THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GAZETTE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 863, 20 September 1906, Page 20

THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GAZETTE

topics Mr James Ryan, who died at Westport recently, was at the time of his death, licensee of the Albion Hotel. ' He was an old resident on the West Coast, having been in business for many years at Lyell. ♦* « » In the Oamaru Magistrate’s Court last Friday, before Major Keddell, Charles Kearns, a second-hand dealer, pleaded guilty to keeping liquor for sale in a no-license area, and was fined and costs. ♦♦» ■ * Messrs John Begg and Co., of the Lochnagar Distillery, intend to have a show s:and of whiskies at the ‘New Zealand Exhibition.’ • At Onehunga last week a man was fined £3 and cos-ts for refusing to quit licensed premises. The Russian spirit monopoly this year has yielded 30,000,000 roubles above the Budget estimate. * * * * Mr A H. Rogers, formerly of the Criterion Cafe, Manners Street, Wellington, has taken the Albion Hotel, Wanganui. Early on the morning of the 12th, a cyclone struck the town of Bpurke in New South Wales, and did great damage, many buildings were badly damaged, and the Caledonian Hotel, a brick building, was wrecked, the inmates having a very narrow escape. ♦ * * » Mr James Musket, who had followed the occupation of a cordial manufacturer at the Thames for the last 30 years, died suddenly at that place last Thursday morning. The building formerly known as the Victoria Hotel, Onehunga, and which lost the license by the Manukau reduction Vote, was sold by auction las-t Friday for ;£6oo. * * » » , At the Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee meeting, held at Tauranga, the license for the Sterling Hotel at i Waihi was renewed, the police having reported that the requirements of the Bench had been attended to. Other alterations, etc., were expected ’to be completed in three weeks’ time. It was resolved that in connection with all new buildings for licensed premises or additions to old ones, where the same are over one storey in heigh-t, the committee will require as a minimum that a fire-escape balcony of approved design must be carried all round such new building of addition below the windows of the upper floor or ’ floors, - with suitable stairs leading therefrom to the ground, where ordered. : * * * * Mr and Mrs Frank Pilling, of the; Palace Hotel, Te Aroha, returned -to Auckland last week, after a lengthy tour of Australia and the Islands « * # « At Invercargill last week a man, was fined £5O for selling a nip of whisky in the no-license area. ’ * * * ■* i The adjourned meeting of the Manukau Licensing Committee was held last Thursday. * * « • Alterations have been commenced at the building lately known as the Eden Vine Hotel Seven shops will in future occupy the hotel site. 1 A law passed in Norway prohibits the sale of tobacco to any boy under sixteen ] years of age without a signed order i from an adult relative or employer. 1 Even tourists who offer cigarettes to < boys render themselves liable to prose- s cution. The police are instructed to confiscate the pipes, cigars, and cigar- 5 ettes of lads who smoke in the public 1 streets. •!

Vast year the New Zealand public treasury received a windfall of in the form of unclaimed moneys in intestate estates. * * * * At Waitekauri one morning last week a painful accident occurred to a young woman named Vene Anderson, a domestic servant employed at the Waitekauri Hotel. It appears that her blouse caught alight while she was engaged in lighting a fire. No one else being about, she ran to the river to extinguish the flames. Before reaching the water she was severely burned, especially on her arms and back. Mr Kerr, her employer, at once brought her in a buggy to the Waihi hospital, where she is receiving every attention, and is as well as can be expected. In Gisborne last week a sentence of six weeks’ hard labour was imposed at the Police Court on a man named David Morgan, who had exposed indecent cards to the wife of a hotelkeeper and also -to a barmaid The magistrate (Mr Barton, S.M.) said the law did not permit him to inflict a monetary penalty, and if it did he would not be inclined to do it. Accused woufd be sentenced -to six weeks’, which would teach him in future not to expose such cards to females. Accused was no man to do it. * * * * Mrs Durance, well-known in local hotelkeeping circles, left for Suva, Fiji, by the last steamer, with a view to entering the hotel business ‘there. Mr J. Bertie, who for some years was hotelkeeping in Wellington, also left by same steamer with a similar object in view. * * * * The Timaru Licensing Committee has just had a peculiar circumstance to deal with in the case of a small country hotel. A servant in the house had lent the licensee some money to enable him to take the house, and -the police and customers complained that this monetary relation between them gave rise to divided authority in the management of the place. The committee granted renewal of the license on condi-tion that this relation is abolished in. some, way before. next licensing day.

