THE FIRST SHIPMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 10

THE FIRST SHIPMENT.

The first shipment of Australian, grapes as the outcome of the removal of the prohibitive restrictions hitherto placed on them, was received in Dunedin on Saturday morning. Thirty cases arrived by the Wimmcra from Sydney, via Wellington', and the whole lot was consigned to Messrs T. E. Shiel and Co. The grapes were packed in small wooden boxes, each holding about 201b. The bunches were simply laid one upon another, and the general opinion expressed was that they carried remarkably well. Some were slightly bruised, but the greater part of the shipment was in firet class condition.

The shipment was met on arrival by Mr Hutton, local Government pomologisr, who closely examined the contents of each case with the object of seeing that the fruit v\as not infected with phylloxera or other disease. Examination showed that it wa« perfectly free from any disease. The class of grape whioh has made up the first shipment to the Dominion under the new regulations is certainly not rerna.rable for size or quality, and strictly speaking can hardly be said to have coma up to general expectations. They are of a, black variety, small in size — about the size of a damson, — and were shipped from Sydney. Still, they are very eweet. quite juicy, and clean looking, and at the rediiced price at which they will be available will, from a popular point of view, fill ai long -felt want.

Naturally a good deal of interest centred round the shipment, and when placed ore offer by Mr Hugh Allen (Messrs Shiel andCo.'s salesman), there was a fair gathering of interested people, some there aa_ members <Jf the trade and some there out of mere curiosity. Under the hammer they found ready sale. There was a tendency on the 1 part of buyers to hold off at the start, but the auctioneer pushed matters, and from an opening bid of 4d per tb drove the price up to 7Jd per lb, at which figure tha first three boxes, the contents of which were j^st a shade superior to the remainder, were disposed of. The others were quickly snapped up at 7d, 6>id, and 6id per U>, and the whole lot of 30 cases was cleared in a very short epace of time. The buyer who secured the lot at 72d per lb intimaited his intention to retail at from 9d to _10d per lb, and the other buyers stated their retail prices as 8d and 9d. A member of the fruit trade present, speaking to a Times reporter, said ne considered the grapes good in quality, though small in size. It was a pity they were not larger. "I do not think," ho said, " that they will affect the local market further than its present position unless wei get something better from Australia. The hothouse grapes placed on sale are so much larger and better in quality, and there is always a section of the people who are prepared to buy the best on offer. Still, the new grape is a good wholesome article, and at the price will meet the pockets o€ those to whom the price of grapes has previously been prohibitive, and in that they will serve the purpose intended by the Government in admitting them."

The present shipment may in some measure be regarded as a. triaLone, but it is confidently expected that when big shipments come to hand regularly, and the industry assumes something like respectable proportions, the people of New Zealandl will benefit considerably by the action _o£ the* Government. A shipment of Adelaide grapes is to arrive on Tuesday by the Maheno, and it is anticipated that they will be very much superior in size ana [quality to those Jlanded on Saturday morning.

During la«t year there were 162 sequestrations and 167 insolvencies in Victoria. The total debts were £146,145 and -the. assets £36,036. New regulations regarding delivery of telegrams and the uses of telephones are published in the Gazette, which enable the public to receive and to send telegrams by telephones. Short messages up to 50 words may be telephoned to newspaperswhich subscribe to the telephone. Telegrams are delivered free at Auckland 1 , Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. for a distance of threy miles from the office, and for one \y\-Jh and a-half after 6 p.m.