REPORT OF COLONIAL ANALYST, CHRISTCHURCH, FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST MAY, 1879.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1879 Session II, H-23

H.—23

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT OF COLONIAL ANALYST, CHRISTCHURCH, FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST MAY, 1879.

Presented to loth Houses of the General Assembly, in accordance with Section 10 of "The Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1877." REPORT. In connection with the office of Colonial Analyst for the City of Christchurch, fifty-two analyses have been made during the past year, comprising the following articles : — i Samples. Bread ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 Milk ... ... ... ... ... ... "10 Water ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Alum ...' ... ... ... ... ... 1 Sherry ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Spirit ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Beer ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Examinations for blood ... ... ... ... ... 3 The detailed results of these analyses are shown in the appended reports. Two prosecutions have been instituted with regard to bread found to be adulterated with alum, resulting in one conviction, the other case being dismissed, owing to proof having been adduced that the alum was introduced without the defendant's knowledge. One conviction has also been obtained for having alum in possession. These informations were laid under the Bakers and Millers Act, in consequence of the samples having been purchased by the police, and not by the Inspectors, as required by the terms of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. No samples for analysis whatever have been received from the Inspectors of Nuisances and Weights and Measures. I would take this opportunity of drawing the attention of the Government to the great difficulty experienced in the successful working of the Act in its present form, with regard to the collection of samples. Clauses 9 and 12 state that it is necessary that the article to be analyzed should be either purchased or received by the Inspector of Nuisances or by the Inspector of Weights and Measures, and then only provided reasonable cause be had to suspect that such articles are adulterated. No provision whatever is made in the Act by which the sale of any article might be demanded for the purpose of analysis. In the working of "The Adulteration of Food Act, 1866," samples were collected by the police by a system of raids ; and I believe, judging from the diminution of the number of adulterated articles received, that this system almost entirely suppressed the practice of adulteration in Christchurch, or, at any rate, to a very great extent. That such is not the case at present might be inferred from the evidence brought forward at the last meeting of the Licensing Commissioners, and which is referred to in the following slip, taken from the Press of 3rd June, 1879 :— "Adulteration of Liquor. —During the hearing of an application for the renewal of an hotel license yesterday, in the Licensing Court, the Commissioners took the opportunity of expressing a very decided opinion on the urgent necessity of the police having the power of causing an analysis to bo made of the beverages sold in some of the city hotels. In the case in question both the Chairman and the Inspector of Police cited more than one instance in which a glass of ale sold was of so deleterious a nature as to show that it must, accidentally or otherwise, have been adulterated with some noxious firug. The Chairman regretted that no steps could have bee.n taken at the time to test the purity of the beer, and Inspector Hickson said the police were powerless to interfere for the public good. A very severe caution was administered by the Bench to the applicant, and they trusted that the publicity which would be given by the local press to the case would have a beneficial effect for the public good." I—H. 23.

H.—23

2

I have often received complaints of adulteration ; but the informers have always been adverse to taking the necessary action in the matter, as required by the Act. This is also borne out by the fact that not a single sample has been received through the Inspectors during the past year; and lam very strongly of opinion that the Act would be much more beneficial if it gave power to the police to enforce the sale of articles, as, from their superior knowledge of the reputation of the publichouses, Ac, they are in a much better position to detect offenders than the Inspectors could ever possibly be. A knowledge of the fact that the police possess power to purchase articles for analysis would of itself, I believe, have a very beneficial effect. This opinion is confirmed with regard to the adulteration of bread. Formerly this appears to have been a very common practice here ; whereas at the last raid made by the police, out of twenty samples not one was found to be adulterated. Clause 13 of the Act requires amendment, so as to provide that the article received should be divided into two portions, one of which should be retained by the collector, as it often occurs that none of the sample is left after analysis, in cases where a small quantity only is received. In the event of the present Act remaining in force, it might be made much more efficient if orders were issued to the police to act as informers to the Inspectors, who would then be able to take action on such information. The amendment of the Act, however, would be much more satisfactory. Canterbury College Laboratory, A. W. Bickeeton, 3rd July, 1879. Colonial Analyst.

REPORT on the ANALYSIS of TWELVE SAMPLES of BREAD received from Constable STEPHENSON, 14th October, 1878.

The general character and make of these samples of bread, taken as a whole, are very satisfactory; and the above analyses point to the fact that, with the exception of Nos. 327 and 329, they are unadulterated. There ia strong evidence that potatoes have been used in all cases, but in none of them in quantities sufficient to be considered as an adulteration. The samples Nos. 327 and 329 have been adulterated with alum, the former to a considerable extent. A. W. BICKERTON, Canterbury College Laboratory, 17th October, 1878. Analyst.