A recent arrival to the colony named Walter Bibbing, was found dead in a bedroom in a Wellington hotel last week. Medical evidence showed that death was the result of drinking oxalic acid.

At one of the local banks the other day (says the “Taranaki Herald”) a son of toil, who had evidently been making a land deal, or something of the kind, approached the counter with a certified cheque for several hundred pounds, and demanded to be paid in gold. The astonished -teller, who is almost invariably asked for notes of large denomination when a big sum is being handled, handed over a huge pile of sovereigns, which the recipient deposited in a large bonedust sack. Last seen he was nonchalantly marching down the street with the sack across his shoulder as if it contained nothing more valuable than groceries. * * * * Mr W Hinchey is now installed as mine host of the “Eagle” a-t the Bluff. This hotel is right opposite the Railway Station, and the generosity of Host Hinchey, together with the excellence of the liquor at the Eagle, are certain to obtain him a fair share of the trade. * * * * The landlord of the Commercial Hotel, -Woodville was looking for a gas escape with a light the other night, when he found it—the explosion -throwing a boarder against the wall and burning his face and hands, while the landlord was considerably injured. * * * * St. Paul’s advice to Timothy, “Take a little wine for thy stomach’s sake,” provided a little pleasantry at a meeting in New Plymouth. The Rev S. S. Osborne said -that a Prohibitionist friend construed this admonition that the wine should be used externally. (Laughter.) The speaker had at least the majority with him in remarking he could hardly believe the apostle meant the injunction •to apply in this manner.

The Dunedin police las-t week received information that John McCrosbie, a rabbiter, 52 years of age, had dropped dead at the Lindis Pass Hotel. Some weeks ago a doctor prescribed for him for heart disease. * * * * Since the advent of Prohibition at Invercargill, several changes have taken place in the proprietorship of the hotels at the Bluff. Mr Chas. Tulloch has entered into possession of the “Bay, View,” and intends to make a big bid for trade. The hotel has many advantages, such as large airy bedrooms, hot, cold, and shower baths, also a billiard-room. Host Tulloch intends to keep nothing but the best in the way of liquor. We predict a busy time at the ‘‘Bay View.” NO-LICENSE CASES. At Balclutha last week, before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., charges against George Francis Grenewood and George Fisher, of having, between certain dates, kept alcoholic liquors for sale in a prohib:tion district, were dismissed without prejudice, on the contention of counsel for the defence that although sale of liquor outside the district to defendants was proved, there was no evidence to prove it went into or was kept in a prohibition district. William Marshall was convicted of keeping liquor for sale in a no-license district, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment without hard labour Counsel for the defence raised the point that there was no proof of the liquor being in a no-license district, and asked for an adjournment to have the point settled. He declined to put his client in the witness-box, as that would destroy his law point. The magistrate said the onus was on accused, and if he did not take the opportunity he would be convicted. Sentence was stayed for seven days, to allow of appeal being proceeded with. Michael Liston, on a similar charge, was fined £5O and costs, execution being stayed pending appeal on the same grounds as in the previous case.

