THE POISONED SUGAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 524, 24 January 1870, Page 3

THE POISONED SUGAR.

The Wellington Evening Post of Jan. 18 contains the following : — Mr Wardill, a gentleman in the employment of the Victoria Sugar Company, who is now in Welli- gton, has made an investigation into the circumstances of the late arsenical poisoning cases which bave occupied so much attention, the result of which appears to be that the company are entirely exonerated from all blame in the matter. The short facts of the case appear to be that, of the shipment which came into possession of Mr Yates of Wellington, only three bags have been proved to contain arsenic, and these three, on being examined, were found to be stained on the outside ; patches of the sugar j in the bags were also stained, and it was in those stained portions that the poison was detected by Mr Skey. No unstained bag, nor any sugar which retained its proper colour, was found to contain arsenic, nor any other deleterious substance. The stains, it has been proved, were communicated on board the Rangitoto, by drippings from Carbolic Sheep Dip Composition, twenty cases of which were shipped in her for Messrs Levin and Co., by Hood and Son., of Melbourne. The tin cases which contained this poisonous liquid were apparently not strong enough to hold the composition, as, even now, in the store where they are placed signs of leakage are apparent, and it cannot but be admitted that small streams of it must have found their way into the sugar on board the vessel. The report that a child bad been poisoned in Otago from using the company's sugar has been proved to be utterly without foundation. Tbe child alluded to died from natural causes, and no suspicion of poison would in all probability have been entertained but for the excitement at Wellington. The sugar suspected in Dunedin (which was No. 2, that brought to Wellington being No. 1) has been analysed by Mr Skey, and found to contain no poison, nor has any deleterious substance been discovered in any of the company's sugar in Otago ; that which caused the poisoning at Waikouati being Mauritius sugar. We are assured by Mr Wardiil that no chemicals are employed in the preparation of their sugar, with the exception of a little lime. Mr Wardill addressed the following letter to Mr Skey, Government analyst, and Mr Skey 's report is subjoined: — Herewith. l beg to hand you — 1 . Samples of sugar ; these samples were taken, in the presence of Mr Atcheson and others, out of one bag of Victoria Sugar Company's IC sugar from the lot lying at the wharf, under charge of the police. Sample marked I (being discolored with a brown tint), and having a strong metallic flavour), taken from immediately under a yellow stain shewing on the bag. Sample marked Ib was taken from close alongside of number 1, out of the same bag. 2. Two pieces of gunny bags in which the sugar was packed, and from which the above samples were taken; these pieces showing yellow stains were also cut from the bags in the presence of the same gentlemen. 3. Scrapings from outside of tin boxes and wooden cases in which are Carbolic Sheepdipping Composition, taken from some packages lying at Meßsrs Levin and Co.'s store, part of a shipment of 20 cases, ex Rangitoto, on the 4th December last, from Melbourne, and shipped by Hood and Son, wholesale druggists. 4. Piece of gunny bag cut out of one of the empty packages at Mr Yates' shop in Molesworth street, in which the damaged sugar was contained, also shewing large yellow stains similar to sample maiked 2. 5. Sample of sound sugar— taken from a package at the wharf which shews no stains, being perfectly dry and clean— the sugar holding its original colour. I beg to request that the above articles may be analysed with a view to publication. Should you think it necessary I will obtain a sample of the " Carbolic Sheep-dip" from Messrs Levin and Co.— la. Sugar from an unopened bag from the immediate neighbourhood of a stain (See No. 2.) This is much discoloured, and contains a large quantity of arsenic. lb. Sugar taken at a distance from stain, scarcely discoloured at all, contains minute traces of arsenic. 2. Portion of stained — contains much arsenic. 3. Scrapings from tin— contains much arsenic. 4. Piece of gunny ba from Mr Yates' — contains much arsenic. 5. Sugar— could not detect arsenic. Wm. Sket. The Wellington Independent of the same date says : — From the correspondence handed to us it appears, on evidence which is most complete and satisfactory, that the presence of arsenic in the sugar imported by the Victoria Sugar Company was owing to the leakage of some cases of Hood's sheep-dipping composition, whi h was most negligently stowed among the cargo of the Rangitoto, and in contact with several bags of the sugar. We may congratulate the public as well as the company upon the clearing up of this mystery, and the complete vindication of the purity of the article manufactured by the firm. Uad-the solution of the affair been less incontrovenUjle,; an unpleasant suspicion- would for some^ttavg have been connected with. the ' brand, which v»qjjl(i have been most injurious

to the importers. , The simplicity of the story of the admixture of the arsenic makes us to wonder how it was that the cause was not traced to its proper origin before the special agent of the Victorian Company made his investigations.