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to a considerable extent, the strength of each being respectively
31.8, 25.6, 24.5, 37.4, and 37.0 under proof, the price charged
being the same in all instances; the Rum was stronger, one
sample being 18.5 under proof and of good quality, and the
other 28.0 and of inferior quality, price the same; the samples
of Brandy varied very much in quality as well as in strength,
one being 18 under proof and fairly good, another 21 under proof
and of good quality, the third was 16.8 under proof but
decidedly coarse, and the fourth 13 under proof was also
coarse, and the prices of the two former was 1/- and of the
two latter 10d. per quartern; the Whiskey had the following
strengths, 20, 16.8 and 26 under proof, fairly good as to
quality, the price the same for each.
Report for the Quarter ending June 30th, 1878.—The
samples analyzed were 14 of Milk, 8 of Flour, 6 of Coffee, and
2 of Arrowroot.
The results of the examination of 14 samples of Milk
show that the penalties inflicted on milkmen under this Act
are not sufficient to prevent the adulteration of milk being
carried out to a large extent; one of the samples was sent
from the Union Infirmary by the resident Medical Officer,
and all the others were obtained by a boy employed by the
Inspector who took possession of the Milk and other articles
as soon as purchased. Out of the 14 samples of Milk as many as
8 were more or less mixed with water, 5 to a sufficient
extent to justify a prosecution being successfully carried out
and in all these cases penalties were inflicted by the Magistrates,
(amounting to six Pounds) varying from 10 to 40 shillings;
the dilution with water was as follows, three with 8 per cent.
one with 15, one with 20, two with 24 and one with 34 per
cent. The flour examined was found to be pure, except, as
regards one sample, in which there was a little rice flour,
but of so small a quantity as to render it doubtful if its