.laboratory numbers lumbers on samples Water, per cent Ish, per cent, lulpb uric acid 324 325 326 327 328 132 133 134 135 136 4314 41-84 4134 4043 3633 105 101 -71 111 109 Trace Trace Trace Small Trace amount Nil Nil Nil Very strong Nil indications Nil Considerable quantity 324 132 4314 105 Trace 325 133 41-84 101 Trace 326 134 41-34 •71 Trace 329 137 i 4109 •57 Trace 330 331 332 333 334 33 138 139 140 141 142 14 43-86 40-96 41-42 14049 3933 40-6 •97 -72 1-18 107 -58 -5 331 139 40-96 •72 332 140 41-42 1-18 Trace 333 141 40-49 107 Trace 334 142 3933 •58 Trace 335 143 40-61 •58 Trace Trace Trace Trace Trace Traci Trace Trace Hum, by Horship test Nil Nil Nil Indications ! Small I quani tity ent in a] Allaci Ml alkal lib. 15oz. Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Uumina, by fusion with sodium Nil Copper and iron teaction of aqueous infusion Reaction of ash 11 cases. Absi id. line. height of loaves, as determined by police ) j lib. No 21b. ,,. ,„ Hb. 151OZ. scales loz. 11D- ld0Zt 13oz. 21b. 21b. 21b. j1^ 21b. 21b.

H.—23.

REPORT on the ANALYSIS of TWENTY SAMPLES of BREAD received from Constable H. BEAUMONT, 19th May, 1879.

3

Laboratory numbers Marks on samples 363 364 365 | 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 ! 380 381 382 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 j 157 I 158 159 160 ' 161 162 163 164 Water, per cent. 4271 42-50 4180 40-50 3971 38-47 4020 3960 4076 4166 4039 38'46 3870 40-76 3884 3842 , 4195 41-97 ' 4208 4192 1-16 1-30 I'll -86 ! 1-27 1-28 -91 -62 1-00 ■ -65 '73 65 -64 -98 195 -65 ! -95 1-13 ! 102 -87 Ash, per cent. Reaction of ash All alkaline. Alum (Horship test) Absent in all cases. Sulphuric acid Small Small Traco Trace Trace Small Trace Trace Small Small Small I Small Trace Small ! Trace Trace Trace Small Small j Trace amount amount amount amount amount amount! amount amount; amount amount Copper and iron Absent in all cases. Beaction of aqueous infusion ... All very slightly acid. Physical characteristics Normal in all cases. Weight of loaves 21b. 21b. 21b. 21b. 21b. 21b. 21b. lib. 15oz. lib 15£oz lib. 13ozJ 21b. lib. 15oz.; 21b. 21b. 21b. 21b. 2lb. 21b. 14oz. 21b. 13oz. 21b. The above analyses prove these samples of bread to be unadulterated. Canterbury College Laboratory, 27th May, 1879. A. "W. BlCKEETON, Colonial Anal St.

4

H.—23

REPORT on the ANALYSIS of TEN SAMPLE of MILK received from Constable STEPHENSON, 1st October, 1878.

