguments in ita favor are I thinkfunanswerable. I will add one or two more. It is well known among those

accustomed to fat stook thafc every day's travelling after the firsfc twenty- four hours depreciates the quality of the meat, tho animals becoming more or leaa feveriah. It may be so slight aa nofc to bo appreciable whon tho meat is eaten fresh, but with auch a favorable climate as we havo in New Zealand our preserved meata ought to top the market in Europe. It ia therefore highly desirable that the animals should be in as favorable a condition as possible when killed. In New Zealand stock will not travel as in Australia, aa, owing to the succulent nature of fche feed, they do not become so hard. Fifty milea driving in New Zealand would take more out of a sheep than five hundred would out; of one fattened on the salt buah of Australia. It ia the same in the western diatriet of "Victoria in the Bpring of the year, when the feed ia similar to what it ia in New Zealand throughout fche year. The coat of tho carriage of the preserved meat, &c, from, aay Featheraton, would be trifling compared to tho loss in quality and quantity of meat iv driving the animals to the Hutfc. There is an idea prevalent thafc preserved meat is injured by land carriage. I conaider it unfounded. The Echuca Meat Preserving Company sends its meat by rail from the Murray to Melbourne, and it ia not found to be injured, and certainly travelling by railway thafc distance would havo more effect than by waggon from fcho Wairarapa. Trusting thia matter will be fully ventilated before any deoided steps are taken. — I havo, &c, K. Wellingfcon, 27th May, 1871;