MANUKAU LICENSING BENCH. The Quarterly Meeting of the Manukau Licensing Committee was held at Onehunga at noon last Thursday. Members of the Commi-ttee present were:— Messrs Dyer (Chairman), J. Rowe, McLoughlin, McLennan, Gordon and Rowe. Sergeant Twomey said the report was satisfactory, and there was nothing to call for the attention of the Committee Transfers.—The application for a permanent -transfer of the Prince Albert Hotel license, Onehunga, from C. Dalziel to John Russell, was granted. Mr McLean appeared to apply for a transfer of the Star Hotel license, Otahuhu, from J. Regan to A. L. Higgins. The transfer was granted. Other transfers were granted of the license of the Railway Ho-tel, Drury, from C. L Kasper to Samuel Morrison, and of the Globe Hotel, Papakura, from Walter uGise to David Morrison. HOTEL AND HALL BURNED AT KARANGAHAKE. A fire, which occurred at Karangahake about half-past nine o’clock last Sunday night, totally destroyed the Tramway Hotel and the hall and billiard room next to it. The fire s-tarted in the hotel, and as there was nobody about at the time it had a good hold before it was discovered. When the fire brigade arrived there was some delay in getting the water, and when the water was available -the efforts of the brigade were useless, as the hose was perished and burst in several places The fire burned so fiercely that practically nothing was saved from the hotel. The hall and billiard-room, which were alongside, soon caught fire, and were also soon completely destroyed. Had the fire brigade’s gear been in good order the bil-liard-room and hotel would probably have been saved. The origin of -the fire is unknown, but it started somewhere at the back of the hotel and near the pantry. The buildings were owned by Mrs W. Montgomery, sen., and were leased to Mr P. Crosby, the licensee of the hotel.

The hotel building was insured for in the New Zealand Company, £3OO being retained, and the balance reinsured. The stock, furniture, billiard tables, and pianos were insured for £B5O in the name of Mrs K. Crosby, £l5O being held by the New Zealand Company, and the remainder reinsured The hall was also insured in the New Zealand Office for of which £75 was retained by the company, and the remainder reinsured. PUBLICAN COMMENDED. At the Onehunga Magistrate’s Court ast Thursday, before Mr Dyer, S.M., Charles Woods was charged with refusing to quit the licensed premises of Herman Schrriidel. Defendant pleaded guilty. Sergeant Twomey said defendant was drunk at the time. Woods stated that he was not drunk Constable McGlone deposed that defendant was in a cantankerous condition, and that 'the publican was justified in refusing him liquor. His Worship said the publican was to be commended. Defendant was convicted and fined £3, costs 9s. MORE SLY GROG SELLING. In Dunedin last Friday at the Police Court, Alice Blair was charged with sly grog-selling. Evidence was givem by ■two constables, who joined the force on the Ist of the month, that they went to the house on Sunday, and were supplied with bottles of beer, for wh.ch they paid 3s. When leaving they asked for another bottle to take away with them, and this was supplied at the same price. Mr C. C Graham, S.M., imposed a fine of £5O, and 7s costs, and on a second charge, arising out of a similar transaction the following day, a fine of £lO and costs was inflicted. Sergeant King said the woman had been carrying on business for years. The magistrate remarked that this and other cases showed that hotelkeepers were ndt altogether responsible lor Sunday drunkenness. AN EXPENSIVE NIP. In the Police Court at Invercargill last week, Thos. L. Anderson, a railway man down here on a week’s leave from Dunedin, was fined £5O to-day, on conviction for selling whisky out of a bottle on the street last Saturday. He did not deny being in possession of is worth of whisky, bought a-t the Bluff for his own use, and giving a nip to a man who had come in from the country and was wet and cold. This man gave evidence that he paid Anderson 6d for the whisky.

THE TOURIST TRAFFIC. ; Last month, according to figures ■collected by -the Tourist Department, ; the number of oversea visitors to Auckland who stayed at the principal hotels and boardinghouses was in round figures 400. Of .these 99 .were from ..England, 148 from New South Wales, 49 from the United States, and 22 from Victoria. This represented an increase of about 100 per cent .on 'the preceding month, and shows to a small extent the importance of the tourist traffic to Auckland. For the present winter has been considered as a rather slack one in the tourist traffic, the volume of which in the full swing of a busy season can be somewhat imagined from these returns, which do not take into consideration those people who stay with friends or at the innumerable lesser hotels and boardinghouses WAITARA HOTEL BURNED DOWN. Early last Monday morning a destructive fire occurred at Waitara, totally' destroying the Waitara Hotel, Mr Dugdale’s furniture establishment, and Mr Sampson’s stationery shop and billiardrooms. A housemaid was awakened by a crackling noise in the hotel, and the fire was located in the diningroom. No water being available the place was soon enveloped in flames. By pulling down the intervening buildings and dynamiting the burning portion, several premises, including the Waitara Mail, were saved. The licensee, Captain Young (late of the Otago Buffet, Wellington), is a heavy

