[227] The following is from the patent specification of this machinery:
“Letters patent to John Meiklejon, of Westfield Iron Works, Dalkeith, in the County of Mid-Lothian, Scotland, for the invention of new or improved machinery and appliances to be used in hoisting, removing, dividing, and hanging on hooks, taking off these hooks again, and loading carcasses and other bodies in abattoirs, carcass and meat markets, and other places.”
“The machinery and appliances above referred to enable the operations above named to be performed without the necessity of the butchers touching the meat. Also enables carcasses to be conveyed from abattoirs to carcass market on a travelling hoist (hereafter described), same being provided with rows of fixed jointed hooks or loops, attached to rails on which the hoist runs, so that the travelling hoist is enabled to hang the carcasses or bodies on to such hooks or loops. Also enables a butcher to hang a carcass on any of these hooks or loops, and pick them off again, and load on a vehicle, without moving or touching any of the other carcasses hanging on the other hooks. Also enables all operations to be performed, from hoisting when killed to loading when sold or removed from market.”
[228] Vide ‘Report on the New Cattle Market and Abattoirs proposed to be erected at Carolina Port, Dundee,’ by William Mackison, F.R.I.B. A., &c.
CHAPTER XXIX.
MARKETS.
Under certain conditions urban authorities are empowered to provide markets in their district by the following clause of the Public Health Act 1875:
“Where an urban authority are a local board or improvement commissioners, they shall have power, with the consent of the owners and ratepayers of their district, expressed by resolution passed in manner provided by Schedule III. to this Act, and where the urban authority are a town council they shall have power, with the consent of two thirds of their number, to do the following things, or any of them, within their district:
“To provide a market place, and construct a market house and other conveniences, for the purpose of holding markets:
“To provide houses and places for weighing carts: