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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Meat Trade

page 387

Meat Trade.

Including—Butchers, Fishmongers and Curers, Ham and Bacon Curers, Meat Freezing and Preserving Companies.

Adam, J. and Co. (John Adam and John Munro Fraser), Bacon Curers, Mechanics' Bay, Auckland; Branch at Tawhiti, Hawera, Taranaki. Established 1894. Telephone 211, P.O. Box 520. This flourishing business, which is one of the largest in the North Island, was first started by the present firm in 1894. They rented from the Auckland Freezing Company a large space in its building, and carried on the business there, preparatory to erecting the present spacious premises. The progress of the business has been phenomenal from the first, and throughout New Zealand and Australia there is an ever increasing demand for goods bearing the firm's well-known brand of “A.B.C.” In fact, the demand in Sydney is so great that the firm is often unable to execute the orders. It has, therefore, been compelled to open new works at Hawera, in Taranaki, modelled in every respect on the Auckland establishment. The Auckland factory is a large building of wood and iron, with 130 feet of frontage and a depth of 120 feet. There are cooling, drying, and smoking chambers, and the factory has a twelve-and-a-half ton Hercules refrigerating engine, with a spraying machine, driven by a Babcock and Wilcock water tube-boiler of the latest design. There are large cooling and freezing chambers for butter, meat, eggs, fish, and poultry, and all sorts of produce. Ice-making is a branch of the work, and ice is supplied at the nominal price of one halfpenny per pound. The firm exhibited at Sydney in 1900 at the Royal Show, and won first prize for hams; and in the same year won three first prizes at Dunedin for the finest hams and bacon; and first prize at the Normanby Show. The firm put through 11,000 pigs in the year 1899. Only the finest quality of dairy-fed pork is used, and the utmost care is exercised in curing.

Mr. John Adam, the Senior Partner, is a native of Devonshire, England, a county celebrated for its hams and bacon. He gained experience of bacon-curing in his native county, and was afterwards engaged for the greater part of seven years in the trade in London. Mr. Adam emigrated from England to Queensland, where he remained about a year before coming to New Zealand in 1888. On arriving in the colony he entered the service of the Christchurch Meat Company, largely engaged in meat freezing and bacon curing, and remained in its employment for six years. After spending a year in Wellington with Dy-mock and Co., bacon curers, he removed to Auckland in 1894, and started the present business, which has been developed through his exceptional knowledge and energy.

Mr. J. Adams.

Mr. J. Adams.

Mr. John Munro Fraser, the other Partner, and Manager of the firm's Hawera Branch, was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, and came to New Zealand in 1870 by the ship “Otago.” On his arrival at Dunedin he went up country to gain experience, but shortly afterwards joined the Government service. He received the appointment of Private Secretary to Sir Donald McLean, and remained with that gentleman until 1876. Mr. Fraser then left the Government service and started as a native agent in Hawke's Bay, a calling which he still follows, although a considerable portion of his time is taken up in looking after the interests of the firm at Hawera. He joined his present partner on the initiation of the Auckland business.

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.

Mr. A. Bevins, the present Manager, is a native of London. He first came to the Colony about 1875, but has since made several trips to the Old Country. Mr. Bevins took charge of the Auckland Freezing Works when they changed their ownership in 1899.

Fenton and Co. (William Albert Fenton, manager), Butchers, 20 Queen Street, Auckland. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Telephone, 487. The premises are situated at the bottom of Queen Street, in a three-storey imposing brick building. Besides doing an extensive cash business, the firm does a large trade in shipping circles, and supplies many of the vessels trading to Auckland. Messrs Fenton and Co. are also the contractors for the navy, which is a sufficient guarantee for the excellent quality of their meat. There are roomy premises, which include a commodious cellar used for salting and storing purposes. Messrs Fenton and Co. do a good trade with the leading hotels and boarding houses.

Messrs Fenton & Co.'s Premises.

Messrs Fenton & Co.'s Premises.

Mr. W. A. Fenton was born in London in 1841, and is a son of Mr. Francis H. Fenton, of an East Indian house. He was educated at Doncaster Grammar School and at Edenfield House, Yorkshire, and was apprenticed to the calling of a surveyor and engineer. In 1859 he came to Auckland, by the ship “Tornado,” and went farming at Matakana. After two years he came to Auckland, and established himself in business on the site where the Union Bank now stands. He then went to Coromandel, where he engaged in goldmining, and a year later he visited Australia. There he was for two or three years in business as a cattle dealer and grazier. After his return to Auckland Mr. Fen ton was foreman in the firm of Messrs Fisher and Co., of Queen Street, and took the management of that firm's outside business, which was carried out on a large scale, and employed nearly fifty men. On leaving the firm, he established his present business. Mr. Fenton is a Freemason, and is a Past District Grand Deacon; and at the installation of the first Grand Master in Auckland in the English Constitution, he was appointed Grand Pursuivant. He is also an Oddfellow of thirty years' standing in the American Order and the Manchester Unity. He is the father of coursing in Auckland, and owned and bred the celebrated dog “Sailor Boy,” the only Auckland dog that has ever won the much valued and envied Waterloo Cup.

