one of the most important and successful undertakings devised by the go-ahead Colonists.

From this it will be seen that the first essential to the development of the internal resources of New Zealand, easy and economic transport, had been furnished. During the eventful year of 1875 no less than 18,324 immigrants were introduced by the Government and public works vastly extended.

Another important event in the history of the Company was witnessed in 1879 by the charter of

The First Direct Steamer

the "Stad Haarlem," to convey 600 emigrants to the Colony, which was attracting an increasing share of public attention as an eligible field for British Settlers.

Between 1877 and 1882 the New Zealand Shipping Company carried 20,000 persons to the Colony, and the Directors finding the demand for space exceeding their power of supply increased the share capital to £1,000,000 in order that they might efficiently respond to the expansion.

Up to this time sheep rearing had been chiefly carried on for the purpose of wool growing, of which 60,000,000 lbs. were then being annually exported. All this however was destined to be revolutionized.

The New Zealand Shipping Company which had done so much to foster the trade of the Colony, effected one of the most conspicuous transformations which any industry has experienced by the introduction of refrigerating machinery for

The Carriage of Frozen Meat.

The sailing ship "Mataura" was fitted with refrigerators at the cost of several thousands of pounds, and to test the page 58 reliability of this new development of mechanical science, quantities of fish and birds were shipped in London and delivered in the Colony in perfect condition. A return cargo of frozen beef and mutton at a freight of 2½d. per lb. established the success of the experiment though the financial result did not augur well.

In this connection it is interesting to compare the present rate of one penny per lb., with the gloomy fore cast of the Otago Times of July 21st, 1882, which remarked: "It is a question whether or not sailing ships can carry the meat under threepence per lb."

To judge the effect of the installation of refrigerators, upon which the Company has since expended £128,000, it need only be borne in mind that the new outlet for sheep (which had hitherto been boiled down for the tallow), led the farmers to greatly increase their flocks, resulting in a still larger production of wool. The annual exports of the clip rose from sixty to ninety million lbs. in five years, and the out-turn of frozen meat from 15,000 to 402,000 cwt. In addition to this marvellous expansion of the wool and meat trades resulting from the adoption of the new refrigerating machinery, a further new and important industry sprung up in the shipment of dairy produce, nearly 600,000 cwts. of cheese and butter being shipped annually to the United Kingdom.

The service thus rendered by the New Zealand Shipping Company was cordially acknowledged on all sides, and the Australian Times gave expression to the public feeling when in commenting upon the growth of the frozen meat trade it said: "The New Zealand Shipping Company has been very largely instrumental in creating this splendid addition to the national industries."

It may be remarked in conclusion that one cannot gauge the ultimate development of the frozen meat industry, as each successive return shows a substantial increase; the page 59 year ending June, 1892 reaching a total export from New Zealand of 104,443,498 lbs. This is greatly attributable to the disappearance of the prejudice which at one time existed from the popular fallacy that the meat must to a certain extent—however imperceptible—perish during its transport to England. It is curious, however, that this erroneous belief should have gained credence, considering that almost intact specimens of Mammoth have after many hundreds and even thousands of years been discovered in Siberia standing upright in the ice and frozen soil with their skin, muscles, viscera and bones well preserved, the eyes even still staring from their sockets.

The next step in the progressive policy of the Directors was an intimation to Government that the New Zealand Shipping Company were prepared to enter into negotiations with the view to the establishment of

A Line of Direct Mail Steamers

between the mother country and the Colony, or as the Chairman at the succeeding annual meeting characteristically announced that "if direct steam communication with home is to come, this Company should be the one to provide it."

That this was considered a hazardous venture is shown by the remarks of Sir Dillon Bell, the Colonial Treasurer, who stated "It would be far better not to start the service at all than to start it and find that those who had taken it up were not strong enough to carry it through."

This elicited the more confident response that "If the New Zealand Shipping Company should take it up they are essentially the people who have the skill, experience, and strength to conduct it successfully." This was soon demonstrated by

A Monthly Mail Contract

being undertaken, and the best evidence of its satisfactory performance is the fact that the Company received bonuses to as much as £10,000 in one year in excess of the subsidy for arriving in advance of contract dates.

To fulfil the heavy obligations the Company had incurred,

Five 15-Knot Steamers

of the highest class, namely:—the" Tongariro," "Aorangi," and "Ruapehu," of 4,163 tons, and the "Kaikoura" and "Rimutaka," of 4,473 tons each, and 3,600 effective horse power, were ordered from the eminent firm of John Elder & Co., the first being launched on the 22nd August, 1883.

Pending this important augmentation of their fleet the requirements were met by chartering swift steamers, and in January, 1883, the "British King," of 3.559 tons reg., was despatched as the pioneer. The voyage was performed in 49 days, but since then the "Rimutaka" and "Aorangi" have covered the distance in 39 days 3 hours, whilst the "Kaikoura" has run home in 36 days 10 hours.

It is interesting to note that all of these fine ships, built especially for the New Zealand trade, are running at the present time, as throughout its career

The Company has Never Lost a Steamer.

This immunity is the more remarkable when it is considered that the Company's own and chartered steamers run nearly 550,000 miles per annum, or including the Sailing Ships, 1,140,000 miles.

This good fortune, combined with the liberal scale upon which the operations are conducted, accounts for the page 61 popularity the Company enjoys amongst travellers and the shipping community.

To meet the growing necessities of the trade the magnificent 14½-knot steamer "Ruahine," of 6,127 tons, has recently been added from the yard of Messrs. William Denny and Bros., Dumbarton, also the cargo steamers "Waikato," of 4,766 tons, "Tekoa," of 4,050 tons, and "Otarama," of 3,808 tons. The Company now owns steamers aggregating 40,187 tons, sailing vessels to the extent of 10,452 tons, whilst the five Ducal steamers running in the Company's service contribute a further 16,379 tons.

It will be seen that the New Zealand Shipping Company holds

The Unique Position

of being of Colonial birth and thus inseparably associated with the true interests and progress of the Colony. By close attention therefore to the comforts and safety of passengers and the maritime requirements of an expanding trade, it confidently relies upon commanding a continuance of the support and popularity it has so long enjoyed.

Interesting Facts about the New Zealand Shipping Company.

The Company was founded in Christchurch, N.Z., in November, 1872; was registered there in January, 1873, and commenced business in London in the following April

The Company possesses the swiftest and best appointed steamers in the New Zealand trade.

The "Tongariro" has run three times round the world, including all stoppages for loading, discharging, &c, in 11 months 11 days.

So rapid was the growth of the Company that during the second, third and fourth years of its existence it despatched 150 ships to the Colony, carrying 28,670 souls, 15,938 of whom were carried during 1874.

The Company landed 2,000 tons of Dairy Produce in London last year.

During the year ending June, 1891, it carried 750,000 carcases of mutton and about 4,500,000 lbs. of beef.

During the last ten years it has spent about £1,250,000 in steamers and refrigerating machinery for the frozen meat trade.

The fleet carries 1,098 hands, their wages amounting to £60,000 per annum.

The annual expenditure exceeds £500,000 per annum.

Its steamers consume considerably over 100,000 tons of coal per annum.

The Company's steamers have all been built specially for the New Zealand trade and possess the best accommodation for passengers.

The Company's Rules state:—"The Purser is enjoined to lose no opportunity to meet and anticipate the wants and requirements of passengers. He must constantly study the best means to provide a tasteful and liberal table."

The Cabins are heated during cold weather.