1918.] The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 159 
To Henry and James Bell and J. J. Coleman belong the honour of 
landing in London, in 1880, the first shipment of frozen meat from Australia, 
by means of a refrigerating-machine called the “ Bell-Coleman.” 
In 1880 the “ Strathleven ” arrived in London with 40 tons of beef and 
mutton from Sydney and Melbourne that had been frozen on board. This 
shipment arrived in excellent condition, costing IJd. to 2d. per pound in 
Australia, and realizing 4Jd. to 5d. per pound for the beef and 5jd. to 6d. 
for the mutton in London, and may be looked on as the pioneer shipment 
from Australia. 
We cannot overlook the name of the great French engineer and scientist, 
Charles Tellier, who was instrumental in bringing a shipment of meat from 
Buenos Ayres to Rouen in 1877. This was the first meat cargo carried 
through the tropics under refrigeration. Tellier invented the ammonia- 
absorption and ammonia-compression refrigerating-machines. Like many 
others who were first in the field in this industry, M. Tellier died almost in 
poverty. 
Turning now to New Zealand, we must give the palm for the first ship¬ 
ment to a company of Scotchmen—the New Zealand and Australian Land 
Company, of Edinburgh. Mr. W. S. Davidson was general manager, and 
Mr. Thomas Brydone was the company’s superintendent in New Zealand. 
Realizing the need for providing an outlet for the surplus stock in New 
Zealand, and the success of the initial shipments from Australia, this com¬ 
pany arranged with the Albion Shipping Company to fit up the sailing- 
ship “ Dunedin ” (1,200 tons, Captain Whitson) for the purpose of carrying 
a cargo of frozen meat from New Zealand. As this was the first shipment 
from this country, I will give a few more interesting details. There being 
no freezing-works in New Zealand, it was decided to kill the stock on land 
and then freeze on board, and on the 7th December, 1881, at Port Chalmers, 
Mr. Davidson and Mr. Brydone personally stowed on the “ Dunedin ” 
the first frozen sheep from New Zealand. After several delays caused by 
breakdown of machinery the “ Dunedin ” sailed on the 11th February, 
1882, and arrived in London docks on the 24th May, after a passage of 
ninety-eight days. The trials and worries for the captain in this experi¬ 
mental voyage must have been severe. It is related that when in the 
tropics the temperature got so high in the chambers that Captain Whitson 
decided, as a last resort, to alter the circulation of the air. To do this he 
had to crawl down the main trunk; and while cutting fresh openings he 
was overcome by the frost, and had to be rescued by the mate crawling 
in behind him and fastening a rope to his legs, by which he was pulled out 
of the air-trunk. 
The “ Dunedin’s ” cargo consisted of 4,460 sheep and 449 lambs, and 
it is interesting to compare this with the 130,000 carcases carried by some 
of the fine insulated steamers that before the war left New Zealand almost 
weekly. The shipment was sold at the Smithfield Market within a fort¬ 
night of arrival, and was pronounced “ as perfect as meat could be.” 
Mention of this shipment was even made in the House of Lords. The 
mutton and lamb realized about 6jd. per pound, and the total charges were 
a little over 3d. per pound; and, as the stock was only worth about 11s. 
per head in the Dunedin market, there was a net return of £1 Is. 9d. per 
head, which amounted to about 100 per cent, profit on the shipment. 
The success of the “ Dunedin ” led to another Albion fast sailer, the 
“ Marlborough,” being fitted out, the former carrying 9,000 carcases and 
the latter 13,000. After about six voyages both vessels left New Zealand 
