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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

The Auckland Freezing Works

The Auckland Freezing Works (A. Bevins, manager), Auckland. In 1899 the business of these works was taken over by a private syndicate, with headquarters in London. The storage capacity has been largely increased; a slaughterhouse built at Wester-field, and a large manure manufacturing and fellmongery plant added since the works were taken over by the present proprietors. The business is carried on in commodious premises between the railway line and the railway wharf. At all seasons of the year, the company is kept busily employed, but when the weather is hottest, and the keeping of meat, fish, game,
Auckland Freezing Co.'s Offices.

Auckland Freezing Co.'s Offices.

page 388 and butter fresh in the ordinary stores is impossible, the cool chambers of the company are invaluable, and are filled to their utmost capacity with perishable goods of this class from local tradesmen and hotels. The machinery includes a new Hercules seventy-ton ammonia machine, on the direct expansion system, capable of freezing 1600 sheep in twenty-four hours, and cool storage is provided for about 50,000 carcases of sheep, as well as for other goods. Under the cold air system, the regulation of the temperatures had to be adjusted in the rooms themselves, but under the new system the temperatures are regulated from the engine-room, and are thus under the control of the man in charge. So conveniently are the works arranged that the trucks from the company's slaughterhouse at Westerfield, eight or nine miles distant, come into the premises and discharge their freight of carcases direct into the freezing rooms. Again, when a cargo is being shipped, the trucks conveying the carcases run from the freezing chamber straight down to the oceangoing steamer's side. Thus, there is no risk to the mutton from unnecessary handling, while shipments are made without confusion and with exceptional expedition. Sections of the premises are leased by private firms for bacon-curing and condensed milk industries. Eight tons of ice can be produced by the plant in twenty-four hours. It is made from the city water supply, boiled and filtered, and a great trade in this commodity is done during the summer time with the shipping, the hotels and provision stores, and private individuals. The ice is delivered free at the nominal cost of one-halfpenny per pound.