The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-10-20 00:00:00

'HE BREWERY EXHIBITION.

In London, on Monday, the fifth annnal exhibition
of machinery and appliances used by brewers, malt-
sters, mineral-water makers, and kindred traders was
opened at the Agricultural Hall. The collection of
brewing and mineral water machinery, of licensed
victuallers' fittings, and restaurant acoessories is very
good this year, many firms having reserved their
novelties specially for this exhibition. In produce and
raw materials, too— including hops, malt, eaccharines,
and isinglass—the exhibition is particularly rich ; but
owing to Revenue difficulties the adequate represen-
tation of the wine and spirit trades is imps:43o) e, as
the Excise authorities prohibit the booking of orders
for excisable liquors in the hall, except by exhibitors
holding special licenses. There are 13 exhibitors in
the tobacco section, and this department embraces,
besides the manufactured material, cigar moulds,
presses, and cases. The department of fittings and
utensils for the business of licensed victuallers
and hotel and restaurant proprietors is com-
prehensive and interesting, ranging as it does
from billiard tables to electric bells, and from fire
escapee to refrigerators. Mineral and aerated waters
may be seen at some eight or ten stands, and the
interest with which these products were regarded by
the visitors showed that the importance of non-intoxi-
cauts is not lost sight of by the licensed victualling
interest. The tasting stalls are ranged on the south
side of the ground floor and in the south gallery,
and here the majority of the best-known vintages, as
well as lager beer and Danish beer are to be found.
Weighing machines, suitable for use in breweries and
distilleries ; apparatus for filling every description of
tweeted waters without skilled labour; ingeniously-
devised bottle-washing machines; water pm ifiers and
asfteners ; corking machines, bottles, stoneware,
brewers' stationery and account book., and the litera-
ture of the trade, form but a tithe of the articles on
view, all of which must be of interest to some consider-
able section of the public. A large brewing copper to
contain 350 barrels is a conspicuous feature in the avenne
running from the centre to the west end of the hall. It
is arranged with a dome and pan of the type usually
adopted in the large London breweries. Its diameter
at bench is 171 t. Gin., the total depth is 17ft, sin., and
the weight of the copper used in the construction of
this vessel is about Fi tons. The exhibits of the vine
growers of Italy prese t much interest to the con-
sumers of light wines. There is also A selection of fine
growths of wines from the Australian colonies.

The loses thromth the earthquake in Ischia are
estimated at 8,00,000 francs. The charitable con-
ributions received amount to nearly 3,0! 0,000 francs.
Disastrous inundations, caused by heavy rains, have
occurred in the Spanish provinje of Castel!on. Seve-
ral miles of the railway track and two bridges have
been Ferried away, and traffic is consequently for the
time Interrupted. Five villages have been partially
submerged, and several lives have been lost. Much
damage has been done to the fields and orchards,