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.