LOTTERY MANIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1925, Page 3

LOTTERY MANIA.

DECLINING IN EUROPE. During recent years State lotteries tin the Continent have notably declined. In this the Continent has linhurrvingly lolluwod British example, for our fast State lottery was held nearly a century ago (writes E. I'. Gregory in the “Daily News”). But if we abandoned lotteries so long ago, it was only after an extensive experience of them. Our first State lottery was held as early as 15(19. Its objects, if not the method employed to attain them, weie laudable enough, for the profits were to ho ” converted towards the reparations of the Havens and Strength of the von line, and towards such othei public good workes.” Everybody was awarded a prize of some sort. That it was successful may he .guessed from the fact that the drawings, which took place at a door of St. Paul’s Cathedral numbered JOd.OdO and occupied four months.

A few years later England was seized with lottery mania. The element of chance invaded every department o daily life. “There were,” says an old chronicler, “lottery magazines, lottery tailors and dressmakers; lottery glovers. hat-makers and tea dealers; lottery .snuff and pigtail merchants; bitten’ barbers, who promised, on payment of 3d. to shave you and give y<m a chance of being paid £lO. . • ' ot ' terv oyster-stalls, where 3d yielded a dozen oysters and a very distant prospect of five guineas.” j Our last State lottery was preceded hv lie coming ceremony. The streets of London were paraded by a gorgeous procession. There were men robed m scarlet and gold; bands of trumpets, clarionets, horns, etc., purple silk banners and Hags, announcing the approaching end of lotteries; and carriages. one of which was surmounted by "an Imperial crown. A great crowd witnessed the drawing, which took place on October IS, IS2K, at Cooper s Hall, Basingliall Street.