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The offenders in butter adulteration are, as in previous years, almost exclusively
confined to persons carrying on the business of Coffee-house keepers, who substitute
margarine or a mixture of margarine and butter on the bread when slices of bread and
butter have been asked for, a very mean form of imposition. Altogether 250" bread
and butter" samples have been purchased, out of which 9 (or 3.6 per cent.) were found
wanting; 3 of this number were taken informally, with the view of establishing the fact
that the substitution was habitual—the official sample subsequently taken in this case
was also found to be sophisticated—and the vendor was fined £5 and 17s. 6d. expenses.
The other fines obtained for butter adulteration were one of £25 and £l 1s. expenses
(a second offence), another of 10s. and 20s. expenses, and another of 20s. and 17s. 6d.
expenses. In another case the defendant pleaded that his wife, who was usually in
charge of the shop, was ill at the time the sample was purchased, and that the act was
performed by a servant contrary to instructions; the summons was dismissed. In the
other instance the vendor was cautioned by the City Solicitor.
In the one case of the adulterated sample being purchased at a general shop, a
pennyworth of butter was asked for. The analysis of this substance showed it to be
composed of margarine 60 per cent, and butter 40 per cent. The defendant closed his
shop and vacated the premises before the summons was heard, but appeared before the
Bench; a nominal penalty of 1s. was inflicted.
In the two cases of sophistication occurring where a roll and butter was asked for
the vendors of the samples were fined 20s. and 17s. 6d. expenses and 10s. and 17s. 6d.
expenses respectively. The percentages of margarine present in the samples varied
from 60 to 100 per cent.

COFFEE.
Out of 25 samples of coffee submitted, one only was found to be adulterated—this
with 47 per cent, of chicory. Being a first offence a caution was administered to the
vendor, who was later convicted of selling diluted vinegar, particulars of which are
shown under Vinegar.