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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8541, 15 April 1891, Page 4

For some days it lias been announced in our columns that all available cargo space in the s.s, Alameda being no w engaged, further applications cannot be entertained. It may surprise some of our readers to be informed that all the space lias been engaged for the conveyance of fruitthe produce of Tasmania—to the San Francisco market. The fruit is brought from Tasmania to Sydney, and there shipped on board the San Francisco steamer, while Auckland, the last port, and with an abundance of fruit, cannot find any room, and lias not, indeed, made any effort to secure room. In the Tasmanian papers we find such advertisements as the following :—

Fruit shipments to San Francisco. —The Tasinauian tYuitgrowers' Co-operative Shipping and Agency Co. (Limited) beg to intimate that "they have completed arrangements for shipments of fruit to San Francisco, to be carried on deck and in cool 'tween decks only per mail steamers. First shipment leaves per T. 8.15. or Huddart Parker steamer April 10,1891. Further particulars ou application. The Tasmanian Fruitgrowers' Co-operative Shipping and Agency Company (Limited).—J. L. Conacher, manager. It is evident that the Tasmanian fruit-growers are now working in a systematic manner, for we observe advertisements intimating that a certain firm has imported a cargo of white deal fruit cases, cut into suitable sizes, ready for nailing, and are offering them at iOd each made up, and 9&d unmade. In New Zealand we have kahikatea, one of the finest woods for the purpose of fruit cases which can be placed in the market, for about Gkl a-piece, so that we should have a decided advantage in the matter of boxes. Mr. 11. JLobbs, in his evidence before the committee of the House of Representatives, stated that he considered the San Francisco market superior to that of London for fruit. Less than half the time is consumed on the voyage, and the demand for fruit in San Francisco, at a time just suiting us, is very great. The Tasmanians, it is evident, are before us, and there is absolutely no possibility of getting any fruit away by the next steamer. But our fruitgrowers ought to see to it at once that they secure space by the following steamer, which will also arrive at a good season for selling the fruit. Good and permanent markets secured by systematic operations here, an immense benefit would accrue to Auckland. The northern districts of this province should be devoted to fruit, as they are better adapted for that than for anything else. Only by the production of fruit will our northern districts be able to support a large population.