IMPORTANT LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Te Aroha News, 15 February 1890, Page 4

IMPORTANT LOCAL INDUSTRY.

The progress made by Mr Blagrove in his praiseworthy attempts to establish a profitable export trade in preserved fish, fruit, and vegetables, should be a matter of very general interest to Aucklanders. It is satisfactory, therefore, to learn that, so far, Mr Blagrove appears to have met with considerable encouragement, and that his prospects of establishing a payable industry are remarkably good. The fish, fruit and vegetables dealt with by Mr Blagrove are preserved by means of a patent dry-air process, which has previously been described in our columns, and the scene of his operations is Mechanics’ Bay. A Star representative accompanied Mr Blagrove on a visit of inspection recently, and was shown some samples of the marketable article as prepared in readiness for export. The preserved goods in stock included dried fish, and dried fruit of various descriptions, also dried potatoes, parsnips, and sweet potatoes. Mr Blagrove stated that samples of fish and fruit had been sent to various parts of the world, notably, China, Norway, and Australia, and had obtained for him substantial orders which had since been fulfilled. Mr Blagrove exhibited specimens of dried fruit, schnapper, mussels, and vegetables at the Dunedin Exhibition, and tb.e result appears to have been highly satisfactory, as he has since received orders from the South to the extent of £3OO or £4OO. Letters received from agents in Melbourne state that the dried fish forwarded by Mr Blagrove arrived in splendid condition, and are likely to command a large export trade, especially with Norway. Similar communications, Mr' Blagrove states, have been received from Honolulu, the South Sea Islands aud elsewhere. Dried schnapper and dried mussels are in good demand, and a Chinese merchant in Auckland has agreed to take dried mussels in any quantity .up to ; £J.,QOO in value for shipment to China and S.an Francisco, where they appear to be much appreciated by the Celestials. The dried mussels are spld at £56 per ton; schnapper at £24 to £25 per top. Dried apples, Mr Blagrove reckons, he can turn oat to be sold at 6d per pound retail, and other dried fruits correspondingly cheap. The process is an economical one, and if Mr Blagrove meets with continued encouragement he will no doubt make a very good thing out of his venture. We have tested some of the fruit, fish, and vegetables which been dried by Mr Baigrove’s patent, ana found phe samples generally quite equal to imported goodf of .ft similar’ /inscription. The samples tested included . gchnftpngr, apples, ’ kumaras, potatoes, ppetjrooV bankas, .etc.' * Each appsarpd to have ' keen in good and', likely ’,fco stand' the severity .of any pHnappe, The dried articles supplied by Mr Blagrove geqyme about’£4 hours 1 .soaking Before .being cooked- ** Auckland J>b.rm»Y Ifi"