EXPORT OF FRUIT TO ENGLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2461, 19 April 1888, Page 2

EXPORT OF FRUIT TO ENGLAND.

Thk export of fruit to Eng'and from New Zualaid is destined in the near future, to become one of considerable magnitude when we consider, that the seasons are exactly reversed, and that the Australian colonies are, so far as we know at present, the only communities who are preparing to take advautase of such an unlimited market as England and Europe generally offers. It will be remembered that last year we noticed in this journal that a trial shipment had bee:i sent from Waikato. This lot consisted of some eight varieties, and was shipped as ordinary cargo and packed iu the usual case?, with battens leaving a .space of about half an inch between each. The report upon the condition of this venture was anything but satisfactory. A very small proportion of the fruit was sound, clearly showing that even the best varieties of keeping apples would not withstand the heat of the hold and changes of climate to which it would be subjected to as ordinary cargo although the same varieties from which these had been selected were sound and marketable at the date when this lot reached England. This year two or three growers of fruit in Waikato have sent small consignments to England by the Rimutaka, which sailed from Wellington on the sth inst. Below will be found the several charges for shipment in cool chambers, as well as the copy of a warranty attached to the bill of leading as a protection to shippers that the temperature shall not exceed 45deg. : — challgk3 ox twklvk casks fruit, i>kr Rimutaka to London. £. e. d. To paid Harbour Board, wharfage 0 0 II „ bills of lading 0 2 C ~ freight to London, 20 feet, at 110s 2 15 0 ~ primage, 10 per cent, at £2 15s 0 5 6 „ insurance on £12, and stamps 0 3 (J Total £3 7 3 W.UtRANTy.-r Warranted that tlie refrigerating machinery and Ghainbers were in perfect order at the time when shipment commenced, and equal to the work required of them ; that the vessel carries competent engineers for working the machinery; that the chief of such engineers holds a chief engineer') certificate, and is under the control of the captain in the same manner as the engineer of the vessel; that ho shall be instructed to keep a correct resistor of tho temperature in tho chambers daily, and duly enter the same in the log book kept for the purpose, which shall at all times be open for inspection by the shippers, consignees, and underwriters or their representatives; that such log book shall be initialled by the commander of the ship; that tho temperature shall, as far as possible, not be allowed to exceed 45 Fahrenheit in the warmest part of the chamber ; that coals sufficient for a protracted voyage shall be carried by tlje vessel ; that on arrival at port of discharge a representative of the consignees and a representative of the underwriters be accorded free acoess to the chambers, and afforded every reasonable opportunity for inspecting the cargo previous to and during the discharge; that discharge shall commence immediately steamer is in dock, and shall continue until discharge is completed ; in the event of consignee not being prepared to take delivery immediately stesmer is ready to discharge, the owners of the steamer may land the frozen cargo and store it at consignees' risk and expense ; that the ship shall be held responsible for the injurious effects of other goods stored in the refrigerating compartment. Steamer [lot accountable for condition of cargo or any jose arising froin break-down of steamer's machinery, refrigerating machinery, disablement of steunier from whatever gauae arisinsr, or from any other cause whatever. Steamer has liberty to jettison cargo, if considered necessary, on account of decomposition. The nett weight of the fruit in the above 12 easos was 4811bs, averaging as near as possible 401bs to a case. To the above charges must be added railway freight 7» Cd, this will bring it as near as possiblp to two. pence per pound for freight. The cost of cases and wrapping paper and labour in packing is equal to another halfpenny per pound, and allowing IJlb for the fruit, it will be pecessary to realise .something over four pence pey pound, to give any great encouragement to growers.