14 
MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
ness, neglecting to rack, and keep tlieir casks 
full. Rut for this, Australian wine would 
now have been the pure and wholesome drink 
of the country; and we should not have to 
deplore the sad effects of the “ bucket of 
rum and pannekm.” 
Among the desperate means resorted to, 
for getting rid of stocks, was the unjustifi¬ 
able one, of trying to palm off their wine 
upon the public as European produce, 
Champagne was got up —false stamps burned 
on the corks—Sydney made imitations of 
French labels, and the like ; and even those, 
too honest and honorable for this, were fool¬ 
ish enough to call their wines sherry, hock, 
claret, &c. 
But amidst all this mismanagement, there 
existed clear evidence, that a wine could be 
produced in no way inferior to the growth 
of any country. There were few vineyards, 
where a pet cask or two had nqt received 
the necessary care, and developed such rich 
qualities, as excited the wonder and admira¬ 
tion of those competent, by an experienced 
and cultivated taste, to judge. The flavor 
was ample and pure, the bouquet fascinating, 
while at the same time it possessed that 
ciency caused by the disease, under which 
their vines now suffer. 
We may, by resuscitating the present vine¬ 
yards, obtain 400,000 gallons per annum; 
but beyond this we earinot go, without plant¬ 
ing new vineyards, which would not hear 
sooner than the third year after planting, and 
then three years more are required before 
the wine is sufficiently matured to go before 
the consumer. 
Such, however, has been the encouraging 
experience of the last two years, that 
that not less than 100 acres of new vine¬ 
yard are about being planted in the Hunter 
river district alone this season. 
To be continued, 
SYDNEY MECHANICS’ SCHOOL OF 
ARTS. 
greatest quality of all—it was light, and 
only very slightly intoxicating. 
The very small quantity that reached this 
desirable state was only to be found at the 
tables of the growers, showm at exhibitions, 
or sent home as presents,—the public knew 
nothing: of it. 
We purpose to record in this periodical 
the more important transactions of this 
highly useful Institution. Those acquainted 
with its history must be gratified to observe 
the great progress that it has made within 
the last three or four years. It now num¬ 
bers upwards of one thousand members on 
its roll. Its reading-room is most comfort¬ 
ably furnished, and is fully attended, and 
during the last season the lectures, which 
embraced a large range of subjects, attracted 
very numerous and respectable audiences. 
We understand that a highly talented corps 
of lecturers will contribute to the entertain- 
- . , . . lcu >,uicrs win contrionto to the entertain- 
is a matter of congratulation to the Lent and instruction of the members during 
wme growers to know, however, that,he approaching season, the opening lecture 
, > -- “ ■ wiuo 
since the Paris Exhibition two years ago, 
the cloud which had shadowed the poor 
spirit seems to vanish, and the sun shines 
out on pleasanter prospects. Since then, 
the appearance in the market, for sale, of a 
little really fine wine, has gained more con¬ 
sideration for the subject, and won more 
friends than all the bad wine made in the 
previous twenty years. 
Two all-important steps have been won 
of which will be delivered to-morrow even¬ 
ing, June 16, by the Rev. Dr. Woollev, 
Principal of the University. 
M e would call the attention of our readers 
also to a new development of the usefulness 
of the Institution. The Committee have 
determined to offer for competition gold and 
sip er medals for the production of works of 
art and general utility. There are to be two 
[large gold medals and two large silver 
5L2M. irifli ?. eXt ’ th “ ” lav ° * >» to. Dr. Woolley h.e 
profitable market for it 
Our beginnings are, however, very small, 
so small indeed, as to be hardly disceruable 
by the eye of commerce ; half'our make is 
consumed in the neighbourhood of the vine¬ 
yards, at vintage time, and the rest, if 
divided among the population of New South 
Wales, would leave us only the sorry com¬ 
fort of a bottle each, to drink on our 
birthdays. Europe need not, therefore, 
look towards Australia to make up the defi- 
also offered a large gold medal, of the value 
of £10, for the best English essay on the 
following subject:—‘‘ The characteristic dif¬ 
ferences of the British writers of the 16th, 
1/th, 18th, and 19th centuries. 
In order to put our readers in possession 
of all the details of the competition for the 
institution medals, we print the report of 
the sub-committee, to which the matter was 
referred, and we hope that the liberal offer 
of the committee will be rewarded by an 
