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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 673, 29 January 1903, Page 9

The King’s cigars arc especially made for him in Cuba of the finest Vuelta Abajo tobacco. Only perfect leaves are used, of a rather dark —Colorado maduro—colour. These are made up into a longish cigar; nine inches/ with a girth of one and a-quarter inches' at the. thickest. Their manufacture alone costs one shilling a cigar, and the completed article, with the band bearing the Royal Arms, represents exactly four shillings as it leaves* the factory in Havana. To this must be added the import duty, which the King pays at the English port, so, that, each of His Majesty’s cigars costs 4s 3d. A thousand is the number usually ordered at a time. In addition to these, the King keeps a hundred or two cigars of the rarest order for special occasions. Ordinarily, these Kbh-i-j Nors of tobacco never leave Cuba, but are reserved by the planters for their own delectation. Royal importunity, however, brings some to Europe, delicately" wrapped in oilskin and sealed in glass cases. These cigars cost 30s each —and are worth the mbnev. . ' . -

Until a year ago the King used to cremate half a dozen cigars a day, with cigarettes galore to fill up the odd moments. His Majesty has never used a pipe, through statements to this effect have been erroneously made. Last autumn, as the result of this ardent, wooing of Lady Nicotine,, the King suffered from “ smoker’s throat,” and by medical advice restricted hiniself to two cigars per diem. Royal personages, indeed, are given to excessive smoking," for the late King Humbert of Italy was a tremendous smoker. His doctors pointed out that the habit was undermining his health, whereupon he promised, “ on the faith of a king,” never to touch cigar or pipe again, nor did; be break his vow..

At the Napi«rsB.M. Court, on the 19th inat. fines were ir flißted aa follows ;in cases of prohibited persona found on licensed premises.Alexander Cameron, £l, costs 7».; Robert Keetley, £l, costs ils ; John'R Martin,'£l, costs 12a. 7he alternative in each case was seven days' imprisonment.