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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 886, 28 February 1907, Page 20

England uses over 30,000 tons of tobacco yearly, but Germany gets through 85,000 tons in a twelvemonth.

At Rotorua recently a Maori was fined £3, i n default three months imprisonment, for stealing a bottle of whisky from the Grand Hotel.

An offender who appeared before Mr Kettle, 5.M.,, last week to’ answer a charge of drunkenness, was asked by the magistrate, “How about a prohibition order?” “No, no, your worship, it against my grain,” the accused broke in quickly. The Magistrate decided not to issue the order.

With regard to the discovery in Ireland of a pipe-line conveying whisky from a distillery to a duty paid Customs building, which was reported last week, it is now announced by later cable news that the Chance, lor of the Exchequer (Mr Asquith) s ated in the House of Commons that the Inland Revenue Department was in possession of information indicating extensive irregularities in connection with dealings in spirits at Tullamore. Proceedings would be instituted and a court of law would investigate the whole matter.

Three of the local police, says the New Plymouth “Herald,” were rather harshly treated the other morning. They were watching for carts taking spirits to Parihaka and had one particular vehicle under observation for some time; but investigation proved that all on board was sugar, flour, and tea.

At an inquest last week at Opunake, a Maori witness was asked what deceased drank when in the hotel. “Raspberry,” said the witness, thinking to get out of a difficulty. The native interpreter said it was nonsense to say that, as he could not get drunk on raspberry. “Oh, well, beer” said the native.

Hop-picking commenced in the gardens at Spring Grove, Nelson, early this month. Despite the care taken by the growers to prevent the deoredations of the red spider (by pulling off and burning the lower leaves and syringing the berries), this pest, says the “Colonist,” is very prevalent in the district, and will affect the yield considerably.

Mr J. Molloy purchased the privi'eges ■of the publican’s booth at the South Auckland Racing Club’s meeting for £43.

Tenders have been called for the repainting of the Pacific Hotel at the Thames.

Las. Thursday the lease of the block of buildings comprising the Imperial Hotel, the Colonial Mutua, Life Offices, and sundry other offices, was put up for sale. The property was withdrawn from sale after £14,000 had been reached. The lease is for 44$ years. It is understood that a sale has since been made, the figure being £16,000. ‘

Mr J. H. Garrick, a visitor from Fiji, died very suddenly at the Royal Hotel, Victoria-street, early last Saturday morning.

Mr Thompson, S.M., in giving judgment at Taihape in a case in which defendant was being sued for the cost of a banquet, said if a person was present at a committee meeting, and consented to an expenditure, he would be personally liab e for the whole amount.

Lord Lorne a century ago bet 15,000 guineas that a punch-bowl flung against a wall would break into an odd, and not an even number of pieces. He won.

Julius Lindauer, a German brewery worker of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, who committed suicide recently, leaving £620, directed that £220 be spent in cremating his body, and that the other £4OO be spent in buying drinks for the members of the Brewery Workers’ Union, who were requested to drink his health at the funeral.

Mr J. J. Graham, proprietor of the Pukekohe Hotel,; who is laid .up with blood-poisoning, we are pleased to hear making satisfactory progress toward recovery.

One shi ling in every pound of what the British workman spends in food is paid for tea, one shilling for milk, and tenpence for potatoes.

Mr C. Smith, a grazier, while asleep, jumped over the balcony railing of a hotel at Narrabri N.S.W.), and fell over 20ft on to the roadway. He dreamt he was chased by a cow in a stockyard, and so jumped the balcony rail. His injuries included dislocation of the hip, thigh, and arm.

Wanganui had the pleasant and creditabe record during a recent week of not having a sing.e case of drunkenness before the court during the whole week.

In Christchurch recently two men were brought before the Court on charges of smuggling tobacco and cigars. Fines of £27 in one case and £lO in another were imposed. * * * *

The average income of English people is £3B, of Scottish people £45. * * * *

It is reported that Mr S. Atkins of the Commercial Hotel has sold out to a gentleman from Wellington.

At the last meeting of the Auckland City Council, a communication was received from the City Valuer, with reference to the valuations for 1907. The present valuations totalled against £442,303 last year, representing an increase of £34,112. The Mayor said that was very satisfactory, and they would see that the annual valuation for the City of Auckland was now nearly half a million. The increase was considerably more than it was last year, and he hoped that when the detailed report came before them, that the increase would be accounted for by the erection of new buildings.

Mr and Mrs Draffin took over the Waipa Hotel at Ngaruawahia last week, as they have many years of hotel-keeping experience they will no doubt soon become very popular in their new venture, and do good business.

It is reported that Mr W. Derham of the Freeman’se Hotel, will succeed Mr T. B. O’Connor in the Victoria Hotel. Mr O’Connor takes possession of the Thames Hotel early in March.

Mr Harry Dyer, late of the Newton Hotel, proceeds to Dargavil e this week to take over the Central Hotel from Mr P.P. Cullen. Mr Dyer is so well known and popular in the trade, that any words of praise from us are unnecessary, and we have no hesitation in saying that we feel sure his new venture will turn out a most profitable one.

Some time ago a deputation from the Wellington tobacconists waited on the Minister of Labour and made a request that the Labour Department should move in the matter of the sale of tobacco and cigarettes by Chinese storekeepers and fruiterers after 8 p.m. The Minister then informed the deputation that he would inquire into the matter and obtain the opinion of the Solicitor-General as to whether proceedings could be taken with any prospect of success. In answer to a further letter from Mr Fisher, M.H.R., upon the subject, Mr Millar replies “that an opinion has been obtained, but the opinions supplied by the officers of the Crown Law Department are intended only for the information of Ministers. An amendment of the law would be necessary before any successful action can be taken.” Mr Mil ar’s communication means that the present anomaly of allowing Chinamen practically to sell tobacco after 8 p.m. will continue until legislation is passed to stop the abuse. An amendment of the Act is almost certain to be made this coming session.

The tobacco monopoly has yielded the Austrian Government the enormous net profit of £5,000,000 for one year. * < * ♦

In Melbourne an extraordinary position has arisen in connection with the Licensing Act. Mr Justice Hood, in reviewing a case, decided that the hours prescribed under the Act during which the sale of liquor is prohibited do not include day time on Sunday.

Mr Abbott, of the Masonic Hotel, Wanganui, so well known in hotel life and in Otahuhu, who catered at the races, and shows so oft is up to his old games. No sooner landing than he secures the booths at the Wanganui races next month. There’s nothing like push !

Mr Bennett, late of the Masonic Hotel, Wanganui, is about to take over the Albion Hotel in Patea. We wish him the bes: of luck.