loser, haviiig jonly ’ taken possession a 1 fortnight! ago', and paid for the lease* -The? : building was owned by Mr D, Leslie, of’ > Auckland, and insured in the jdinti names of the owner and. 'the Waitara Harbour Board lor £9OO, in the Sun office The furniture and stock were insured for £350 in the Sun, and in the Commercial Union.: Captain Young estimates his loss at including /,45c personal effects, uninsured, and the boarders are also considerable losers, escaping in their night clothes. Mr Dugdale’s s.ock was insured for in the Sun, and the build.ng for in the South British. He estimates his loss at £250. Mr Sampson’s building had a cover of £2OO in the South British, and the bill.ard table in the South British. The s.ock was uninsured, and he estimates his loss in stock at £2OO. The origin of the outbreak is a mystery. WHISKY LABELS. In Wellington last Friday, an important prosecution was heard by Mr W. G. Riddell, SM. We are indebted to the “New Zealand Times’’ for ‘the full details which will no doubt be read with much interest by members of the trade. The defendants were Margaret Blyth (licensee of the Royal Tiger Hotel), Thomas William Clapham (Ngahauranga Hotel), and Edward F.tzgerald (White Horse Hotel). In each case .he two following charges were made: — (1) That, on June 14’th last, having in their possession certain bottles with ..labels affixed thereon, defendants, ■ without destroying such labels, made use of the bottles for the purpose of bottling liquor for sale. (2) That, on June 14‘th, defendants applied a false trade description to whisky contained in bottles sold to Michael Greene and William James Simpson. Mr Myers, Crown Solicitor, prosecuted. Mr Campbell and Mr Blair appeared for Mrs Blyth, whose case was the only one heard. Mr Myers said it had apparently become a practice ot ho.etkeepers to open bottles of one brand of whisky, and, when they were empty, to retill them with whisky made by other manufacturers, not case whisky, but draught. Frequently, for instance, Robertson’s or some other whisky was placed on 'the shelf in a bar in a bottle that previously contained Crawiord’s or some other brand of whisky-, and from which the original label had not been effaced These informations had been laid to test whether this was admissible. It was submitted that the meaning and intention of section 175 of the Licensing Act was that persons going into a hotel 'and asking fqr liquor exposed for sale they were entitled to get the liquor they asked for. In the case of Mrs Blyth, said Mr Myers, two constables went to her hotel. One asked lor some “Crawford’s whisky” (defendant being in the bar) and the the other for “Buchanan’s.” Defendant had none of the latter, and the constable thereupon asked for “Walker’s.” Defendant produced two bottles, one labelled “Crawford” and the other “Walker.” She sold the two bottles as they were (nearly full) to the constables. The bottles were sealed up, and taken to the Government Analyse to be analysed and compared -with bottles- of Crawford’s and Walker’s wh.sky bought from the merchants acting as agents for those brands. The result of this analysis showed very great discrepancies between the wholesale, or genuine, article and that sold by defendant to the constables. In the case of Crawford’s whisky the stuff obtained from Mrs Blyth showed of proof spirit 77.42 per cent., the sample from the merchant showing 84 02 per cent. The whisky sold as Walker’s by defendant showed 77-96 per cent, proof spirit, and the sample bought from Walker’s agents 82.35 per cent. So great were the discrepancies that it was obvious the whisky bought from defendant was not what it purported to be. It. was proved, also, by the analysis -that the whisky in both bottles from the hotel was most probably the same brand. After the report of the analyst 'the two constables went -to Mrs Blyth again Mr Campbell here objected to any evidence being brought as to any statements made by defendant to the two constables They went there when no one else was present and examined and crossexamined Mrs Blyth. Such practices had been denounced in very strong terms by Mr Justice Cave. His Worship: It is improper. It has been commented on by Mr Justice Edwards more than once. Mr Myers said it depended upon what was done. If his instructions were correct there could not be the slightest object:on to the evidence he referred to. His Worship pointed out that he could not rule whether or not evidence was ad-

