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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 9 February 1909, Page 1

The expansion of Auckland's fruit trade during recent seasons has been phenomenal, and this season the output has been particularly good. Much of the North is particularly adapted' ,S>t iruit culture, and the conversion." of poor gum land into remunerative "orchard areas has been steadily progressing. Just what success can be achieved in this respect (says- the v:<<Star?}' is evidenced by the results secured at Waeienga. where the Government has converted eoine hundreds of apres at waste gum lands into splendid fruitgrowing country, which will shortly be sub-divided intc, model farms and "sold or leased to those desirous of taking up orchsi'd work as a means cf live'inood. Wnen the model orctiarj tystern is put into active operatioa at VVaerenga a canning factory will be established and an impetus given to fruit growing in the Waikato, where the industry has already secured a good footing. Whangarei is another splendid fruit growing centre, and the present season has been a very good one. The season for apples, poaches, nectarines, and other stone fruit seems o have been a splendid one in. the iNortb, and the grapes also gi.-o premise of li-int ,i record crop this spason Tl.e Hmdersou and U'iitemi«a districts nave also experienced' splendid fruit seasons, though the crops of Kn»---li.-h an-1 J;it;.nfse plums have net been quite as good as u*ual ; apples, pears, and stone fruits, as well as grapes, will give splendid return?. The strawbervv season has also beer, one of the best oil record. The Railway Department lias «> far handled some 40,000 boxes of fruit tlus season. Most of ■ this went South, and much larger quantities were shipped to Wellington by East Coast boats. It if, estimated that fully 200 tons goes South from 'Auckland each stason. Next year, when the 24 hours' railway service with .Wellington is possible, growers will ship ' -larger quantities of perishable fruits South, and it is certain that the transport of srawberries, which has hitherto been almost prevented by the frequent handling and time entailed in the journey by boat, nest season' will reach a largely increased volume. - - « •■•> ... .«(&ftt£iO The latest report received by the State Minister for Agriculture from Mr J. B. Suttor, Trade Commissioner for New south Wales in the East, contains particulars of the importatioris-of Australian wool for the year X907. Briefly stated, th<!«» «l,n» »l»o«r" 4&.tVch»is>« (he year in question Japsmt'tboVfTom Australia wool valued at £3,171,156, of which £1,940,668" was represented by raw material. - upon this, Mr Suttor remairkY:— " Jregret "to state that the importations, ea far for 1908, show a considerable falling off compared rith 1907, but, p the result oftteoveral inter -ie— s and visits to ■woollen, factories in Japan, I have confidence in stating that the fallig off is of a temporary na= fuTe only, and is attributed to the fi : nancial crisis. Accarding to some oltEe leading financial men of Japan there is evidence of improvement during 1909. One of the most pleasant features in connection with the woollen industry in Japan is the attention tha is now being paid to the finer grades of wool, and the importation of what are known as tops of 70's quality, for the purpose of manu= facturing fabrics known as mousselino do laine, which are now largely worn by ladies in Japan in garments known as jiban, koshimake, and obi ; also for children's kimonos. It is only during the; lasf few years that such marked attention has been paid to fabrics of this nature, the Importations of which reached a total of about £648,000 during 1907. They are uow largely taking the place. of silk goods hithevto worn, such, as halratae, white and coloured, also- silk, crape, white and coloured — the last-named fabrics costing about four and five &ines as much, respectively, as the moSsseliiie de laine. The demand for these goooVis gradually increasing, furthe.? evidence that the future holds in store- increased demands for the finer grades of Australian wool."