HOW WINE, SPIRITS, &c., ARE MANUFACTURED.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1061, 18 August 1882, Page 3

HOW WINE, SPIRITS, &c., ARE MANUFACTURED.

A celebrated American Temperance lecturer, Mr. Eli Johnson, is creating considerable sensation in Sydney. Last week he delivered a lecture on “ Drink from Drug o ,’’ and made some astounding statements, which should be sufficient to make even the most confirmed dipsomaniac regard the bottle with suspicion. He said that enough of a certain chemical could be obtained for Gs. to make 20 gallons of French brandy, and for 2s. to make a similar quantity of rum Of other preparations, a shilling’s worth would make six gallons of port wine, sherry, whisky, gin or even champagne. In New York, he said, there was as much wine and brandy consumed as was made in the whole world three times told ; there were also in the same cities manufactories where beer is made entirely out of drugs. In America, he would undertake to say, there was not a single pint of Fench brandy, and he had no doubt the same might be said of Australia. But the most telling part of the lecture was the statement that he, the lecturer, had purchased the very chemicals, prepared for the above purpose, in Honolulu, in Auckland, and in Sydney. He mentioned th names of several of the best known Sydney druggists, fiom whom he had obtained sam pier of the essences of rum, gin, brandy, wines, etc., and produced the bottles. He even obtaiaed a written q o a turn of prices, signed “ Elliott Brothers.” who are probably the hugest wholesale chemists and druggists in the colonies. At one place he was informed that if he purchased they would show him how to use the preparations. Many poisons and other deleterious iegre dients are used in the manufacture of these preparations. We have heard some queer stories about the spirit trade in Dunedin, and hope Mr. Johnson will pay this place a visit and enlighten us a bit. —Bruce Herald.