SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GRIPES. THE FIRST SHIPMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 10

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GRIPES. THE FIRST SHIPMENT.

The first shipment of South Australian grapts to Dunedin since the withdrawal bj the Government of the restrictions upon importation was received on the 18th inst. by Messrs T. Paterson and Co. The shipment, whicTi arrived by the Wimmera, consisted in all of 33 cases. Of these the contents of 32 cases were packed in cork dust. In the remaining one case the grapes were simply placed in the case, and owing to one or two of the bunches beina; overripe did not arrive in quite the best of condition. The bulk of the fruit was, however, in splendid order. The shipment consisted of five cases of sultanas, five casea of Re<l Prince (a large red grape), and' the balance of muscatels. All wore of exceedinfrl-" fine flavour, and very clean iTV appeararce, and, as might have been expected, much superior in size and quality to those received a short time back from Sydney. There was a good muster of members of. the trade when the grapes were placed on offer by Messrs Paterson and Co. Under the hfmraer the sultanas realised from s±<J to 8d ,per lb, the Red Prince from 9d to ' 9sd, and the muscatels 8d per lb. There was good competition for the lots offered, and the grapes were purchased by most of the principal retailers, who subsequently had them on offer at up to Is ppr lb

Tho grapes were grown in South Australia, and were shipped to New Zemland in the cool chamber of the Wimmera, where the temperature was about 40deg. The prices realised may be considered as fairly satisfactory, and will no doubt lead to further consignments. Messrs T. Paterson and Co.. we understand, have advice to the effect that from 50 to 100 cases will come forward by the next Melbourne boat. The arrival of the Australian grapes did not affect the saJe of the local hothouse grapes, as the same wholesale price was maintained on the 18t.h &b has been realised for some weeks past — namely, Is per Ib.

Roughls' speaking, ;t.; t. is eetimafced that; over half, a million (gallons of water weie pumped on to the recent Christohurch fir© by the fire brigade plant.