missible until he had heard it. Ihis was only an opening statement. Mr Myers, cun.inuing, said that on their second visit the two constables told Mrs Blyth that the'contents oi the bot•tles were not what uheir labels purported •them to be. She replied that she was- in the habit of refilling, 'with draught whisky, bottles originally containing case whisky, and said that if it was agains. the law she would not do so again. The prosecu-tion: submitted that this practice came within; the niischiei aimed at by sect.on 175 of the Licensing Act, and if not that it came within the provisions of the Patents Designs and Trade Marks Act, section 89. Evidences in support of the statements made by counsel was given by the constables concerned, and Dr. McLaurin, Government Analyst For the defence Mr Campbell, who did not call evidence, submitted that the informations should be dismissed. He contended that if three had been an ofience under section 175 of the Licensing Act by Mrs Blyth, there had also been one by the two constables. The offence constituted, however, by the section was that of selling bottled liquor. It had no applicat.on, he held, to putting liquor in bottles and selling it in “nips'’ over the counter. It only applied to selling full bottles of Crawford’s or Walker’s or whatever the brand might be. He further submitted that if it was possible to put two constructions upon a highly penal section such as this, the Court was bound to accept the construction most favourable to the accused. It was clear there was no attempt to represent these bottles as full ones, and that deiendant thought that what was called for was two drinks Mr Campbell further submitted that there was no sale at all. The evidence only supported a seizure by the constables. They sealed up these bottles before tendering payment for them. He still contended that the evidence as to the constables' second visit to defendant should not be admitted. They had evidently gone there to obtain certain admissions from Mrs Blyth. Mr Blair followed on the same side, arguing that under section 175 of the Licensing Act, bottling must be for sale by the bottle, and there must be for sale proof that such bottling was for the purpose of sale by the bottle under its label, and representation that the contents were as shown by the label. At the most, defendant had been guilty of falsely applying a trade-mark, and consequently he submitted the information was wrongly laid. Mr Myers, in reply, said the police desired to show that conduct of this kind was an offence under the L'censing Act and the Trade Marks Act. Even if his Worship held that it was not an offence under both acts, it was under one. One object of proceeding under the two acts was 'to obtain a decision as to whether the particular offence came within both, and, if not, which one it did come within. Also, this was the first case of its kind in the district. The object of the prosecution was not so much to punish this particular defendant, but to show the trade that the police were determined to stop the practice of putting whisky of one brand into bottles bear, ng labels of a different brand. As to Mr Campbell’s argument that there had been no sale, Mr Myers contended that there had been, and that, in any case, it was not the sale but the bottling for sale that constituted the offence To hand over one whisky in the bottle of another maker was a fraud upon that maker. His Worship reserved his decision. A LICENSE ENDORSED. In the local Court last Monday, before Judge Kettle, John Gillander licensee of the Newmarket Hotel, pleaded guilty to selling liquor on Sunday, September 2. Mr McVeagh, who appeared for defendant, stated that on 'the date in question, Sergeant Moore and a constable visited the defendant’s hotel, and found the defendant and two men in the bar. Each of the men, who were residents of Newmarket, had a pint of beer in front of them, and is was found on the bar counter. Mr McVeagh also said that the defendant had been in charge of the hotel for nine years, and had had only one conviction aga nst him. Mr Mays, who prosecuted, said that two convictions within six months was very important for the Licensing Committee.

