MR J. HARDING’S LECTURE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume VII, Issue 713, 5 December 1884, Page 4

MR J. HARDING’S LECTURE.

We take the following report from the JSLarlbo rough Express : —All interesting lecture on “ The Destruction of food in the manufacture of Intoxicating Drinks,” was given on November Blth, in the Good Templars’ Hall, by Bro. John Harding, of Mount Vernon, Hawke’s Bay, G.W.C.T. of the Order of Good Templars. The lecture, which was given under the auspises of the Aggressive and Rose of Zealandia Lodges, was illustrated by diagrams and chemical experiments. The lecturer, who employs a homely and chatty style of illustration, clearly demonstrated the chemical changes which takes place in barley in tbe course of its conversion into beer, and the almost total destruction of the food - giving and nourishing properties in order that the grain may pass through the stages of saccharine and vinous fermentations, and that the starch may pass into sugar and thence into alcohol. The diagrams showed the marked decrease in the bulk of the solid matter as the barley became malt, then sweet-wort, and finally beer; and the lecturer

showed hy experiment that it was not until the sweet-wort had been subjected to fermentation that there was anv alcohol present. Describing alcohol as “ the Devil,” and exhibiting it in the form of a lurid blue flame, Mr Harding tested a number of intoxicating drinks, and several so-called “ temperance” beverages. In all of them alcohol was found in a greater or lesser degree, and the flame emitted fromginger wine, peach wine, and fruit wine of another kind —all made in Blenheim must have induced tbe total abstainers henceforth to “swear off” even those palatable compounds. The lecturer added that he had applied the test —a very simple one, and within everybody’s reach —to Montserrat lime juice, a refreshing beverage greatly consumed in hot weather, and found it to contain a large amount of spirit. Wherever there was sugar there was fermentation, he pointed out ; and wherever there was fermentation there was alcohol, and a “ teetotaller’s nose,” added Mr Harding, ought always to be able to detect it. The remainder of the lecture contained the usual moral and practical arguments in favor of total abstinence, and they were listened to with deep attention. The audience, unfortunately, was not so large as could have been desired. The chair was taken by Mr George Henderson, who, in tendering Mr Harding the thanks of the meeting for bis lecture, took occasion to express his long-standing sympathy for the Temperance cause, and his high appreciation of the work done by the Good Templars. On the motion of Mr W. B. Earll, who urged all total abstainers to jointhe order, the customary compliment was paid to the Chairman.