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case, and 12/- in another, but in the remainder the costs
were under 5/-.
In 1898, 137 cases were reported to the Clerk and 31 summonses
taken out, in 1897 these numbers were 191 and 42
respectively.
104. Adulteration under Sale of Food and Drugs Act. (See
Table X b.)—Out of 200 samples taken by Chief Inspector
Duck, 14, or 7 per cent., were found adulterated; proceedings
were taken in each case, ten convictions were obtained and
two cases were dismissed; two are still pending.
A penalty of £5 was inflicted for selling butter one half
margarine. A dairyman, for selling milk with 10 per cent.
added water, was fined £3, a very inadequate penalty considering
that this was the second conviction of the man, and
that for the first offence he was liable to a fine of £20.
Another man was fined £3 for selling butter three-fourths
margarine.
One man was fined 20/- for refusal to serve the inspector.
Of the cases dismissed, one pleaded that the adulterated milk
was sold as skim milk, although the Inspector denied this;
and the other was a case in which it was shewn that the cow
was yielding milk of an abnormal composition which did not
correspond with the supposed adulteration.
105. The adulterations were in 1896-7, 2½ per cent. of
samples ; and in 1897-8, 3½ per cent.
The increase to 7 per cent. has occurred since Mr. Duck was
appointed analyst's Inspector.