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Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5462, 19 December 1892, Page 2

A correspondent asks us certain questions in reference to the obligations of an upcountry publican. We do not see how any publican could be compelled to keep " a reasonable supply of liquoiv" The difficulty would be to decide what constituted "a reasonable supply." As a rule, however, there is no necessity to compel publicans to keep enough liquor. In our opinion they usually keep too much, and they certainly could not keep too little of the kind that is often kept by country horses. It is, we should say, very much like the "Injianny korn whisky," which Artemus Ward quite seriously averred " ate the bottoms thren'stone jugs." Some of our town houses, it is said, sell the same sort of stuff. There is no necessity to mention namesr-the houses are quite wellknown to the imbibing public and to the police, and every man who goes into them to drink is conscious that he carries his life in his hands. Yet, such is the valor of the Britisher that ho is prepared to run the risk, in order to test how much liquid fire his stomach will stand in this world. We have seen men drink the stuff. One glass does not make them look happy—two glasses makes them look decidedly wretched. Their appearance gives one the idea that they have suddenly become the victims of an internal volcanic eruption which wants to find vent, but which they are determined to keep down, or die in the attempt. . That mock volcanoes may be made by the aid of sulphuric acid, is known to the experimenter in chemistry. This accounts for the phenomenon. Some of these days, if they don't mind, the liquor doctorer will be bowled out by the police. We are assured "that these protectors of the public weal will not stand many more centuries of such conduct on the part of liquor vendors. The answer to our correspondent's second inquiry is that the police are the proper parties to see that the terms of the Licensing Act are properly carried out.