160 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [May 
within a few weeks of each other, and neither was ever heard of again. It 
is supposed that they struck icebergs off Cape Horn. 
Mention has been made of Mr. Thomas Brydone. A cairn has been 
erected on the Totara estate in memorial of the important part he took 
in the successful pioneer shipment. 
In the thirty years from May, 1882, to 1912, 78,000,000 carcases have 
been shipped. In the four years 1913 to 1917, 35,700,000 carcases have 
been shipped, making a total of 113,700,000 carcases shipped ; and also 
during the last five years over 2,000,000 quarters of beef have been shipped 
from New Zealand, and have been handled by the retailer in Great Britain. 
The first shipment by steamer was 8,506 carcases, in the “ Marsala,” 
in 1883. 
The first freezing-works in New Zealand were erected at Burnside, near 
Dunedin, in 1881, and other works at Oamaru soon followed, both being 
built by the New Zealand Refrigerating Company. This concern, although 
the pioneer company, never reached large proportions, and in 1905 it was 
absorbed by the Christchurch Meat Company. Mr. John Roberts, of 
Dunedin, and- Mr. Brydone were both directors, and always took a leading 
part in the development of the trade ; and among other directors were 
Messrs. W. J. M. Larnach and E. B. Cargill. It will be noted that although 
Otago started the frozen-meat industry it has now dropped far behind, 
and is easily outstripped by Canterbury, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, and 
Auckland. 
The establishment of freezing-works in Canterbury was initiated at a 
meeting held in the rooms of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral 
Association on the 11th December, 1881. There were present Messrs. 
John Grigg, H. P. Murray-Aynsley, J. D. Enys, G. Hart, D. G. Holmes, 
John Cooke, R. and P. Westenra, E. S. Harley, J. McArthur, A. M. Clarke, 
J. MacFarlane, and the Hons. E. Richardson and Matthew Holmes. 
Mr. Grigg gave a number of particulars as to the increase of sheep in 
the province, and urged that the freezing industry should be undertaken, 
prophesying that it would prove one of the greatest blessings not only 
to the province, but also to the colony as a whole. He concluded by 
moving that a meat and produce export company be formed. On the 
15th March, 1882, the company (known as the Canterbury Frozen Meat 
Company) was registered, with 2,000 shares of £10 each, a capital 
which was shortly doubled; Mr. John Grigg being first chairman of 
directors and Mr. Waymouth secretary. Belfast was the site selected for 
the works, and contracts were at once let for the necessary buildings, and 
machinery was imported from the United Kingdom. That no time was 
lost is evidenced by the fact that the works were completed and operations 
commenced on the 16th February, 1883. The first shipment was made 
by the s.s. “ British King,” which sailed from Lyttelton on the 8th April 
of the same year with 6,198 carcases of Belfast mutton on board. At 
first the daily killing-capacity was only about 250 carcases. This has now 
been increased to 100 cattle and 6,000 sheep per day. The company also 
have works at Fairfield and Pareora. 
The Christchurch Meat Company erected works at Islington, with a 
killing-capacity of 500 sheep per day (see fig. 1). These works are now 
capable of handling 7,000 sheep and 50 cattle per day, and are most 
up-to-date in every respect. This company was the first to pay particular 
attention to the by-products of the animal, such as skins, blood, &c., which 
now are of very great value, everything being worked up into some 
