ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1525, 14 November 1873, Page 13

ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

The New Zealand Herald says:—We here provide a basis for the temperance advocates to build up a structure in support of their cause. In the year now last past, and into the Colony of New Zealand, was imported, from various countries and colonies, 215,057 gallons of brandy, for which duty was paid to the amount of £130,982. Of geneva, there was imported 63,943 gallons, the duty on which amounted to £38,663. New Zealand distilled spirits, 10,730 gallons, the duty at 6s per gallon, proof, coming to £3,220. Of sweetened gin we received 17,223 gallons, which paid £10,500 duty. The quantity of rum imported was 72,389 gallons, paying duty £43,817. Besides which there was manufactured in New Zealand 689 gallons of rum, upon which duty was received of £206. Of whisky, 86,193 gallons were imported, and 22,649 gallons of colonial distillation. The duty collected on whisky—adding imported to colonial manufacture—amounted to £59,010. Leaving out cordials, spirits of wine, perfumed spirits, and other spirituous compounds, the quantity of distilled spirits imported into the Golony of New Zealand was 488,833 gallons, or, estimating it by population, nearly two gallons per head for every man, woman, and child, the duty upon which amounted to £286,413. It is calculated that there were 80,000 to 100,000 gallons ot spirits manufactured at illicit stills, which is more probably under than over the mark ; and this with spirits of wine, together with other kinds of spirits not enumerated, reaches the enormous quantity of 550,000 gallons of spirits imported into or manufactured in New Zealand, the whole of which is consumed. These be large figures. Neither does the advance of the temperance cause keep the • consumption of spirits in check, for wo find that year after year, through a succession of years, reckoning importations against population, the amount manufactured or imported increases.. j