MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 16

MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES

Wellington, May 6. The, meeting of the N«w- Zealand' delegates to the Intercolonial Fruit-growers' Conference irai bald this morning. Mr A. Ayers (of ChtistchuEch) was in. the chair. Th«i first matter dealt with was the desirability. <>C fixing on a standard packing case for huitr. Mr J. Aveey (Nelson) moved— "Jhat tha Nelson standard size of fruit case be recommended 'by this conference for adoption for colonial use — the iize of a full case to be 28in long, Hit) wide, 7in dei-p ; and half a case 28in x Tin x. 7in." Mr Grapes (Wellington^ moved aa> an. amendment — " That the case j ndjopted.by the Auckland fruitgrowers, meaaur- { ing iuside lilinix 12in x2oin, be recommended."' Mr Lorie (Tevio'O moved as a further amendmentr- "Th»t th ' 3 v-rnment should bo asked to introduce lpjr naking tha me of a uew and uniform oa ' j»pnkory for New Zealand*—the size to be the same as the Nelson case." A very long "discussion ensued, in tha course, of which several delegates strongly condemned the practice of packing fruit in cases which had already been used,, as they had found that old cases introduced tha codlin moth aud other peats into orchards. Mr. Aveny explained that the Nelnon case*, were made ot i»htfce pine, and cost 8d lach. Mr Hanlon (Wh*ng»rei) urged that Californian oases should be adopted. The general opink>n,of those who spoke was that a uniform, size of cake should' be adop.tod, but there, was coneuierable' diversity of opinion, as to the most suitable; size, fifa: Ta.mblyn (Teviot) thought.it would be in. the ui'e <s'» 'if g^twara if they, were required to nh-au. .m:», so as to kill any pe«te wJtlch might, have got into the wood.. Mr Pipex (Nelson) said he would" like to Bee. a uniform case adopted, but ha thought it would he a mistake, to make the u«e of any case 1 compulsory. .After further discussion, Mr Lories amendment was lost by a large mujority. Mr Gr»pes's. amendment lapsed foe want of a leoondar^ A further amendment by Mr Lorie — 11 That the Government be requested to make the use of new' oases compulaory"- — was carried by a large majority. A further amendment by Mr Hanlon (Auckland) I—"That1 — "That one uniform case of the Auckland size be adopted "—was hegatived' by a large majprifcyi Mr Avery'* motion for the adoption of the Nelson case was fin*lly carriei'bya very-large m»jbrttyl On the nroMon of Mr Ckrpenti*r (ChristBtmrch)lt was onscim •»»-!. d'-oi'dpd~"T;hKt.ibis. desirable ia the inieteet; of fruit-gr»wing' generally that the annual conference be' liold in tbe various, centres of New Zealand of those interested in the work." Mr Barker (Qeraldine) moved— "That in order to prevent ttie spread of pests tbe Government be asked 1 not to return empty casos free-." This lapsed' for want of a soooruleii'. A motion by MrHuJton ({Anckland)— " Thafc. bee Government- should establish experimental i frnitr- stations" in the vicinity- of fcha principal centres of the colony " — was carried almost mannitnoTreljr. Mr J. Tuyior (Wbodvillo) moved— '^Thab inl&e opinion- of tiiis 1 confornnoo of N««r Zaalsnd! fruit-growew it is nwit essonfciftl' in' tha interest* oftfie ft'uit h da»vfcry of< this' colony, ttitt Ifeo GovernxQfciit ahuvild undertake tUo i»K<jablishment of a mod«l fruit? preserving- f&clor.y jfesoma OBnbral posiMon'— say Weilingtoa, — to m b> worked" undbr State' conteol* and 1 uuder the ' ismiediate-manirgement of an experienced' and' thoroughly competent- oflicer-' conrawanfr with' Hie- moat ' approved' imthodb- of' fruit preaer-ratienin-all it* br»nohes=;' the* t»id faobory tai lerva. the double ynrpose sf affording in our' midst an example of fan. efficiently m&nkged'sud properly equipped r institution, swxd'.to'serveaß.a'v training school for persons desirous of becoming efficient man»ger« of co-operative fruit preserv-

tng factories, ultimately to be established throughout the colony." .This was lost.

