IMPORTANT LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 33, 10 February 1890, Page 3

IMPORTANT LOCAL INDUSTRY.

PRESERVATION OF FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND FISH.

The progress made by Mr Blagrove in his praiseworthy attempts to establish a profitable export trade in preserved fish, fruit, and vegetables, should be a matter of very general interest to Ancklandei's. It is satisfactory, therefore, to learn that, so far, Mr Blagrove appears to have met with considerable encouragement, and that hia prospects of establishing a payable industry are remarkably good. The fish, fruit and. vegetables dealt with by Mr Blagrove aria preserved by means of a patent dry-air process, which has previously been described in our columns, and the scene of hia operations is Mechanics' Bay. A Star representative accompanied Mr Blagrove on a visit of inspection recently, and was shown some samples of the marketable article as prepared in readiness for export. The preserved goods in stock included dried fish, and dried fruit of various descriptions, also dried potatoes, parsnips, and sweet potatoes. Mr Blagrove stated that samples of fish and fruib had been sent to various parts of the world, notably, China, Norway, and Australia, and had obtained for him substantial orders which had since been fulfilled. Mr Blagrove exhibited specimens of dried fruit, schnapper, mussels, and vegetables at the Dunedin Exhibition, and the result appears to have been highly satisfactory, as he has since received orders from the South to the extent of £300 or £400. Letters received from agents in Melbourne state that the dried fish forwarded by Mr Blagrove arrived in splendid condition, and are likely to command a .large export trade, especially with Norway. Similar communications, Mr Blag-rove states, have been received from Honolulu, the S, puth . Sea Islands and elsewhere. Dried echnapper and dried mussels are in good demand, and a Chinese merchant in Auckland hae agreed to take dried mussels in any quantity up to £1,000 in value for shipment k> China and San Francisco, where they appear to be much appreciated by the Celestials. The dried mussels are sold at £56 per ton ; schnapper at £24 to £26 per ton. Dried apples, Mr Blag rove reckons, he can turn out to be sold at 6d per pound retail, and other dried fruits correspondingly cheap. The process is an economical one, and if Mr Blagrove meets with continued encouragement he will no doubb make a very good thing out of his renture. Wβ have tested some of the fruity fisfy and vegetables which have been dried by Mr Balgrove's patent, aud found the samples generally quite equal to Imported goods of a similar description. The samples tested included schnapper, apples, kumaras, potatoes, beetroot, bananas* etci Each appeared to have been in good condition, and likely to stand the severity of any climate. The dried articles supplied by Mr Blagrove require about 24 hours , soaking before being cooked.