FROZEN MEAT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 321, 6 July 1889, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT.

Mutton selling at 6|d per pound. What joy that must be to the denizens of the *" land of the golden fleece.” Things are taking a great change for the better in everything relating to the the frozen meat trade, and even though a permanent maintenance of the present prices cannot be relied on, the temporary rise will have a great bearing on the future. With improved machinery and a better understanding of the influences that make their weight felt on the London market, together with a removal of the prejudices that affect the sale and price of the meat, there is a grand prospect for the frozen meat trade. To show the margin there is for profit at the present rate mutton averages in Gisborne threepence per pound retail, which is less than half that ijow ruling in the London market. At one period there was little difference between the colonial and English price, added to which there were great losses owing- fa the defective freezing machinery J then there was apprehension as to rivalry from the River Plate district against which Australia could not successfully compete. But now the River Plate trade, bolstered up as it was by the bounty system, makes but a poor comparison with ours, though it was fit &as time believed it xyould drive New Zealand growers out of the market, and it is tolerably certain that when the present price again dwindles it will still remain a much more satisfactory figure than it has been known to sink to. In every way the prospect looks exceedingly bright, and the recent drought and floods in Australia ought to have a slight effect on the wool market. This district was worse than shut out from the great trade in wlisat, because while we had little to export there was a large import of

prices to be any increase in price of wool or meat, we must con® in for a large share of the profit.

A TBOULI4B case came before the Board at its last meeting. The solicitor wrote in reference to Captan Tucker’s claim against the Board (that gentleman representing Riperata Kabutia and others), suggesting that the ariount awarded less the costs allowed, be paid upon Captain Tucker executing a deed of indemnity against all claims by natives registered as owners of the several sewions intersected by the blockyard. The ChaiAa-m (Captain Tucker) said he had been rates, and he thought it was hardly tie proper course to sue a ratepayer to whom the Board was indebted in a much greater sum. He made no objection to the claim, but he did not think he should bo saddled with the costs of an action of the kind. The matter was left over for consideration at the next meeting.