Gray, George Henry, Butcher, Great North Road, Auckland. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, adjoining the premises. This business, said to be one of the oldest on the Great North Road, was established about 1877, and taken over by Mr. Gray in 1892. Small goods are manufactured on the premises in an adjoining room, where salting operations are carried on. Mr. Gray was born in Great Chesterford in 1854, educated and brought up in Essex, and learned the butchery business in Derbyshire with his father-in-law. In 1883 he came to New Zealand by the ship “Aorangi,” landed at Wellington, and subsequently removed to Auckland, where he was for three years in the employment of Mr. Hume, of Queen Street. He then entered into business as a family butcher in Karangahape Road, but four years later removed to the Great North Road, where he purchased his present business.

page 389

Hellaby, R. And W., Wholesale and Retail Family and Shipping Butchers, Tinned Meat Preservers, and Ice Manufacturers, Shortland Street, Auckland; Works, Richmond. Telephones 102, 111, and 859. This business was established over twenty years ago in a comparatively small retail way in Shortland Street. But in a few years the firm erected slaughter yards and extensive works at Richmond, and about twenty years ago purchased the Shortland Street property, where the present premises are situated. From that time, the business rapidly expanded, and now (1901) Messrs R. and W. Hellaby are the largest butchering firm in New Zealand, and the largest and most complete private firm in the colonies. As the trade continued to increase, they added meat preserving, bacon curing, freezing, and ice manufacturing departments, and some time back were obliged to purchase a further tract of land at the back of the Shortland Street buildings, in Chancery Lane. The main premises consist of two two-storey buildings, with cellarage, and have a frontage on Shortland Street of about 105 feet, and a depth of over 176 feet. The front portion of the ground floor is utilised for the retail and delivery shop, and for offices. Further back are the departments for meat preserving, ice manufacturing, tinning, and the freezing chambers. The premises are lighted with electricity throughout, by means of a 70-light dynamo. The properly at the back of the Shortland Street premises has a frontage of about 114 feet, and a depth of 184 feet, extending right back to Victoria Quadrant. On this have been erected stables, corn-sheds, wagon-houses, etc., and also a fine two-storey brick building, with a frontage of 40 feet, and a depth of about 100 feet. The ground floor, which is of concrete throughout, is used principally for corned beef storage, and the upstairs portion for the storage of bone dust and manure. The works at Richmond cover about three acres and a half, and are complete in every particular. They include a boiling-down establishment, bone-mills, fellmongery, tannery, stables, etc. The Richmond property comprises over 100 acres, and is utilised for paddocks, slaughter yards, etc. The firm slaughters weekly, on an average, over 200 head of cattle, about 1000 sheep and lambs (in addition to which it receives a large quantity of pork from the country), and from forty to fifty calves. It gives regular employment to some 200 men, and keeps about forty horses, and seventeen waggons and carts.

Knox, William, Wholesale and Retail Fish Curer, Freeman's Bay, Auckland. The fish are thoroughly cured before they are permitted to leave the establishment, and the process is supervised by Mr. Knox himself; schnapper, kaipara, and mullet are cured in very large quantities. Mr. Knox was born in Ireland, and is said to be the oldest fisherman in Auckland. He came to New Zealand in October, 1847. At the age of eleven he went to sea. After arriving in New Zealand he enlisted as a volunteer, served through the Waikato war in 1865–6, and was present at Rangiriri, and other engagements. At the close of the war Mr. Knox took to selling fish on the wharf and in the market, and after a successful run of five or six years, one of which he spent at the Thames, he established himself in business.

Lewis, Walter, Family Butcher, corner of Victoria and Chapel Streets, Auckland Bankers, Union Bank of Australia, Ltd. Mr. Lewis, who resides on the premises, took over the business in 1889. It had been established about fifteen years previously, and is carried on on a cash basis by Mr Lewis, who is now doing a steadily increasing trade. Mr. Lewis is a cash buyer of live stock in the open markets, and as the business is economically and systematically conducted, he claims to sell at prices that defy competition. All small goods are made directly under the watchful eye of the proprietor, who is ever on the alert to please his numerous customers. Mr. Lewis was born in Gloucestershire, England, and is a son of Mr. Joseph Lewis. He came to New Zealand by the barque “Easterhill” in 1881, and landed at Auckland, or eighteen months he was with Mr. John Goss, of Queen Street, and for about eight years at the well-known establishment of Messrs R. and W. Hellaby. Mr. Lewis has been secretary of the butchers' sports committee for some time past, and acts similarly for the master butchers' sports and picnic committee. He is well and favourably known as an active member of St. Paul's choir, the Choral Society, and the Liedertafel.

