284 ON COLONIAL WINES. 
industries. The rule is that we look on and say 
nothing until an industry has got well into the experi- 
mental scale, and then we rush madly into it. For 
many a year prior to 1866, a few colonial breweries 
struggled on, and their beer was tolerated by a small 
portion of the people ; by some because it was cheap, 
by the patriotic because it was native produce ; but it 
was generally decried and detested. But in 1866-7, at 
the Intercolonial Exhibition, it was brought into really 
public notice ; and the dissertation upon it by 
Mr. Foord, and the medals awarded by the jurors to 
Carlton and Castlemaine ale, and one or two others, 
awoke in no small degree the attention of the public ; 
ajid forthwith came the " rush " of brewers, and, as a 
result, the practical expulsion of the European article. 
It is so with woollen cloth making, and generally with 
other industries in Victoria ; they struggle hard and 
finally flourish. 
But there have been, and still exist, heavy obstacles 
in the way of the wine interest. Firstly, we are not, 
as a people, wine-drinkers as yet ; else we should 
consume the produce of the colony in less than a month. 
Secondly, every vigneron has a pet idea of his own, 
that his little patch of vines is the real Australian 
" Cote oVOr ; " and his wine must soon bring a guinea 
a bottle. Thirdly, we want two or three merchants of 
large means, or two or three companies of not more 
than four or five partners, with ready cash, to the 
amount of (say) £50,000, and suitable cellars not far 
from the city, and if possible on the river, who would 
buy anything, even the worst at its brandy value, and 
the better sorts at higher prices. Thus every grower 
of a hogshead or a pipe of wine could bring it in, have 
