“THE DRINKS WE DRINK.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 August 1924, Page 8

“THE DRINKS WE DRINK.”

INTERESTING LECTURE. “The drinks we drink,” formed-the subject of an interesting and educative lecture by Professor F. P; 1--Worley, at Auckland. Professor Worley said water was the basis, the great essential of all- drinks, each being a solution of water. New Zealand was probably better blessed than any other country 1 in regard”to its .water .supply; but the latter was not thought about, except perhaps when- water : was drawn, from the tap, and then sometimes we had ■reason to think. Only the man on the desert or shipwreck realised the true value of water. Dealing with milk, the speaker said it was remarkable how the Maoris' built up Sucll a fine race without the aid of milk, considering the fact -that the : Americans estimate that, a pint of milk a day is essential for a child’s welfare. Alcoholic drinks had been known since earliest times, even uncivilised races having their forms of fermented: liquor. The wealth of a . country was at one time measured by the quantity of corn; Fine and oil it produced. " In this country the .ugiyersal drink was tea, apd tv.e were probably the '.heaviest teadrinking race in/the world. In other countries coffee was more- popular, and it was indeed a difficult matter to obtain a cup of tea in /France/' Although Confucius recorded the existence of tea ~iii the year 500 B-C., it was not mentioned in the works of the classic writers. Tea was .not introduced into Eng-land-till 166 p, after the establishment of : the East .--India Company j- but the •price, 60s 'per pound,’ was prohibitive. Coffee was introduced into England about 1640, and into France in 1669. Coffee-houses then .'became the meeting places of the people; and- their abolition was sought in two petitions made to Charles 11, because it was considered that the community preferred lolling over a cup of coffee to working. ,