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Of the gin samples, 55 were informally procured, and 5 of these, or 9 per cent.,
were deficient in strength. Duplicate samples of these 5 were subsequently officially
taken, and all were found to be diluted in excess of the legal limit.
Of the rum samples 53 were informally purchased, and 3 of these, or 5.6 per cent.,
were deficient in strength. Duplicate official samples of these 3 were purchased and
found to be below the legal strength. Prosecutions were instituted in six instances, and
the defendants were penalized as follows: —
One was ordered to pay costs, 17s. 6d; another to pay costs amounting to 21s.;
another was fined 20s. and 31s. 6c?. costs for selling gin 37'4 degrees under proof, and
a like amount for selling whisky 30.1 degrees under proof; and another defendant
was ordered to pay costs amounting to 42s. for selling gin 43.3 degrees under proof,
and whisky 25.9 degrees under proof. In 9 instances cautions were administered to
the persons from whom the samples had been purchased.
WARRANTY.
During the year the " Warranty defence " was successfully pleaded in one case.
PROSECUTIONS.
17 prosecutions were instituted, which may be summarised as follows:—
11 defendants were convicted and fined; 1 defendant proved warranty;
1 summons was dismissed; and in 4 instances the summonses were withdrawn on
payment of the costs.