F.—No. 5

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, ETC.

7

APPENDIX.

No. 1. Mr. E. Atchison, Inspector, to James Hectoe, Esq., M.D. Sib,— Police Office, Wellington, 12th July, 1870. I have the honor to inform you that 1 have been requested by the Chairman of the Select Committee on Weights and Measures and Adulteration of Pood to obtain samples of the different kinds of food and spirituous liquors, and to forward the same to you for the purpose of analysis. In consequence thereof, I have caused to be obtained thirty-four samples of groceries, sixteen samples of liquors and beers, and six loaves of bread, and which were forwarded to the Museum yesterday. I have, &c, James Hector, Esq., M.D., Museum, Wellington. Peedeeick Achison, Inspector. Enclosure. Gboceeies. 1. Tea. 7. Sugar. 13. Sugar. 19. Sugar. 25. Coffee. 31. Tea. 2. Coffee. 8. Tea. 14. Coffee. 20. Pepper. 26. Pepper. 32. Coffee. 3. Sugar. 9. Mustard. 15. Tea. 21. Tea. 27. Tea. 33. Pepper. 4. Tea. 10. Sugar. 16. Pepper. 22. Sugar. 28. Sugar. 34. Sugar. 5. Sugar. 11. Tea. 17. Tea. 23. Coffee. 29. Coffee. 6. Pepper. 12. Coffee. 18. Coffee. 24. Pepper. 30. Pepper. Wines and Spieits. 1. Pale Brandy. 5. Port wine. 9. Old Tom. 13. Nelson ale. 2. Bum. 6. Irish whiskey. 10. Sherry. 14. Wellington Brewery Co. 3. Port wine. 7. Bum. 11. Claret. 15. Staples' do. 4. Scotch whiskey. 8. Gin. 12. Scotch whiskey. 16. Edmeades' do. Bee ad. 1. 21b. loaf, 4d. 3. 21b.,10af, 3d. 5. 21b. loaf, 4d. 2. „ „ 4d. 4, „ „ 4d. 6. „ „ 4d.

No. 2. Eestjlts of Analyses of Articles forwarded by Inspector Atchison. Coffee. —Eight samples : — No. 2 contains a quantity of some highly coloured substance other than pure coffee, probably chicory. No. 12 is a very pure coffee ; certainly contains no chicory. No. 14 resembles No. 2. No. 18 is very much adulterated. No. 23 is nearly pure. Nos. 25 and 29 are very poor in coffee; in fact, they ought to be called by some other name, with coffee for an adulteration. No. 32 is much adulterated. These coffees have not yet been examined under the microscope. Teas. —Nine samples : — Nothing detected so far, but the examination is not completed oxcept so far as concerns the small dealers. Peppees.—Seven samples:— Not examined, particularly as they are rarely adulterated. Mrstaed.—One sample : — Nothing but farinaceous matter and turmeric. Sugaes.—Nine samples sent; seven white and two brown sugars. Nos. 3, 10, 19, 5, and 22 dissolve completely in cold water; solution, colourless and transparent. No. 7 contains a little dust, but is the sweetest of the white sugars ; solution, colourless and transparent. No. 28 is altogether inferior, containing dust and dirt; solution, colourless and transparent. No. 13 is a clean brown sugar, about as sweet as No. 7. No. 34 (brown) contains pieces of flax, &c, probably derived from the bags it is packed in; it is the sweetest sugar of the whole number. None of these samples contain any additions which could have been made to increase the weight; they are merely varieties in quality. The samples sent were too small (one only weighing 1\ grammes). The usual "scientific" adulteration of sugar consists of water, and, therefore, the samples ought to have been placed in sealed bottles, and forwarded directly after collection.