TEA AT £6 6s PER LB.

Otaki Mail, 28 February 1919, Page 4

TEA AT £6 6s PER LB.

EEFUSED BY SEAMEN. Tea worth £<> (is per .pound; was rejected by fastidious firemen on-a transport/which recently arrived at Melbourne, says the Melbourne '' Argus.'' One day during the voyage they were served with tea of a variety to which they were nor accustomed. It looked pale and was presumed to be very weak. They lost no time in lodging a jcompiai'nt with, flip steward. He examined the tea aud obligingly agreed that it was watery. The result was that, the chest from which the -tea was ■taken was put away and used no more. When the vessel reached Melbourne it was handed over to an officer of the Board of Public Health as unfit tea for human consumption. In accordance with the usual practice the health officer passed on the objectionable sample to the Customs expert, Mr Everara. who is recognised as one of the State's leading authorities on tea. Mr Everard opened" the ease' and rubbed his eyes in amazement. The tea which the firemen had condemned in their own polite phrase as "hogwash" was a perfect sample of a rare Japanese variety worth, according to Mr Evcrard, about £6 (is a pound. If is unobtainable in Australia, and in other parts of tho world supplies arc very scarce, and can be procured by connoisseurs only at a price prohibitive to'the man of ordinary means. So rare is the variety that Mr Evernrd himself had.never before had the opportunity of handling a sample. He had no difficulty in recognising if. however, owing to the delicate aroma and peculiar colour, tho leaves being a kind of olive green with a golden tip. How the case came on board tho transport it is impossible to say. The firemen have now gone back to tea of 9d or lOd a pound variety, and are presumably quite happy.