The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1868.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2467, 18 November 1868, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1868.

A considebable, and, in a new country especially, very important section of the Acta passed by any Legislature, includes those which may be conveniently described by the phrase social and domestic. And a glance at the list'of Acts passed during the recent session of the Assembly will show that not a few come under this designation. Among these, is an Act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to weights and measures, and, as it comes into operation on the first of January ensuing, a brief analysis can hardly fail to be of some service to the general public; ; The preamble informs us that it has been deemed expedient to - the laws relating to weights and measures, to make further - provisions against fraud, to'establish standards by which all other, weights and measures may be regulated, and to prohibit the use of any other than such as agree with these standards. This may be taken as a condensed description of what tie Act professess to do, and we have now to inquire by what means the intended objects are secured. The second clause repeals an Ordinance for establishing 'standard weights and measures framed in the seventh session of the Legislative Council, and j " The Weights and Measures Ordin. ance Amendment Act, 1861," also all statutes made and passed by the respective Parliaments of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom so far as the same relate to weights and measures, and bo far as they are in force in this colony. This repeal does not affect any offence committed, any act, proceeding, or thing done or commenced under or by virtue of the | above-mentioned Ordinance and .Acts. It does not alter or affect the districts constituted under the repealed Ordinance and Act, nor are the Inspectors appointed under these removed from the office they now'hold. The measures usually known under the name of the "Winchester bushel," and the "Scotch ell," and also the use of heaped measure are abolished. The several weights and measures enumerated in certain schedules to the Act, mi now in the custody of the Colonial Secretary, having been duly verified and stamped as agreeing with the weights and measures preserved in the Exchequer at Westminster, are declared to be the standards by which all others are to be tested. The Act provides that authorised copies of these standards shall be provided and issued by the Colonial Secretary to the various Inspectors, who are enjoined to deposit their copies "at such place and in such building as the Governor shall direct." In every fifth year, and at any time when the same are suspected to be defective, or require to be repaired, and at such other times as ithe Colonial Secretary shall direct, the copies are to be transmitted to Wellington for the purpose of being again compared with the standards.', If not so transmitted, the Colonial Secretary may declare that they have ceased to be authorised copies. . So far, the Act lays a proper foundation, as it were, for regulating the weights and measures of the colony. The remaining clauses relate to the machinery by which the several provisions are ,to be. carried out, the penalties which may be incurred, and to several minor points. The appointment >of Inspectors under ; the Act is: vested in the Governor, who is.also empowered to say what salary and what sums of money by way of "travelling expenses they shall be allowed " out of any moneys to be : "appropriated for.that purpose by the " General Assembly." The following clause declares who shall not be appointed Inspectors:—"No maker or " seller or adjuster of weights or mea- " sure 3 or person employed in making " or selling or adjusting thereof or in " the conveyance carriage purchase or " sale of goods by weight or measure " shall be appointed an Inspector under " this Act nor shall any Inspector be " directly or indirectly connected with "the business of any adjuster of " weights and measures." Every Inspector must give security to the satisfaction of the Governor, or obtain the guarantee of some company as surety, I for the due and punctual discharge of his duties, for the due and punctual payment of all fees received by him, and for the safe custody faithful and lawful use of the weights and measures, stamps, &c, entrusted to his keeping. The Colonial" Secretary may direct Inspectors to take authorised copies of weights and measures to any. place within the district for which they have been appointed. Every person resident or carrying on business in any place to which these shall be taken, may apply to the Inspector for a comparison of weights and measures in his possession, and the Inspector may, in addition to the'fees authorised by the Act, demand such further sum as the Governor shall fix and determine.

Persons who may desire to adjust weight's and' measures shall hare access to the authorised'copies" at such times " as thei Colonial Secretary may from

" time to time for each place direct," upon payment of the fees mentioned in the Act. 'This Inspector to directed to compare all weights and measures thus brought to him, to stamp the 'same, andjto collect the fees. The provisions; of the Act do, not extend to require, " any single weight or measure exceed- : " ing the greatest standard weight or " measuretobecomparedand stamped," or to require " any wicker measure or " any glass or earthenware jug or " drinking cup, though represented as " containing the amountof any standard "measure or any multiple thereof to be i" stamped." The Inspectors must keep a book for entering all comparisons, and shall, if required, give a copy of such comparison, with a certificate endorsed. All contracts, bargains, sales, &c, made after the passing of the Act, are deemed to have been made according to the standard weights and measures ascertained by the Act, but nothing contained in it shall operate to prevenfrthe sale of flour and oatmeal by the ton of two thousand pounds avoirdupois. Gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, and any other precious stones, but no other articles, shall be sold by troy, weight. The provisions of the Act do not ! apply to the retail sale of drugs by apothecaries' weight, or to the sale of any articles in any vessel which is not represented as containing any amountof standard weight or measure. The twenty-ninth, thirtieth, and thirty • first clauses are as follow:—29. Coals coke slack culm charcoal and cannel of every description shall be sold by weight and not by measure. 30. Except where it is otherwise allowed by this Act all dry j goods wares and merchandise sold by measure shall be striken with a round stick or roller straight and of the same diameter from end to end. 31. AH such dry goods wares and merchandise as from their size and shape ar,e incapable of being striken and from their pature and quality cannot be conveniently sold by weight may be sold by a standard bushel measure made round containing eight standard gallons filled in all parts as nearly to the level of the brim as the size shape and nature of the article so sold will admit.

It is directed that all weights made after the passing of the Act shall have the exact weight contained therein marked on the top or side in legible figures and letterß,,and that all measures of capacity and extension shall have their contents marked on the outside in a similar manner. No unstamped weights and measures .may be used after the Act. comes into operation. Those stamped under, the old Ordinance. :wjll. be deemed legal. Stamped weights and measures may be jused iu any place rother than that in which they were stamped. No weight made of lead or pewter, or of any mixture thereof, can be- stamped or used, but the Act does; not prohibit the use of lead or pewter in the manufacture of weights "if they, be wholly "cased with brass, copper, or iron, and " legibly stamped or engraved with the " word" cased'." Nor is the use of lead and pewter for the purposes of adjust-, ment prohibited, JChe„ remaining clauses of the Act relate to the penalties for infringement. These may be recovered in,a summary, way before any two or more Justices of the Peace. One half goes to the Inspector ,or other person suing, ; the other half to the Public Account. All fees paid to the Inspectors under the Act are to be 'accounted for as the Colonial Treasurer. [shall direct.