The Globe. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1481, 14 November 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1878.

Ashburton is on the way to obtain an unenviable notoriety. Mr Donald, the Resident Magistrate at Lyttelton, yesterday, in dealing with a case of lunacy from drink, said that “It was an undoubted fact that more cases of this sort came from Ashburton than any other part of Canterbury.” This is a step in the right direction; lot us, if we can, find out where the poison is vended and the repression of its sale will, or at any rate ought to comparatively, bo an easy matter. Tho adulteration of strong drink has so often been dealt with, that it would bo wearisome indeed, to recapitulate the evidence which shows how systematically deadly compounds are poured down the throats of those whose habits and inclinations lay themselves open to the vile practices which surely cannot be unknown to any. There need be no delicacy whatever used in the treatment of this subject, and with the exception of withholding names, we will tell our readers a plain unvarnished tale, uncovering to some extent the tricks the “ trade ” play off on their customers. A, having sampled some remarkably good brandy in the store of B, wine and spirit merchant, purchased for his own use two cases of the same. On receiving it, A found that three-fourths of the bottles contained in each case had been tampered with. Tho capsules, by some ingenious process had been removed, the corks drawn without a corkscrew, and tho contents of each bottle had been changed for something very different to the genuine article. So careless of discovery wore the operators that many of the bottles were stoppered with only half of the original corks. The merchant who took his share of tho plunder vowed that the brandy was part of a shipment direct from London, and, by no possibility, could it have been tampered with botween tho manufacturer and the consumer. A, believes as much of this as he likes, and —so do we. Sometimes, however, the deceivers are themselves deceived. to wit, A brewer and bottler in this town, not long ago having made a mistake in the mixture of his “ stout,” and not having the impudence to offer it to his regular customers, sent it for sale, un-labelled, to a certain auction room. It was there picked up a “ bargain ”by an enterprising youth at four shillings a dozen. It was taken home labelled with the name of an English firm, re-packed, sent back to the same auctioneer, and disposed of a second time at seven shillings a dozen to a purchaser who was the Jcithev of, and in the same line as the young man who had made such a glorious stroke by his speculation. When it is said that the transaction involved a loss to the second buyer of two or three hundred pounds, it will be seen in this instance tho pot boiled over with a vengeance. It is useless pointing out an evil unless at the same time a remedy for it can be indicated; probably no radical cure exists for tho nefarious practices wo have just glanced at, still, if anything can be done in palliation of their dreadful results, it is the duty of all to do their best in that direction. We have a public analyst. He shewed us what was done in tho adulteration of bread. Is it not of infinitely more consequence that ho should tell us who are the poisoners that fatten on the infirmities of their follow-men P If the Good Templars, who waste their time in “ tea fights” and talk, could see their way to at present secure tho prohibition of adulterations and the punishment of adulterators they would, wo make bold to say, open up a road the most likely of all to load to tho adoption of tho principles of temperance they advocate. Wo have in our possession a recipe that some few months back was hawked about among the Christchurch publicans, and to our certain knowledge found purchasers in town and country. It is for making brandy, without a drop of tho real thing. Of course it may bo a mere catch-penny. Perhaps it is, but wo will have it examined, and give tho result to oux readers some other time.

Government billets, like blackberries, are now to be had for the picking, that is, by the men of all work who grub beneath the surface, and do the dirty jobs which must not be allow-ed to soil the fingers of their patrons and rewardors. G. M. Raid, the indefatigable touter has been presented, at a good round salary, we may be sure, with a brevet to stump tho provinces at home in favor of emigration to Aew Zealand. Somebody save ho is to make arrangements to_ supply the “ special wire” combination with direct English telegrams, very likely he is—if he can. May his efforts bo more successful in England than they have been here. John Spain y who is John Sperry ? —has been appoint rd Land Tax Commissioner, at a salary of £/00 a-year ; lucky Reed, fortunate Sperry, and our o'd acquaintance Batty—we beg his pax-don R. B. Martin too, your lines have fallen in pleasant places indeed.

A Dpserving Case. —The Eyreton Road Board has decided to represent the case of Messrs Storer and Belcher, tho two farmers at the bead of Kainpoi Island, who have suffered so severely from the floods in the Waimakariri, to tho Government, with a view to compensation being made to them. The first-named, out of a farm of 120 acres of some of the best land in Canterbury, has about twelve only remaining, and that is in jeopardy every floodMr Rolohor in the last two or three floods JiS 6 bad e-bout eisly acres carried uway.