WAIRERE ORANGERY, WHAN- GAREI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3155, 13 September 1892, Page 3

WAIRERE ORANGERY, WHANGAREI.

Wk have to acknowledge tlie receipt of a very pretty picture —a photograph of the Wairerc orchard, Whangarei, described as the first successful orange grove in New Zealand. Messrs J>obbie, the proprietors—a name now intimately associated with orarge culture—commenced operations on the property some ten years ago, and last year produced thenfirst large crop, considering the age of the orangery, of twenty tons. There are at present twinty-eight acres planted out, but the above crop was the product of eight acres only. The scene depicted in the photo under notice gives a very fair idea of the nature of the work after the fruit has been picked. The foreground is - taken up with tiers of the fruit in boxes, and behind are to be seen the packers busily at work sorting and papering the fruit and filling up the boxes ready for despatching by the dray standing partly loaded at the right. There were 72 cases packed and despatched on the occaeion when the photo was taken. We have heard that a sum of nearly £4000 has been expended on this venture. We trust that the enterprising proprietors will reap a good return from it ; and although the Island fruit conies into keen competition with the W'haugarei oranges, the supply is not continuous, and fruiterers and others have many a time realised the advantage of being able to get a supply of good fruit at short notice from the Messrs Dobbie Bros., of Whangavei.