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Dunstan Times, Issue 300, 24 January 1868, Page 2

umu.j^ji.j.ii i jm J n»jjaj^iwiuMimw**j'^MnjMjiij In a late issue we published a communication respecting some South Au-r tralian wine in Clyde, a sample of which took the first prize for wines at the Great Inter-Colonial Exhibition in Melbourne, and which was imported direct from Adelaide, through a private channel, at less cost than the retail price of Dunedin brewed ale and porter on the goldffeids,—3s. a bottle —although the importer had to pay the high duty of -Is. per gallon (Bs. per dozen) upon it. We have tested the wine ourselves, and consider it an excellent article, and wc were quite surprised to find that a South Australian had attained such perfection in wine-making. We hail with great satisfaction the introduction into the colony of a beverage such as a cheap natural wine, which is at once wholesome and nutri" tive, from an adjacent colony, within ! a few days' steam from us. 'i he evil results of drinking the concoctions called wines imd spirits sold on the goldfields, and, in fact, throughout the colony, are immense. The number of cases of lunacy which arise almost entirely from this cause are really alarming. From this district, with a population of about eighteen hundred souls, no less than eight victims have been sent to the Lunatic Asylum within the last two years, besides several who have been discharged after a short detention here ; in short, the evil consequences to the community are becoming so great that it behoves every right-minded man to do all in his power to alleviate it. To accomplish this object in many communities temperanci} societies have been formed, general!}' by earnest and self-denying m and in some cases with great results. It is, however, obvious to the most superficial observer that, although temperance movements have sometimes resulted most beneficially to a few individuals, they have not prospered to the extent their promoters desired; in fact, they have generally foiled in their most worthy object. The causes of their failure are manifold, but chiefly because they start upon a false basis ; for to abstain en tirely from a proper use of wholesome and nutritious drink is almost as erroneous and weakening to the human system as to abstain from wholesome food. To provide for this great human necessity the giape has been liberally bestowed upon mankind, for it will grow in by far the greater portion of the habitable globe, and in this alone excels any fruit or plant we know of. A common and daily use of cheap, pure, and natural wines would tend more effectually to eradicate the pre sent habits of intoxication and their co;;comm Hants than the most earnest and praiseworthy temperance league ; but to attain this object successfully the excessive duties at present existing should be greatly reduced, eo. that such a wine as we have just seen and

tasted may become a beverage of daily use among all classes of the community. In continental Europe, and in France especially, the greatest wine, producing country in the World, where wine, sometimes Mixed with water, is drunk almost as commonly as tea in England, the sight of a drunken man is a thing almost unknown. We infer similar results would follow among us were a beverage used more suited to the daily necessities of the community, and of a quality such as we have just had the pleasure of getting acquainted with.