NEW ZEALAND DRINKS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 407, 30 June 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND DRINKS.

There were some very interesting remarks, we find from a Wellington contemporary, made in the Lower House

recently, on clause 32 of the Licensing Act, whicV-Rrovides for wiue licenses, th~wine to be "the produce of fruit grown iu the Colony." Colonel Trimble wanted the word "grape" inserted before "i'ruii," in order to stop the Pale of "the insidious poison'' made in Nelson. Mr Stevens, having the idea of pars >ip cr gooseberry beverages fresh in his iecol-.J/ lection from childhood, pointed out that wines were made from other fruit than the vine. The member for the Bay of Wands wanted to know how Colonel Trimble's amendment would apply to wiue made from honey, as the clause would cause the bpes to become idle—a sad ca amity for the North. The clause also included " cider and perry," which, gave Mr Turnbull the opportunity of remarking that there was a man in Dtmedin who manufactured cider and perry in this wise, and retailed it throughout Otago. He startsd from Dunedin with a barrel, a horse and cart, and a good supply of effervescent powders. His modus opeiandi was very simple. He went to a ! creek, filled his cask, put in his powders, and started to look for customers. Mr Olliver said there were some villainous compounds retailed in the South not fit for a Christian to drink ; and when chal • lenged by the Member for Kaiapoi as to whether he drank those objectionable beverages himself, proved his Christianity by a vigorous denial. Mr Seymour George said large quantities of wine were made in the Rodney district, more than the people who sold them could drink ; they were net sold ; they must perforce be bartered for other goods—whereat the Colonial Treasurer pricked up his ears to see whether a taxable commodity was not eecaping his observation. Mr Bunay, whi'e the clause was being debated, kept calling '•question," but the voices in favor of the " grape" amendment were only three or four, and the clause was passed unaltered.