VICE-REGAL DRINK

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 January 1926, Page 8

VICE-REGAL DRINK

WINE THAT WAS WATER.

When the Governor-General pays what is called an official visit to the Exhibition it is not always as formal as it sounds, says the “Otago Daily Times.” For instance, on Wednesday morning his Excellency paid an official visit to the Auckland Court, and in the course of time the official partv was indited into the office to sample soine of Auckland’s famous wine.

;. Asked what they would have, most of the party chose port, while three selected sherry. The glasses were emptied, in unison, and a strained silence followed —one of those silences that shriek. Something was clearly wrong. ? 'Finally his Excellency spoke. “Er was that alcoholic liquhrV he asked. " An offiical was quick to assure him most.emphatically that it was. Another strained silence, while each man looked strangely at his neighbour.

“Well,” his Excellency ventured, “I would like to make sure.”

Then an amazing discovery was made. By an unfortunate mischance those who had ordered port had been given a nice tepid drink of coloured water, and his Excellency was among the victims. It appears that the bright array of Auckland wines on exhibit in the court is a delusion and a snare. The bottles contained coloured water, and one of these was apparently mistaken for the real “Mackay.” Arid it is whispered that several who tasted the “port” smacked their lips with evident relish. We are all connoisseurs, more or less.