Report of Society's Meetings. t^t 



taken of them. They already had a number of promises, 

 and he had no doubt the exhibition would be a great 

 success. 



The Hon, N. D. Davis brought forward his motion, of 

 which due notice had been given, that the Society offer 

 a premium of $200 for improvements in rum colouring. 

 The necessity for something better than the present 

 system, he said, was shown by the a6lion of certain pur- 

 chasers in refusing to buy rum by a6lual strength but by 

 what it appeared after the addition of colouring. This 

 colouring reduced the apparent strength to the extent of 

 one or two degrees which meant a redu6lion of profit in 

 large quantities, and he thought if something were done 

 to put the matter on a safe basis it would be a benefit of 

 the colony at large. 



The Hon. B. Howell Jones said he would be willing to 

 second the motion if it were somewhat altered. Rum 

 could only be coloured by caramel or burnt sugar, and 

 any attempt to substitute other matters would be re- 

 sisted. He thought the premium should be offered for 

 improvements in the preparation of caramel. The 

 obje6lion to the present method of colouring was that 

 it was very crude. 



The motion was then altered by permission to read 

 as follows : — 



" That the sum of $200 be paid from the funds of the Society, on the 

 award of its Agricultural Committee, to such person or persons as shall, 

 by the 30th of September next, inform the Society of some improved 

 way of producing caramel, (combined with its economical manufa6ture) 

 for colouring rum for market and producing the least degree of obscu- 

 ration " 



This having been approved and seconded by the Hon, 

 Mr. Jones : 



