AUSTRALIAN GRAPES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1908, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN GRAPES.

TASMAN SEA MELONS. THE MOERAKI'S CARGO. BANANAS FROM FIJI, A fairly largo consignment of fruit came from Sydney by the Moeraki today, but in regard to grapes the exporters are still feeling their way, and the quantities coming to hand aro probably less than a twentieth part of what Wellington and the districts around the city could consume if proper systems of distribution were put into force. Thero were 368 cases of grapes in this morning's shipment, and they are reputed to be of a better quality than the initial shipment was, but this point will be best established by the official inspection and the prices brought at auctionAbout twenty large crates full of water melons were shipped, but when the storm burst upon tho steamer the great bulk of them went overboard. Two or three crates survived the stormy test, but when they were landed today their contents wero found to be badly bruised and battered, and a trail of expressed melon juice marked their passages along the wharf. Several hundred cases of pineapples were comprised in the cargo, and these sustained no injury from the storm, consequent upon their less frail nature and the solid packing cases in which they were earned. The total shipment of fruit amounts to over 800 cases, <and the Biological Department's representative (Mr. Palethorpe) was busy with his assistants for the greater part of to-day in making the costomary close inspection of the iruit, which goes to prevent importation of pests such as Mediterranean fly, codlin moth, scale, etc. An even busier day is in store for the inspectors to-mor-iow, for a very large shipment of bananas is then due from Fiji, and a fairly extensive shipment of pears from Victoria will come to hand, via Southern ports, by the boat which left Melbourne last week. Besides the grapes and pineapples and melons, the Moeraki brought some oranges, which were of good quality for tho most part, but some of them were spoilt through over-ripeness, and the diminished quantity of'marketable fruit amongst them must entail loss of money,, A few cases, which contained oranges, showing a queer discoloration extending over a square inch or so of the surface were held for further investigation. There were some cases of pears in the shipment, and included in them was some fruit branded "From the New South Wales Experimental Orchard, Bathurst." Up to 1 p.m. the grapes had not been discharged from tne steamer's cool chamber, but hopes were entertained that they would come to hand early enough to permit of departmental inspection, and sale at auction, during tho afternoon.