McElwain, George, Family Butcher, corner of Nixon Street, and the Great North Road, Auckland. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This business was established in 1888 by the present proprietor. The premises consist of a two-storey wooden building, well adapted in every respect for Mr. McElwain's business. Mr. McElwain is a cash purchaser of live stock in the open markets, and has of late considerably increased his business connection. He was born in the South of Ireland in 1855, and followed farming on his father's land. In 1877 he came to Auckland with his wife and child, by the ship “Oxford,” and settled in Mangapai, where he successfully carried on farming for nearly six years. He, however, removed into Auckland, where his family could have the advantage of a better education. Whilst at Mangapai he devoted the greater part of his time to the breeding and rearing of stock, chiefly suitable for the trade. Mr. McElwain is an Oddfellow, and takes great interest in all outdoor sports. In his younger days he played as a three-quarter in the football field, but he now devotes whatever leisure time he possesses to shooting and fishing. He is married to a daughter of Captain Patterson.

Norgrove, Charles, Family Butcher, Three Lamps, Ponsonby, Auckland. Private residence, John Street, Ponsonby. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Norgrove settled in Ponsonby in 1896, and purchased the business of Mr. Noah Wood, who had established it in 1869. After carrying on the business very successfully for two years, he then purchased the well-established business of Mr. Arthur Knight, and with the combined businesses has succeeded in obtaining the finest trade in the prosperous suburb of Ponsonby. The premises are all that can be desired for the effectual carrying on of a first-class trade, and the machinery is all of the latest pattern, and thoroughly up to date. The ice room, too, is greatly appreciated by the general public, and is of great importance in a climate like that of Auckland. Mr. Nor-grove was born in Oxfordshire, England, and came to New Zealand in 1878. He is a thorough tradesman in every branch of his business, is careful that his numerous patrons may receive their goods clean and promptly, and strives to give the utmost satisfication. Mr. Norgrove is an enthusiastic follower of hounds in the hunting field; and he piloted page 390 the Butchers' Foodball Club through the season of 1899, without suffering a defeat. He is also chairman of the present Butchers' Picnic Committee, and is a popular man in all circles.

Williams, Frank, Fish, Oyster, Game, Poultry and Fruit Dealer, Queen Street, Auckland. Established 1867. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Telephone 177; P.O. Box 297. Curing establishment, Auckland Fish Market, Railway Wharf. Mr. Williams has ten boats engaged in fishing, mostly in the Hauraki Gulf, and daily receives fresh supplies of Thames flounders, schnapper, mullet, trevalli, etc. He supplies the Union Steamship Company, Shaw, Savill and Company, New Zealand Shipping Company, Huddart, Parker's Line, the Tyser Line, and others. The curing establishment is of brick and three storeys in height. Mr. Williams was born near Naples in 1845. At the age of fifteen he left for America, and led a seafaring life until 1867, when he came to Auckland, New Zealand, and started in the fish business in a very small way; but he has gradually worked his way up, until his business is now the most successful of its kind in New Zealand. He has won several prizes at the Dunedin and Launceston Exhibitions for tinned, smoked and fresh fish. Mr. Williams is a member of the Druids, Foresters, Oddfellows and Masonic Lodges

Young, Walter, Family Butcher, corner of Karangahape Road and Pitt Street, Auckland. Telephone, 838. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, East Street. Mr. Young's building is of brick, of three lofty stories, and is on one of the best business sites in Auckland. It has two frontages, together of nearly fifty feet. The premises are replete with all the latest labour saving appliances, and include all the machinery required in the trade. Adjoining the shop is the cutting-up room, which is also used for salting and other purposes. The delivering is carried out under the direction of Mr. Young's right-hand man, “Henry,” who is an acknowledged favourite among his many customers. Mr. Young is a cash purchaser in the open markets, carries on his trade on strictly cash principles, and is doing a good steady business. He was born in Auckland in 1871, and is a son of the late Mr. John Price Young, plumber. Mr. Young went to his trade at an early age, and was for four years with Mr. Cochrane, three years with Mr. Knight, and five years with Messrs Fisher and Co. He then went to Sydney, but remained there only nine months, and returning to New Zealand, he was in the employment of Messrs R. and W. Hellaby for a short while till he established his present business.

Christian, Nathaniel, formerly a butcher in Wellington Street, Auckland, but now a commercial traveller, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1875, and was educated there. In 1890 he came to the colony, by the s.s. “Coptic,” and after five years' experience he entered into business. Mr. Christian takes an enthusiastic interest in coursing.

North Shore, from Queen Street Wharf.

North Shore, from Queen Street Wharf.