Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-04-11
CALIFORNIA FRUIT IN THE SOUTH
PACIFIC

Consul Griffin, of Auckland, reports to
the State Department at Washington, that
the growth of the American fruit trade
with New Zealand has increased very rap
idly within the last few years The col
ony being south of the equator the sea-
sons are reversed and when fruit Is in the
greatest demand there it is most abundant
in the United States. The California
fruit-growers have long been aware of this
fact and have done what they could, with
help of the New Zealand importers, to in
troduce their products into this colony.
The voyage from San Francisco TO Aucl-
land via the Pacific Steamship route
occupies about twenty-one days, but the
fruit shipped from here of such fine
quality, and is so superbly packed. and re-
ceives such care during the transit, that
upon its arrival there it has been found,
with very few exceptions, to be in excel
lent condition He adds that when COM
munication is more frequent and faster
steamers are employed on the route, the
American fruit trade, not only with New
Zealand, but with all the Australasian col
Onies, will swell to vast proportions. In
1874 New Zealand imported but Sl55,700
worth of fresh fruit, but in 1888 the value
Swelled to $414,035, the increase being
steady each year, showing falling off al
no time These fruits come from Tasma-
MIA, New South Wales, FIJI and Califor-
MIA, and our fruit is always in greater
demand than any other. SO, too, our
timed fruits are in good demand and it
constantly increases Mr. Griffin SAYS that
the New Zealand canning establishments,
although supplied with American ma
chinery and aided by duty of ID per
cent. sd valorem on imported timed fruits,
have been wholly unable to drive the
American goods from the market. And
he says: The fine flavor of the Califor-
MIA fruit. and the low prices at which it
can be obtained, have done much to
make it popular here; and besides. |
it is well known throughout the colonies
that the utmost care is taken by the Cali
fornia Gamers, not only in selecting the
choicest varieties of fruit, but in filling
their cans and inspecting Them 50 as to
make sure that every one is perfectly sound
and properly sealed before leaving the
factory and their apples, peaches pears,
plums, grapes and apricots are found in
every city and town in the colony" But
this California fruit trade in the South |
Pacific has been built up only in the face
of strong opposition. First, there was a
strong local prejudice to overcome, next
high cost of freights, wharfage, port charges |
and the exorbitant profits of small dealers
In October last the New Zealand Govern |
ment issued a proclamation that would
appear TO have been specially directed |
against American fruit. 1t appeared just
as the importations of apples were arriving
and when the Tasmania and Australian
fruit shipments had entirely ceased The !,
proclamation was aimed against the cod
lin moth, pest introduced into New
Zealand many years ago direct from Eng
land The document issued by Governor
Jeryois prohibited the bringing in of any
apples or pears in any way infected with
the insect, or in which "the said insect is