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Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 59

University students were introduced to mate, a South American drink, at the conclusion of a lecture given by Professor Sperr in-Johnson the other night. It ie a harmless stimulant brewed like tea from the dried leaf of a shrub, and its popularity has saved the Argentine and neighbouring republic from the dangers of pulque, the virulently alcoholic drink which is the curse of Mexico. The mate was brought by the lecturer from Argentina. It is somewhat bitter, being certainly an acquired taste, and the students’ expressions seemed to show that they had not acquired it on first acquaintance. “The banana of Tahiti grows very profusely, and it was hoped to introduce this plant into the northern parts of New Zealand,stated Mr F. W. Christian when lecturing upon the South Seas at Palmerston North. A number of suckers from the plant were on order, he added, and it would be interesting to know that some of this type had been received and were in a greenhouse locally under the supervision of the borough curator. An attempt would be also made to grow the banana in Palmerston North, and indieatioi.3 pointed to success in this direction.