Untitled

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 169, 18 April 1874, Page 3

i.he Masonic Hotel changed hands to-day, Mr Bdhs having now become the proprietor thereof. Mr Ellis is well known in the JSorth, as an industrious and indefatigable caterer for the public, and we have no doubt that the Masonic will continue to maintain the same popularity it has enjoyed during the past few years, while under the proprietorship of Mr Ford.—Napier Telegraph , April 10th. In reference to the poisoning of beer with tobacco, practised by the lower class of bush and town publicans, a correspondent writes to us (Australasian) from Okarito, West Coast, New land, to relate an instance of his own knowledge. Slightly pruning some of hia expressions, which are unnecessarily vigourous, we give his letter as follows : —“ Twelve years ago—it might be less or more—l was digging in a green gully about seven or eight mihs from Tarrangower. The place was cursed with —, He had a store. I was dealing with him, and bought a beer barrel to make puddling tubs. In cutting it through the middle I found what I think could not have been less than a pound of tobacco among a lot of hops. X was then at no loss to know- why a pint of this beer was too much for my head and feet—or, rather, had been too much—for I dealt hut little with the fellow afterwards.” iSo doubt the practice alluded to is a common one, and perhaps many a man who is brought before a Court and punished for intoxication has been drugged and btupified by some infamous mixture rather than overpowered by excessive drinking. It is to be hoped that it will not always be the case that every disreputable publican may poison hss customers and sow’ the seed of vice and ruin with total impunity.