SALE OF MILK.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 21, 25 July 1910, Page 8

SALE OF MILK.

ALLEGED ADULTERATION 1 . The Wellington Fresh Food and Ice Co., Ltd., was prosecuted in the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., for a.n alleged sale.of milk adulterated with, water to Carl Albert Sc.ha.uer, inspector under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, Mr. H. H. Ostler appeared on behalf of the posecutione, and defendants were represented by the Hon. T. W. Hislop. Counsel for prosecution quoted the regulation in th& statute to the effect that milk offered for public sale should not contain less than 12 per cent, of solids and that the addition of water to milk is prohibited. In the sample of defendant company's milk a proportion of 10.35 per cent, of water was discovered by analysis. Carl Albert Schauer, inspector under the Public Health Act, gave evidence of having obtained a sample of milk from the manager of defendant's depot in. Dixon-street ; one-third was left with tho manager ; one-third was sent to Dr. M'Laurin. Government analyst, and the other third was retained. Counsel for the defence contended that the case was an arbitrary one. The standard demanded of milk^by the Government was, he said, too high ; and afc this time of the year it was extremely difficult for cows to maintain the high standard required. He quoted figures, to show a low standard in milk obtained from Government farms in the winter season. Moreover, no proof had been offered that water had been added to the milk, and the sample obtained was not a fair one. A test made by another analyst and the manager of defendant company varied from that obtained by the Government Analyst. Th« milk on which the case had been based had not been sufficiently stirred, but was allowed to remain at Dr. M^aurin's office for some time before the test. (Proceeding.)

The number of pasSengers carried on the midnight tram car last week was 196, made up as follows : — Monday 23, Tuesday 35," Wednesday 43, Thursday 24, Friday 46, Saturday 25. There is joy in the heart of the Maori at Whakarewarewa ! At one time that portion of the village in which the geysers play and pools bubble was open to the general public, and the Maoris who acted as guides made a small charge for their services. When the Tourist Department took over the management of the area, however, it fenced in the eruptive land, and erected a turnstile, to pass through which a charge of one shilling was made Many tourists were of the opinion that, having to pay to enter the grounds, it was not incumbent on them to pay a "hikipenny" for the guidance of the Maori. This was one source of grievance ; another also being that if a visitor came out of the grounds and, after a short while, wished to return, another' payment was demanded. This matter was a vexed one in the district, and strong representations were made from time to time from the Government to abolish the toll. This the Government has now seen fit to do, and on Saturday at noon the toll was abolished. The Maori, in his persuasive eloquence, will now have full play. A concert in aid of the Miramar Rangea-s' Football Club funds was held on triday evening in the Terminus Tea Rooms. The Mayor of the borough, Mr. J. Brodie, presided. The following contributed items: — Misses Cummings, Kearney (2), Proben, Hill, Shackelford, Mesdames Mair and Power, Master Len Power, Messrs. Ridding, Aitken, Kearney, Littlejohn, M'Lean, Stone, and Freidewald. The accompanists were Mrs. Stone, Misses Howe and ouackelford. The concert closed with hearty cheers for all who had contributed to the success of the evening. It is probable a meeting will be held at Otaki to-morrow night to appoint a deputation to wait on the Government with a \iew to securing a larger and more convenient edifice to take the place t of the railway station destroyed by firs' yesterday- morning.