I have the honour to report that I watched the shipment of apples consigned by the above-named steamer from Auckland to London in order to note what improvements in packing, handling, stowing of fruit, and arrangement of cool-chambers might be effected.

The s.s. "Tainui" had two small chambers provided for fruit, which held between them some 2,300 cases, some hundreds of cases being shut out for want of room. Fortunately another steamer was in Auckland at the time, and took those cases.