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Dunstan Times, Issue 363, 9 April 1869, Page 2

The brewing of malt liquors may now be included among our local industries. Mr. William Theyers, of Alexandra, lias been thoroughly successful in producing, at his establishment, an article equal if not superior to anything brought from Dunedin, and we may soon fully expect to see the Alexandra ales and porter come largely into consumption, and to a very groat degree form a substitute for the present pernicious system of drinking so much raw spirits. No one can deplore more than ourselves the extent to which drunkenness has set its deadly grasp upon the inhabitants of the goldfields. It is an unpalatable fact to acknowledge ; but, as honestly confessing a fault oftentimes goes a long way to'.vnr's rf.mo-1 "g.fj if- v,'" "TO r n/1 >. - S' .. iwi ;•»<« ..ope iji.ii.. simmuiv favorable result may be attained in this case. Ardent spirits have deprived us of very many valuable

members of society, who, had they been temperate men, might have considerably improved their positions and likewise conferred bench's upon others but, instead of this, they have been a disgrace to humanity, and it has been our painful duty every now and then to record that one of these discip'es of the demon strong drink has yielded up his life, alone and ill some dilapidated dwelling, with no friendly hand nigh to sooth his last moments, or that he has been dragged dead, like a dog out of some unfrequented watercourse. Otago is not likely to bo a wine-producing country like Australia, in some jiarts of which, Adelaide for instance, spirituous liquors have been almost superceded by wine, the produce of the country, and drunkenness has become almost unknown. It is in our power to produce a most agreeable substitute in the shape of malt liquors, for the production of which the climate of this district is admirably suited. The soil is admirably suited for growing the very best of barley and hops, while as to water there is an abundance. With all these advantages before us we should be neglecting our interests did we not utilise them. Mr. Theyers has shown us the way to do so, and supplies us with a wholesome and exhilirating beverage and, from his energy and enterprise, deserves our support.