THE BEOZEN MEAT TRADE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9542, 10 November 1881, Page 3

THE BEOZEN MEAT TRADE.

(Glasgow News, Aug. 20.)

The conveyance to this country of refrigerated beef and mutton by steamer from Australia has already been accomplished with success, and an attempt is now being made to bring, fresh meat for the home market from New Zealand in sailing vessels. The experiment is being made on board the Dnnedin, one of Messrs Patrick Henderson and Company's Albion line of sailing ships. A powerful refrigerating apparatus has been fitted up on hoard that vessel by the Bell-Coleman Mechanical Refrigeration Company. Glasgow, and the results j obtained at the official inspection yesterday demonstrate that, provided no mishap occurs to the refrigerating paratus, meat, or indeed any commodity which in ordinary conditions is perishable, may be preserved for any length ot time. The refrigerating machine on board the Dunedin is capable of circulating about 00,000 cubic feet of air per hour, and being reduced to a temperature of from 50 to 70 degrees below zero in the box. The refrigerating chamber on board the Dunedin is one of the largest which has yet been provided on any vessel. Its capacity is 400 tons ship measurement, and it is lined with a non-conducting susbstance twelve inches thick. In the refrigerating machine which has been designed by Mr i oleniau, all the improvements wl ich past experience has suggested have been incorporated. It has been partly built by Messrs Denny and Company, Dumbarton, and partly by Messrs B. and W. Anderson, Finnieston ; and its presence on board the Dunedin is due to the New Zealand and Australian Land Co., who have chartered the refrigerating chamber for the first voyage. The results of the official inspection yesterday proved the efficiency of the refrigerator. The temperature at 2.30, when the experiments were commenced, was in the centre of the chamber 122. degs. Fahrenheit, as recorded on a suspended thermometer. At 3.30, at 36ft from the opening of the chamber, the temperature was 18 degs. Fah., while in a thermometer hanging in the bulkhead, the centre of the chamber, the temperature was 50 degs. Fah., and on the other, suspended a few feet from the opening, the temperature was 5 degs. below zero At 4.30 the temperature was found to be 6 degs. below zero, as recorded by a thermometer suspended in the centre of the chamber, and 27 degs. at the point farthest from the aperture giving admission to tho refreigerated air. At a distance ot five or six feet from the opening the thermometer suspended from the bulkhead gave 12 degs. below zero, while the temperature in the box from which the current enters the chamber was 58 degs. below zero. The lowest temperature obtained during the first series of experiments was oo degs. below zero, although it is claimed for^the apparatus that a temperature of 70 degs. below zero can readily be obtained. The result of the experiment which is being made on board the Dunedin is one which will he watched with much iutereston thh voyage home. The refrigerating chamber, of which the carrying capacity is 200 tons, or 7000 sheep, will, ns arranged by the company who are making the experiment, be fully occupied. The results of yesterday's experiments are that the temperature necessary to preserve the mutton fresh can be continually maintained ; and the question whether the trade can be so conducted as to leave a profit for those who are promoting it, will be indicated by the result of the first voyage. The Dunedin, which is under the command of Captain Whitson, leaves Glasgow on Wednesday of next week.