Mr Kettle sa’d the defendant had properly pleaded guilty to selling liquor on a Sunday He (Mr Kettle) could not understand why a respectable licensee should run such a risk to make a few shillings. It was unfair to other licensees who tried to comply with the law. Defendant was fined £lO and costs, and his license was ordered to be endorsed Samuel Bur"e c s was charged with being found in the Newmarket Ho-el on

Sunday, September 2, for the purpose of getting drink. The Magistrate said it was a good thing that the person who tempted the hotelkeepers to sell liquor af er hours could be fined. The maximum fine, however', was Only £2, and this he thought wholly -nadequate. The £2 fine was inflicted. Richard Harris was also fined /J2 for a similar offence. AN INTERESTING POINT. At the Dunedin Police Court ast Monday the quest.on of whether a prohibited person convicted oi drunkenness can also be convicted on a charge of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order cropped up for the second time, the previous case being heard a few days ago The magistrate (Mr C. C. Graham) said what troubled him was tha’t the double prosecution made two offences out of one act, and it seemed to him contrary to the principles of law that anyone should be tried twice for practically the same offence. The sergeant of police explained that one offence came under the Licensing Act, and the other under the Pol-ce Offences Act, and it was only the fact that both charges were brought on together that made it look like duplicating the charge. The magistrate said he saw by the newspaper report that a conviction had been recorded in such cases at Gore, but he was not altogether satisfied that it was according to the principles of law. He would take the matter into consideration, and give judgment next Monday. LICENSING PROSECUTION In the local Court last Monday, George Taylor, licensee 01 the Fitzroy Hotel, pleaded not guilty to selling whisky to a person already in a stzue of intoxicat.on, and also to permitting drunkenness on licensed premises. Mr Earl defended. Mr Mays said the case was a clear one, and a very bad one. The man to whom the liquor was supp Led came to Auckland with a cheque of over y£ioo. The relations of the man was looking for him, and he was subsequently found in the Fitzroy Hotel. The man was helplessly drunk. It was found that half of his money could not be accounted for. John Joseph Poland, contractor, of Tuakau, said he came to Auckland on August 3, and subsequently received a cheque for £ll5 from the Public Works Department. On August 9 he was at the Fitzroy Hotel, in company with a man named Dalziel. He could not remember what time it was, but thought it was before dark. As far as he could remember, he had two drinks at the Fitzroy Hotel oi either whisky or beer Although he was not sure, he thought it was Mr Taylor who served him. He only had a hazy recollection of the police coming to the hotel that night. He was convicted of drunkenness and prohibited at the Police Court next morning. To Mr Earl: He was sober enough to be served with liquor when he entered the hotel. They were in a sideroom, and discussing the land question, football match, and other important matters. He was not staying at any particular hotel, and he might have asked Mr Taylor for a bed. He had not before visited the Fitzroy Hotel during Mr Taylor’s time. Mr Taylor might have refused witness a drink, but he did not recollect it. Liquor had taken effect on witness after coming out into the cold air, after having been in a warm room He had been drinking, more or less, from the 3rd to the 9th. To Mr Mays: He had no recollection of going from the bar parlour to the bedroom in the basement. Witness volunteered the statement that he had very little money in his possession when he went into the Fitzroy Hotel. He certainly had no gold at all. Mr Earl thought the statement was very desirable, as it had appeared to him when the prosecution was opened that they were practically alleging the man had been robbed. Mr Mays said that he had not intended to suggest that the man had been robbed at that hotel. Matthew Poland, brother of the former witness, said that after searching about town for his brother he- found him on a bed in the basement of the Fitzroy Hotel. He was under the influence of liquor. The further hearing of the case was then adjourned until Monday next. At Kaiapoi last Monday* J. G. Syvret, a prohibited person, was fined for procuring liquor. B A. Knight, on a s : milar charge was fined 40s.

