"MOONSHINE WHISKY"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 June 1926, Page 7

"MOONSHINE WHISKY"

ALLEGED ILLICIT STILLS IN THE SOUTH Though to many it will corv.e as a fantasLic tale, dating from the early Jays of New Zealand's history, there is every reason to believe thai in certain parts of Southland's back country, Mitel possibly towards the 01 ago district, there are still producing illicit "moonshine" whisky in comparatively largo quantities for sale in Invercargill and the surrounding districts (says the Otago Daily Times). In fact, it is slated by responsible Dunedin citizens that, a proportion of this spirit, distilled in the secret recesses of the bush-covered hills, is reaching Dunedin. To a large section of the community in Invercargill and other Southland towns it is common knowledge that illicit supplies of "moonshine" whisky exist; in fact, the. spirit is generally known as "TlokoiTui brand," because of the widespread belief that it is distilled somewhere in the hills of that name. This belief is strengthened by the fact that within tlhe Inst two years men-have been found guilty by the Magistrate in -Invercargill of distilling whisky in that locality. All who have knowledge of the existence of this romantic but illegal trade are of opinion that there were many who were kept beyond the reach of the law when the last arrests were made, and the fact that "moonshine" whisky has appeared in Invercargill since that time lends colour to the opinion. Samples of the whisky are in Dunedin to-day, and in the opinion of those who hold the samples supplies reach the city. A Dunedin business man produced a plain bottle of colourless whisky, which lie said was "moonshine," whisky from Southland. He had had it, tested by an oversens expert, who pronounced io mediocre quality grain whisky. It bad, according to the expert, been matured for ten years, a fact that points tolarge supplies of the spirits being in existence. "The sample is a good one as far as 'moonshine' whisky goes," he said, "and if blended carefully would mix with other whisky from overseas witli satisfactory results; but there are other samples which I have seen that are greatly inferior in quality. Most of the samples are white, but it is an easy matter to : colour the spirit with burnt sugar, and I believe that some supplies are coloured. It is not altogether the amount of whisky that tbese illicit distillers sell—l am quite prepared to admit that in comparison with the regular legal sales in hotels the amount, is very small—but. it is the injury that these bad whiskies, either pure or blended, may do to the public that has to be considered."