Mi- Mitchell (Christchuroh) moved a resolutioH rto-jiu mending that *. wholesale fruit market should be established in each centre. This was rated out of order as being a matter for each centre to consider. The question of the eleolion of an executive committee to manage the arrangements in connection with the- proposed annual conference of Now Zealand frui^-gro^TS was- discussed at considerable length; MrAvery (Nelson) moved — "That the Department of Agriculture be requested to convene wv ually a coiiftiwuoo of trait- growers in <h.- colony " Mr Roller (NftWn) raovi d *.i. uu- iln ■■' 's-fc'-in^ up a>\ executive 111 1 cirry onb ttttt r. o ni ivimio-' of this conference relating to this holding of *n annual conference." The ameu^nint was rejected and 1 the motion carried almost unanimously. On the motion of MrHiulou (Auckland) it was unanimously decided — " That this conferenca recommeud the Government to take such stiepa as m*y tend to the storage of fruit; on the flkt and careful handling of tlia same during, carriage to market." ' A naotion providing for a ballot to determine | the best kinds of apples, peart*, &c. was lost. If, wo.* decided that the resolutions pissed at ' thiß m& Mug be handed over to the Secretary of Agriculture. This w v/- all the business. The Intercolonial Fruit Conference resumed at 7 p.m. CITRUS FKJJIT. Mr B. J. Ootrie (QueeusWud) read a paper on "Cultivation of Oitrus Fcuits." Ho referred to the favourable climatic conditions in i Queensland for the cultivation of cibius fruit, and explained that the industry had now assumed important di mentions. " Cultivation of Citrus Fruit in New Zea- ' land" was. the title of another paper, tVe Writer being Mr W. J. Palmer, the New Zealand {government pomofagist. He pointed out that the oUmatJe and soil of the North IsUnd were well adopted to the cultivation of lemons, and he gave some bits ac to how the fruit should be handled whan fife for rr«n ~\ from ( ihe tree*. A third nivper was read by Mr W. S. Williams, of Victoria, and was entitled " The Culture and Curing of Lemons." The writer emphasised the necessity of placing trees in a sheltered spot. He recommended that they should be sprayed with kerosene to eradicate . insects. Lemon* -*a good as those which came 'from Messina could be grown in Australasia, and he saw no reason why the colonies could. not only supply all that was required south of the line, but -send large quantities to Europe .as well. Considerable dinoaaaioa took place on the three papers. Mr Gubb (Auckland) maintained that oranges as good as those which oam« from the Islaurts could be gi'-iwn in the Auckland district. McPaltner .»S'erted that New Zealand would never be able to""grow oranges equ«.l to those produced in the South Sea Islands. TUe authors of the papers were accorded vot' s of thank*. TEF COXTIVATIOir OF THE VINH. Bep»rate papers on " The Cultivation of the Vine in New Zc'alayd " twera read bjf Messrs W. J. Palmer (AuckUrui), L Haulou gacei),, and W B^-.th^m (Mai r *Tton) In his, .paper Mr Palmer c->xpre*o«d tib<- piniou that good grapes could be grown in- the jpen, espeoi(all;( all; along the east coast of the North Island. 'He felt convinced fruit-growing would beoome ' one* of the principal industries of New Zsaland. Mr Haulon, in his p>per, said that before long m*ny part* of the nolony between Ccntrtl Qtago and the north, of AuukUnd would become large- producers- of goapes, f cuuv which excellent , wines could be marie The climate tras not warm enough, to enable strong alcoholic winei to be produoed. He strongly condemned the sophistication of winea. The premier vineyard of the colony" was that of Green Mwdows,. Taradftlo,, near Napier. He- strongly advi cated the eß^ablinhftient by the> Gurarurneut ->f an esperimfuttil viueyarcl he'i ving Hias i r «nuld grofttly teud. to assist tfui*© at present engaged ,in viticulture in New Zealand He deplored j the prohibition by the Government of vinr-s and cuttings, aud sagge&fcfd fehafc t,h« Qoverumaufr should bring into the colony, vine* wbich were found to bo absolutely freo from disease Mr Btetham believed it would be fou>id by experiment that pacts of New Zenlaud would prove equal to- the bent winojjL'dduniag countries in Europe.. No discussion took place, and votes of thanks. . vrere passed to the authors o£ tkesa papers. At 10 p.m the conference adjourned till 10. . a.m. next day, THE FRUIT SHOW. ; The intercolonial fruit show, which opened on , Wednesday;, partook mare of an exhibition of , Nfl 11 * Zealand frnib than, of acompufcitive charac- ! ter.» Th« erhibifea ware divided iub>< Noreh Islajad> and South Island sections. M*--sr» Htuilon , aud- Palmer (Auckland) >w^ ili^o Bcos. ! (Palnxenxton North), had fiA» .uLSMotions of ,applfH^ IH-0.-S, &c. Mesßrs, WiUnun-ou (Patca), ( Bucr<.£c ( Por-« Albert;)* and Gt^pe* (Wellington) . Bent exhibits ofi fruit suitable fur export. The grower* in each pcovinoa in the South Island i had combined and made a united exhibit of . various- kinds of fruit., Sonio fine specimens of , grapes, w«ce sent by the North Island and. , South IsUnd'gcowera; Them were also several exhihits of. wia-s,. greservad and evaporated. fruits, »nd hurticulfcnral appliances , The principal award* were : — Bssb dessert , fruit,:. North l«I&n<£ — Mr Palmec's (Government pamologjntr)l oolleation. ; South. Island — Cauter- j bnryi exhibit 1, Otaga 2 The principal awards in agplea wears- aili takeu by Canterbury, and in pears by Messrs Cocrie and Morrison. The , Department of Agriculture secured the a.ward for a collection of dried fruit, and. th.c Wanganui Fruit-drying Compauy, for dried vegetables. , For grapes under glass, Mr Pnlmer (North Island) wae-flrflt, witk Gan^rhuvy second. For grapes grQwn> in the/ opea air, Mr Dawson (Clyde),, and. fcb.B South Island colleotiou coaimendetl.