LIGHT WINES.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 37, 1 February 1864, Page 6

LIGHT WINES.

(I< rom the Sydney Herald.) Every one acquainted with the domestic history of England, and with tlie customs of our forefathers, must be aware that the consumption of wine of the lighter character was almost universal in all families to whom any kind of luxury was accessible. This wine was commonly kept in wood and drawn off for table use, as sinco it has been nistomavy to keep and draw oIF beer. This habit was not altogether abolished, especially in Scotland, down io a very late period. Tv the ''Memorials of his own Time," by Henry Cockburu, recently published, the author tells us : — " 1 have heard JTenry Mackenzie and other old people say that when a cargo of claret came to Leith, the common way of proclaiming its arrival was by sending a hogshead of it through the town on a cart, with a horn, and (bat any. body who wanted a sample, or a drink under pretence of a sample, had only to go Io the cart with a jug, which, without much nicety about its size, was filled for a sixpence. The tax ended this mode of advertising, and, aided by the horror of everything French, drove claret from all tables below the richest." The haired of ovevyl.li.mg French, liowevev, discouraged flic use of those light wines supplied by that country. The political interests of England, as they were then understood (unfortunately misunderstood), lod us to contract a special alliance with Portugal, and to give a great fiscal preference to the wines of that- country. Thus the use of wine in England gradually was con lined to the more wealthy rhisse.- wlio could alKml ihe dearer kind, and the practice described by Mackenzie passed into a remote tradition. There can be no doubt thai (he system of license which wan introduced into England for the purpose of taxation al.-o tended to discourage the use of the lighter and cheaper wines. The great, magnitude of ihe breweries of the metropolis whose trade was carried out on the largest scale, comprehending not, merely the production aud Kale of beev; but the subsidising of houses for its sale, lemle.l to discourage the use of wines and to make strong ales and porter the universal aud popular beverage. The vineyards of the Continent are. however, the great source of its wealth. Although for the "present England is looking io France for the supply of wines, (.here can be no question that, with tho improved means of communication, the Hungarian will be as commonly used. Tlie latter country h celebrated for its vineyards, which stretch for miles, and are planted on all. kinds ot" soil, giving those various qualities by which they aw. distinguished. tt is .said in a late article of the Quarterly Rcriew that the wines of Hungary contain upfvards o\' 5 per cent, niorealeohol than the ordinary wines of France, ami that they are to be bought in Pesth for per dozen bottles, 'each containing a quart. The expense, however, of conveying them from thai country by a circuitous route and a tedious voyage imposes a large addiliom.l cost, so that when (hey reach London, though .•••o cheap in Ihe country of production, they are (leaver than those of France. The cultivation of wine in Australia, is taking the proportions of a fixed, interest, ;md our own productions will doubtless gradually supersede the wines now imported. It is the intovost of tliis country, liowevor, to impose no dli'.iculty to tlie introduction of wines I'rom any quarter, and especially since tlie imperial law which prevents diilereutial duties woidd impose upon the wines of Adelaide or Queensland (he same tax as upon (he wines of France. As it is the interest of this count j-y to become the depot of wine a,< well as of all other goods, it must be our interest fo encourage the introduction of beth Australian and continental wines, and il is impossible to say to what extent such :i trade might be carried if it were cultivated with leal. Leaving out ol' the question the controversy as to ihe sanitary or oilier consequences of wine-drinking, we p:v*ume no one will doubt that the encuir^geisie.'Jt of the production of light wines like those of the Continent, would be a benefit to the people. It is a fact everywhere remarked, that intoxication is not the vice of .the vineyard — that it is not found among those who draw their wine for ordinary dietary purposes — who havenoeorks or bottles, but who go to the tuu and take from it, as from the meal tub, what, and no more than is required. "Whether there is anything in Ilia constitution of Knglisir.uen to render extreme cost necessary to preserve them in the sober use of wines is a question' which we shall leave to others to determine ; but it is quite certain' that the qua:ititJt:» which the ropers of former years were accustomed to drink would, ■with wines as they arc r/lapted to the prevailing tame, not only send tho drinkers under the table, but into the grave. It is the duty of G-overnment io avail itself of the lia bits ot'tlie people for the purpose of levying taxation, but. it is dangerous to corrupt them. Nothing can be worse economy than that which acquires a revenue by sapping tlie strength and morals of the people. It is not, however, by mere statements of the obligations "of .sobriety tliat we shall recall the population to sober- habits. It is in this, as 'in everything else, by the substitution of lawful and innocent pleasures, that the temptation to excess will be withdrawn. On this account, we doubt" the prudence of the proposition niaile by the G-jvorament to impose an equal duty on all wines. The policy of -England in reibrov.ee to Franca lias proved niost salutary, as far as the duty is concerned, anil has given relief in a time of great- national strait. We iiv-i not bound by the policy of England, and if our trade in wine witli France would nofc be benericial to this country, there is no reason why we should desire its extcusio::. Uat v;a imagine that our interest and ovlt inKlin&iions lie in the same path, and we cannot do better than remove all obstruction? to the admission of those lighter wines which happily are becoming known to the English workmen, and which when ones ho is induced to prefer them, he will not be likely to | abandon for a more hsating an J less wiiolesome | beverage. If, however, light wines are desir- | able for a people living in the latitude of Great Britain, and subject to its moist and sombre climate, how much more adapted are i they to the constitution of tho Australian, whose .country will one day not only supply an abundant vintage, and sunoraede omiye!y all foreign importation*, but Turnish m article of extensive commerce,

