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49
Beep.— A vessel arrived from the River Plate in March. The meat in No. 2 lower
hold, consisting of about 300 tons of Beef, had been damaged by dock and river water,
owing to flooding of the hold. Notice of detention was served.
By arrangement this meat was released to various firms of licensed fat boilers
under suitable guarantees.
Chilled Beef from Australia.— About 298 quarters of chilled Beef arrived
from Australia in February. The discharge was watched by an officer of this
Authority.
On the whole, a great improvement in condition was noticed as compared with
previous shipments.
Mutton and Lamb seized and destroyed, 15,791 carcases, 263 tons, 4 cwts. 1 qr.,
13 lbs. (including 253 tons, 4 cwts., 1 qr., 7 lbs. sent to outside contractors).
Mutton.— A vessel arrived from New Zealand on the 5th November. Water
had found its way to No. 2 lower hold containing Mutton. Notice of detention was
served in the case of about 18,170 carcases.
The Salvage Association had the matter in hand, and the badly damaged Mutton
was loaded direct into barses and released to a firm of fat boilers under guarantee.
Part of the meat, about 10.000 carcases, was sent to dock store to be reconditioned.
The condemned portions of these carcases will be released to the same firm of fat
boilers as the reconditioning is completed.
Pork.— A careful examination was made of a percentage of pig carcases landed in
the district, the number of carcases examined being 4,991. No pig carcase was
condemned on account of disease.
Attention was drawn to the condition of pigs arriving from South Africa. In
some cases the glands were missing, and the carcases were dirty.
Pork seized and destroyed, 44 carcases and parts ex 896, 3 tons, 2 cwts. 1 qr.,
8 lbs. (including 2 tons, 10 cwts., 3 qrs., 20 lbs. sent to outside contractors).
Actinomycosis in Ox Tongues.— A percentage examination was made of every
consignment of Ox Tongues arriving in the district. About 308 consignments were put
into dock store, where a careful examination of some 60,659 tongues was made by
vour officers; 254 tongues were found to be affected with Actinomycosis. A general
improvement was noticed; in three cases only was the disease found to exceed 2 per cent.
A consignment of Ox Tongues from South Africa was found to be very dirty, the
tongues also being in a state of decomposition.
No tongue roots arrived in the district during the year.
Veal seized and destroyed, 9 bags and parts ex 20 carcases, 7 cwts. 1 qr.
Veal from New Zealand.— The importation of boned frozen Veal from
New Zealand was the subject of correspondence and discussion in connection with an
enquiry from the New7 Zealand Government Office.
The method of packing the carcases was not satisfactory in some of the nine
consignments which arrived between September and December. The meat was,
however, found to be of a good colour and acceptable.
Part of one consignment was examined at Smithfield in September, when a Medical
Officer of the Ministry of Health was present.
In later consignments the method of packing improved.
The attachment of a special Government Veterinary Certificate to each package
is under consideration for future shipments.