more sly grog cases. At Tapanui last Monday, John Munro and James Robertson were charged with keeping for sale alcoholic liquor in the no-licenSe district of Clutha. Mr. J. F. M. Fraser, Crown Prosecutor, said Munro was a storekeeper at Kelso, and Robertson lived with, and worked for, him A very systematic, somewhat extensive, and exceedingly open trade in slygrog had been earned on A number of informations had been laid aga.nst Munro and his wife, but as Munro had pleaded gu lty, all except one charge would be withdrawn. Mr. W. Sinclair, -.who appeared for accused, denied that extensive business had been carried on. W hen Munro purchased the business he did not think there would be any harm in keeping a supply of liquor and treating his customers occasionally when they paid accounts. He had no idea of selling, and he lound when customers had a second nip they would insist on paying for it. No liquor was supplied except to customers at the store. There was no profit to speak of; •Mr Cruickshank, S.M., fined Munro £4O, and Robertson £lO, with costs £4 6s. 2. PRICELESS WINES IN THE GUTTER. His wife having become an ardent Rechabite, Mr John B. Henderson, exSenator for Missouri, three years ago ceased to serve wine at his dinner-parties at Henderson Castle, his fine Washington home (writes the “Daily Mail’?’’ New York correspondent) He had previously kept in his cellar notable vintages, which he generously dispensed. His conversion was regarded with' respectful regret in the inner circles of legislative and official society, but he advanced rapidly in the Rechabite councils, and the new “John B. Henderson Tent” was named in his honour. In celebration of this dignity his wiife recently entertained the members of the Tent to dinner, and afterwards announced that the cellar still contained a large stock of various kinds of expensive liquors, and invited counsel as to what she should do. “With one consent the Tent cried, “Destroy the accursed thing.” The exsenator said he had no desire to make tainted money by its sale, but that among the bins were a few dozens of generous Burgundy, some choice champagnes, and some priceless Napoleon brandy, which his friends might be glad to have on account of their rare medicinal properties, or which might be given to hospitals. The opinion of the Tent members, however, favoured destruction and Mr Henderson produced the keys of his cellars and bins. The Rechabites formed in procession, bearing the cobwebbed bottles ups.airs, and there smashing them and pouring the contents down the drains. Mrs Henderson broke the first bottle. Mr Henderson took no part in the actual destruction, and received composedly the enthusiastic felicitations of his fellow-members. A FAMOUS GRAPE VINE. There is every indication that the famous old Hampton Court Palace grape vine, which is believed to be the oldest in the world, has renewed its youthful vigour and vitality, and will this year bear a superb crop. A few years ago the old veteran began to show signs of decay, notwithstanding the fact that it was still yielding heavy crops. Several distinguished viticulturists were summoned to a consultation over the illustrious patient, in whose condition the whole nation, from the King to the board school boy takes an interest. After a prolonged examination, says an exchange,

they decided that it was suffering from insufficiency of sunlight and lack of a “‘proper diet suited to its advanced years. • 'I he latter need was met by spreading an ample supply of specially prepared loam about its roots, which had resulted in the adaiiion of much iresh fibre to them, 'showing that the old giant had not done growing yet. ( . The vine is now 135 years old. It was planted by Launceiot Brown, better re- , membered by his well-merited sobriquet . pt “Capability’' Brown, who had been appointed royal gardener at Hampton , Court by King George 11., and enjoyed the intimate friendship 01 his successor and several noblemen of high degree. ,ii; The variety, Black Hamburgh, was origijnally a slip from a vine in the parish of Ilford, Essex, which had been' planted 11 years previous, and had attained portentous size. The vine at Hampton Court proved itself a worthy scion of such stock,, for in 1800, some 30 years after it was planned, its yield was reported to be 2,200 bunches, weighing on an average one pound each. Its stem was then 13m j in girth and its main branch was 30ft long. Forty years ago its yield was stated to be on an average between 2,300 and 2,500 bunches. The greatest girth of its stem is now 3ft, and its branches cover a space of 2,300 square feet. The length of its principal branch has remained stationary at 90ft ,that being the limit of the length .of the vihehouse. "• Of. late years the average crop of > grapes • taken from this ancient ■ vine has not exceeded 1,500 bunches, because the practice has been adopted of pinching, off something "like • 2,000 bunches, in order., to improve the quality .of the ripening fruit. The grapes belong to the King, but the bulk of the luscious fruit is distributed by his direction among the -London hospitals. It is estimated that, since the old vine was planted it has-produced 200,000 lbs of grapes.