PLEURO-PNEUMONIA IN OTAGO MrR. D. Bush, Impotor of Cattle in the Waikouaiti District, report.-* as follows on the lGtll inst. :—■ • " 1 arrived here on Saturday night last, and make known, as far .as possible, on Sunday, that cattle could not be allowed to leave the infected districts, and I have now the honor to report as follows •- — " Ist. That Thomas Jones and M. Orbell, .Esqrs, willingly consented to act as you suggested, and to do all in their power to aid in carrying out the Government regulations. Mr. Orbell has stationed a man out in the district of their run, to keep a portion of the boundary ; but. this is an increased expense, which some of tho stock-owners outside the boundaries con-' sider ought to be borne by the public, — nevertheless, they will undoubtedly do all in their power to prevent tho disease spreading. I have not yet seen Mr Wayne, that gentleman having gone to the Upper .Station. I shall, however, visit the Shag River side of the district again to-day, and endeavor to sec him. " 2nd. The Maories have been in a great consternation about a team of bidlocks from Wiukounif i boing emijloyed to draw pilfes from the bush near Mr Thomas Jones's to tho Government Works on tlie North road. I visited that, district early on Monday morning, and prevented tho team in question i'rom going there again. " 3rd. I visited the slaughtering place in Mr Jones's paddock, but gave no instructions, nor took any i>nrt in tho proceedings, as not having received any official instructions, and not being aware whether the Government had made arrangements with Mr Jones, or that Mr Jones was slaughtering wholesale without an ■understanding with the Government, I deemed if. better to bo quiescent until further instructed. I regret, however, to state that tho ease is decidedly a bad one ; most, in fact, nearly all, of the cattle showing decided symptoms of the disorder. Seventy-one head were destroyed yesterday, and they are proceeding with the work of destruction again io day. The expense of the slaughtering will be somewhat considerable, oven although firewood is near, and should the disease spread, that item will be costly, and may be worth consideration. " <lfch. 1 visited tho Shag Hive;* district during tlie after part of yesterday, and at the request of residents of tho locality and along the road, 1 examined various lots of cattle, and found them healthy. In one instance great concern was expressed about the health of a bull running amongst the cows of various owners at Hag Swamp, but 1 found tho animal in perfect health as far as can bo .judged ah present. I must keep a watchful eye upon tho boast, us I have since been informed that he wa-s one of a lot of trespassers which have been turned out of Jones's paddock. 1 regret, however, to state that on my return in the evening I entered a paddock of Mr Hepburn's, in which a herd of imported cattle are grazing, and although it was rather •late, and 1 could not get near the cattle on foot (having to leave my horse outside), some unfavorable symptoms were evinced. I shall df course watch this ease, but in the absence of instructions I urn at a loss as to my authority to enter enclosed ground. " sth. 1 find thai: several teams of working bullocks, chieily belonging to carriers, left the district immediately the existence of the disease was conlinncd, and are now camped beyond tho Shag Itivor. 1 believe other cattle also crossed. "Oth. Q.uesl ions are frequently asked as to amount of Government payment in ease of loss ; as to the expense of killing and burning when necessary. What is to be done with cattle, which may happen to get astray across the boundary ? In one. instance a person residing in Waikouaiti has a cow running amongst, the Maori cattle at Kaika. The owner wants to sell the cow, and threatened to fetch it into the township for that purpose, which greatly concerns the natives, as they feel certain the cow would return to them. Some strangers are about the district seeking to convey the idea that the disease is simply a ship lover ; but whatever name is given, or whence its origin, it is unmistakeably the same complaint as tho ploui-o-pneumonia of Australia-, although tho voyage and subsequent treatmeut may be sufficient to create a virulent disease, aud is sure to augment previously existing distemper. On tho 20th inst. he further reports : — " I have again visited tho scene of destruction iv Mr. Jones's paddock, and find the work almost done ; only three of the imported mobs remaining, and they were to bo shot after I left, the ground. The work of burning, however, will not bo completed until to-morrow. Tho neighbourhood of Shag "River is very difficult to keep safe, and requires watchmen on the spot to prevent breaches of the regulations. It is a great, thoroughfare. I have made known as far as possible the requirements of Clause 10, of the regulations, but find that a few printed notices, containing the Clause, will be necessary to eflect prompt registration.