Rarotongan Produce
p. 63 · Read in the full issue
“Visits Friends” At Mauke
From Our Own Correspondent.
RAROTONGA, September 13.
C.S. SHEAFHOLME, bound From American ports to New Zealand, was diverted to pick up a mixed shipment of tomatoes and oranges from Rarotonga and Mauke respectively. The vessel ar rived here in mid-August, and, having taken on board approximately 4,000 cases of tomatoes, proceeded to Mauke to load oranges, returning again to Rarotonga for clearance two days later.
The Sheafholme is a slow ship and considerable anxiety was felt by local tomato shippers as to the condition of their produce on arrival at Auckland.
The fact that the whole shipment was on consignment added greatly to this anxiety.
Surprise was also expressed that the tomatoes should have been, as the natives say, “taken to visit their friendsY in Mauke when the ship might easily have loaded them on her return from that island, thus giving the fruit a far better chance of reaching New Zealand in good condition.