FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16408, 9 December 1916, Page 12

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

FRUIT FROM ENGLAND.

SCOPE. FOR LOCAL EFFORT.

(From the UUKAkH of December 9, 1866.)

European immigrants who have read of Auckland and it? climate, and who land here, say at this season of the year, or a little later, are often disappointed and surprised at the scarcity and dearness of vegetables and fruits. They cannot understand how it is that there is such a scant supply of fresh fruit, and think there must be something wrong with tho country or the people when they are compelled to purchase fruits grown in England, 16,000 miles away, and charged with a heavy duty, whether imported in the shape of jam or bottled fruit. Instead of importing fruit we ought to be exporters of the choicest fruit, bottled, and as jam. Otic of our citizens, Mr. Copland, of the Waitemata Hotel, has recently commenced the manufacture of cordials, syrups, cider, and ginger-wine, etc., and this is a step in the right direction. It certainly does seem to us ?n anomaly to find that even our bush settlers, as well as the townspeople, have to send to England for a pot of jam, a bottle of pickles, or a pjnt of vinegar.