Trade Topics

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 704, 3 September 1903, Page 20

Trade Topics

We arc Had to notice that Mr Janies Rolleston, the genial proprietor of the Central Hotel, Who has been laid up for several weeks with a very severe cold, is convalescent and able to be about again. We trust soon to witness his complete recovery.

Mr “Joe” Molloy, the popular host of the Albion Hotel, Hobson and Wellesley Streets, seems to enjoy almost a monopoly of the footballers’ patronage. Out of nine teams that have visited Auckland this season, no less than seven put up kt the Albion, and some idea of the comforts they find there may be gathered from a little incident that occurred last Friday. On that day, Mr Phelan, manager of the Northern Wairoa Reps., in the presence of many members of the team and others, presented Mr Molloy with a handsomely-framed and inscribed photograph of the team by way of recognising Ihe many kindnesses they had received at his hands. Mr Phelan spoke eulogistically of the host and house, and the company drank Mr Molloy’s health in bumpers. Mr Molloy suitably and feelingly replied. He said it gave him 'great pleasure to know that his efforts to secure the comfort of his guests had been not only successful, but so much appreciated. He would greatly prize the handsome souvenir presented by the team. The proceedings were of a most cordial nature throughout.

A Press Association telegram from Gisborne last week stated :—“ A country hotelkeeper was to-day fined £lO and' costs £2 3s for Sunday trading. The evidence showed that four men went into the hotel and were supplied with drinks. They went in and out of the hotel on four subsequent occasions within one hour, being on each occasion supplied with drink. ‘ A more disgraceful case than this,' said Mr Barton, S.M., ‘ I have never heard of. lam quite satisfied Sunday trading is carried on in this district to a considerable extent, and when a charge is proved I shall make the penalty substantial. Many of the publicans appear to be courting prohibition, ana they will assuredly get it if the present state of things ’continues.’ His Worship ordered a conviction to be endorsed on the license.

The decision of Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., in the case of F. J. Brogan, licensee of the Princess Hotel, Molesw orth-street, Wellington, charged with having permitted drunkenness on his premises, was given last week. The facts alleged were that a man named Griffiths, who had been locked up for drunkenness, was released next morning on bail. Later in the morning he was rearrested for drunkenness, the evidence showing that he had had drink in defendant’s house. His .Worship said that on the evidence he could not say that it had been proved beyond reasonable doubt that Griffiths was drunk when on defendant’s licensed premises. ‘ The sworn testimony affirmed that the man was not drunk. Even if he was there was nothing in the evidence to show that defendant knew or connived at it, or contributed. to it through carelessness. . The only evidence that the man was drunk when on the defendant’s premises was that he was found in that condition about an hour and a-half after he had left, and after he had travelled about a mile and passed other hotels on the way. His Worship could not in the face of the sworn testimony take this as sufficient to support the information. .The information would be dismissed without costs.

It is said that smoking is on the increase in nearly all countries. In Paris and Madrid the ladies are taking to men’s cigarettes and cigars. This is the case nearer home, also, where women who smoke soon take to stronger tobacco than manv men care for.

Another reminder of the neglected con dition of the wine industry comes from London. A communication has been received by the authorities of the Agricultural Department from the secretary to the Agent-General, stating that the man 1 ager of a leading wine firm had called on him and expressed himself as impressed with the potentialities of the trade in Australian wine in England if the industry were worked properly. He pointed out that the chief thing needed to ensure success is uniform quality from year to year. Two or three cases have been brought to the notice of the AgentGeneral’s department where grocers and wine merchants of standing have endeavoured to push Australian wines amongst their own clients with considerable success, but they eventually had to discontinue owing to their inability to obtain wine of the same quality as had been previously supplied. ♦

Thus “Boondi” in the “Referee” “Down with fhe accur-rsed drink!” is still the cry of the “Never Touch It” Brigade, and apparently the people are responding to the shout and putting the stuff down (their throats) with a vim that should bring joy to the Licensed Victuallers,’ Association, at least. This seems to be a correct deduction when we read that Biewer Guinness can give \£50,000 away in charity, and not feel it any more than I would feel the loss of a id., and even in this young land it is possible for a brewer to leave a quarter of a million behind him when he dies, while our best poet, painter, or musician could probably leave nothing but a heap of unpaid bills. Some idea of the hopelessness of the Cold Water. Cause can be guessed from the fact that the first prohibitive measure started was that of the Saxon King, Edgar, who nearly 1000 years ago, on the advice of Bishop Dunstan, put down many ale houses, only allowing one to exist in any village or small town, and at the same time he limited the draughts of the drinkers as well. The common drinking cup of that time held about two quarts, and Edgar had eight pegs placed at stated distances in each cup, heavy penalties being imposed on those who drank further than from one peg to another at a time. It was all waste-of time, however ; men got over the pegs as easily as Marmont gels over his hurdles, and no one troubled about the law until King Henry VII., who gave power to any two J'sP. to stop the selling of ale in towns and places where they thought it necessary. But the magistrates of old loved their long-sleevers cf “yale” as much as the peasants did, and the owly places they prevented it being sold were those where there were no people to drink it. The “nut-brown ale of good Queen Bess” bad. its praises chanted by high and low. rich and poor, and England never turned out more brainy or brawny f'ons or plumper or lovelier women than when the “yale” flowed like water, and all hands anticipated the fine porter song in “Martha,” with its stirring refraiw, “Hurrah, hurrah, for the hops and malt: they are life’s flavor and life’s salt ' ”