Newspaper Article 2017 – Port left freezing works out in cold

Port left freezing works out in cold

Michael Fowler
Historic Hawke’s Bay

Napier’s answer to the Hastings-based Nelson Bros Tomoana Freezing Works was the North British and Hawke’s Bay Freezing Works.

The Hawke’s Bay Herald reported: “Those of our readers who were acquainted with the Western Spit [Westshore] when it was the home of seagulls and shags will be surprised to see the change since spade was put to work on what was once the most barren and wild shingle banks in this colony, the Rangatira Reef.

“The pluck of the promoters of this company should arouse the sympathy and admiration of every settler and sheep farmer in this district, as a monopoly in any line of business is not accepted as of general benefit.”

The newspaper was, of course, referring to the 1885-refrigerated Tomoana Works in Hastings.

The boilers for the new operation were brought in from Wellington, and at the time were the biggest made by the supplying company.

The freezing chambers were from Haslam in Derby, England.

Te Mata Station’s innovative John Chambers had come up with his own refrigeration system, which received a US patent in 1883.

He went to England in 1885 where it was built and showcased.

William Nelson wanted to use Chambers’ refrigerator for the Napier works, but delays in its availability ruled that out and meant he opted for a Haslam.

The 1887 tender to build the works on land leased from the Harbour Board was won by Napier firm Glendinning and Griffin for £8167 (2017: $1.6 million) and was financed from London through its Napier agent and manager William Kinross-White.

The North British and Hawke’s Bay Freezing Works opened in March 1888, and the first refrigerated shipment of meat was sent to England on the SS Coptic that month.

Livestock from the south had to be transported to the works over the Westshore Bridge from Ahuriri.

The collapse of that bridge about 1910 meant livestock could no longer be brought in from the south until a rail link reached the works in 1919.

When the Breakwater Port (the present-day Port of Napier) was completed in 1893, this began to cause a gradual erosion of the Rangatira Reef, until the North British and Hawke’s Bay Freezing Works found itself almost isolated on a shingle spit.

This, of course, left the works with no room to expand its operation.

The North British and Hawke’s Bay Freezing Works faced its stiffest competition from the Hawke’s Bay Farmers (Whakatu), which opened in 1915.

An offer was made to the latter company to buy out the North British works in 1923 for a sum of £11,000 ($1.1 million), but this was turned down.

After struggling to stay afloat, the North British and Hawke’s Bay Freezing Works was forced to close in 1924.

Its buildings remained until removed in 1933 (the 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake had badly damaged them).

During the lowering of Whakarire Ave in 1958, one of the larger boilers from the North British and Hawke’s Bay Freezing Works was uncovered and removed.

The other large boiler was apparently found in a garden property, but it was not removed, and instead was covered up.

Michael Fowler ([email protected]) is a chartered accountant and heritage officer at the Art Deco Trust.

“The bridge collapse meant livestock could no longer be brought in.”

Photo caption – TOP START: The North British and Hawke’s Bay Freezing Works on the Western Spit (Westshore), looking towards Napier Hill about the year 1900. After opening operations in March 1888, the works sent its first refrigerated shipment of meat off to the United Kingdom that same month. However, it closed in 1924 after financial struggles.
PHOTO/COLLECTION OF HAWKE’S BAY MUSEUMS TRUST, RUAWHARO TA-U-RANGI 2362 B