The above analyses prove these samples of milk to be of a good average quality. No. 2 appears to be the best, and No. 4 the poorest sample. A. W. Bickebton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 7th October, 1878. Analyst. Eepoet on the Analysis of Theee Samples of Watee received from the Locomotive Engineee, Christchurch, 19th November, 1878. Sample marked "Ngapara" {Laboratory No., 311). Physical examination: Appearance, clear; taste, good, slightly of vegetable matter; smell, nil. Chemical examination of dissolved solids: Reaction, neutral; lime, present, considerable amount; chlorine, present, moderate amount; sulphuric acid, present, considerable amount; nitric acid, present, small amount; nitrous acid, trace; ammonia, present, small amount; iron protosalts, nil; iron persalts, nil; sulphuretted hydrogen, nil; magnesia, present, moderate amount; phosphoric acid, trace; silicic acid, present, small amount; organic matter, present, small amount. Quantitative results: Hardness, total, 5075 parts per 100,000; permanent, 47'15 parts per 100,000; temporary, 3-60 parts per 100,000; total solids, 10840 parts per 100,000, or 75'88 grains per gallon. Sample marked " Windsor" {Laboratory No., 342). Physical examination : Appearance, hazy; taste, rather flat; smell, rather unpleasant. Chemical examination of dissolved solids : Eeaction, neutral; lime, present, moderate amount; chlorine, present, moderate amount; sulphuric acid, present, considerable amount; nitric acid, nil; nitrous acid, nil; ammonia, present, small amount; iron protosalt, nil; iron persalt, nil; sulphuretted hydrogen, nil; magnesia, present, small amount; phosphoric acid, nil; silicic acid, present, small amount; organic matter, present, considerable amount. Quantitative results: Hardness, total, 4270 parts per 100,000 ; permanent, 38'58 parts per 100,000; temporary, 412 parts per 100,000; total dissolved solids, 112'40 parts per 100,000, or 784 68 grains per gallon. Sample marked " Teaneraki " {Laboratory No., 343). Physical examination : Appearance, hazy, considerable amount of suspended matter; taste, bad; smell, very unpleasant. Chemical examination of dissolved solids: Eeaction, neutral ; lime, present, small amount; chlorine, present, moderate amount; sulphuric acid, present, moderate amount; nitric acid, nil; nitrous acid, nil; ammonia, present, small amount; iron protosalt, nil; iron persalt, nil; sulphuretted hydrogen, nil ; magnesia, present, considerable amount; phosphoric acid, nil; silicic acid, present, small amount; organic matter, present, considerable amount. Quantitative results : Hardness, total, 23-74 parts per 100,000; permanent, 2210 parts per 100,000; temporary, IG4 parts per 100,000; total solids, 75'80 parts per 100,000,0r 5306 grains per gallon. Inferences. From the above analyses it will be seen that, owing to the rather high proportion and nature of the solids contained in them, these samples of water cannot be recommended as possessing first-class qualities for boiler purposes. The Ngapara water appears to be the least suitable, and the other two about equal. None of the samples are worse than such as are frequently used, but they are much inferior to those formerly analyzed, and should be avoided if better can be obtained. As drinking waters, none of them possess good indications. A. W. Bickekton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 4th December, 1878. Colonial Analyst. Eepoet on the Analysis of a White Powdee received from the Police, 17th October, 1879. Hatino examined the powder received from the police, 17th October, 1878,1 find it to consist of common alum. A. ~W. Bickeeton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 17th October, 1878. Colonial Analyst. Eepoet on the Analysis of a Sample of Sheeey (supposed to be spurious) received from Mr. J. Jones, 19th October, 1878. The sample of sherry received from Mr. J. Jones, having been analyzed, was found to contain 21 per cent, of alcohol by volume, which is a very good proportion for this class of wine. It is probablv a real wine, or, if made, it most likely is from brandy, as there is a certain proportion of tannin contained in it; if not from brandy, most certainly from pure spirit. The wine is adulterated with a considerable quantity of alum, for the purpose of giving it a dry flavour. It is absolutely impossible that it could have been made from dry chemicals or more essences. A. W. Bickeeton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 20th October, 1878. Colonial Analyst.

Moratory numbers darks on samples ipecific gravity at 62 deg. I". ?otal solids, per cent. }ream, per cent. Lsh, per cent. ... Lbnormal Physical Characteristics 312 No. 1 1032 1214 7-0 •64 313 No. 2 1-032 12-58 100 •58 314 I 315 No. 3 No. 4 1029 i 1-029 11-50 | 11-28 7-0 7-5 ■52 -46 Nil Nil 316 No. 5 1031 12 04 7-5 •50 317 No. 6 1032 1244 80 •60 318 319 No. 7 No. 8 1-027 1031 11-62 1202 85 90 •52 -60 Nil Nil 320 No. 9 1029 11-78 8-5 •54 321 No.K 1030 11-88 8-5 •50 | Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil

5

H.—23.

Eepoet on the Analysis of a Sample of Spirit received from the Police, 15th January, 3.879. Having examined the sample of spirit received from Mr. Inspector Hickson, I find it to contain 45 per cent, of alcohol by volume. A. ~W. Bickeeton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 16th January, 1879. Colonial Analyst. Eepoet on the Analysis of a Sample of Beee (supposed to be adulterated) received from Dr. Stmes, 31st December, 1878. Specific gravity at 62 deg. F., l'0072; specific gravity after evaporation, rO189; alcohol per cent, (volume), 8; extract, 475; ash, '30; colour of ash, white; taste of extract, bitter, no pungency; taste of alcohol, bitter, no pungency. The appearance of this beer wa» slightly turbid, with a certain amount of residue. The taste alone did not indicate that it contained anything of an abnormal character. A miscroscopic examination of the residue revealed the presence of a very large number of yeast cells, together with a small portion of fibrous woody material, probably derived from the cask containing the beer. Particles of tobacco were specially looked for, but with negative results. The high percentage of alcohol points to a strong beer, but the presence of yeast cells shows that it has not been well made. There is no evidence to prove that it has been adulterated ; the quantity received, however, did not allow of a very exhaustive analysis being made. A. W. Bickeeton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 16th January, 1879. Colonial Analyst. Eepoet on the Examination for Blood-stains on Aeticles received from the Police, sth August, 1878, in Connection with the Case of Eegina v. Hoff. I have examined both microscopically and chemically the following articles received from Sergeant Macdonald —namely, (1) axe-head, (2) cleaver, and (3) shingle-hammer —but can find no satisfactory evidence as to the presence of blood on them. A. ~W. Bickeetow, Canterbury College Laboratory, sth August, 1878. Colonial Analyst. By Authority : Geoege Didbbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB79. Price 6d.]

2—R. 23.