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from the main, as I find it impossible to ensure the thorough
and periodical cleansing of receptacles for water. In many
cases I have found cisterns literally full of organic, and at
times decomposed animal matter. The only remedy, in my
opinion, is to abolish such lively sources of disease.
I have endeavoured to carry out this work with the least
possible amount of friction, although I have found it necessary
to obtain the Board's sanction to apply for summonses in
several cases. Where the work has been completed before
the hearing, I have invariably withdrawn the summons. In
every other instance 1 have obtained a conviction with penalty
and costs, particulars of which will be found in tabulated
statement of convictions.
I have made several seizures of unwholesome food, for
which Magistrate's Orders to destroy have been obtained and
carried out. In seven instances prosecutions were undertaken,
four of which were successful, convictions being obtained and
penalties of £3. £2, and two of £10, together with costs, were
inflicted. In the remaining cases considerable quantities of
vegetables were seized in the Borough Market, there being
not the slightest doubt as to their being bad, they were seen
and condemned by the Magistrate and by the Medical Officer
of Health, and subsequently destroyed. At the hearing of the
summonses the defendants' witnesses in two cases swore that
they were not intended for sale, although samples were
exposed to view, this being the customary way of effecting sales
of vegetable produce in the Market. I may say, the fact of
exposure has always been held to be sufficient evidence to
ensure a conviction; in the remaining case, potatoes which
were unsound and rotten were not only exposed, but sold, but
in this case the defendant's witnesses swore that they were
not intended for human food, but for the food of cows or pigs,
the Magistrate took this view of the case and dismissed the
summons, but refused to allow costs, although the defendant's
counsel made every endeavour to obtain costs against the
Board.
In a case of adulteration of coffee with 40 per cent, of
chicory, the summons was dismissed and £1 1s. costs allowed
against the Board, although in an exactly similar case where
there was a similar adulteration and the same price was paid
for the coffee twelve months previous, the same Magistrate
convicted and inflicted a penalty of £10 and costs, and
although this was pointed out, the Magistrate refused to alter
his decision, but consented to state a case for a higher Court,
which course was recommended by the solicitor who