AT HIS OLD TRICKS

Dunstan Times, Issue 1141, 14 March 1884, Page 3

AT HIS OLD TRICKS

In a case h-ard at the Cbristphiuoh Resident Magistrate’s Court lately (sa>’s the •Press’), when the .affairs of an Berated water and cordial manuf.ctory were under retiew. it was stat'd that f rged la des, covering preparations of the kind, were in common use in New Zealand, A label and wapper were exhibited. The label, which bore the imprint “P. Wigram, 128 William street, N. Y.,” consisted of some kind of an allegorical engraving and a quantity of lettei-press, setting out that the conten sof the bottle (which was to be shaken before taken) were Blank's (successor to Blank and B1 mk) compound fluid extract of sarsaparilla. The wrapper enumerated twentyseven diseases which the mixture would cure It had also certificates of purity and efficacy from “Sir James Clark,” “Pr Travers,” “Dr Vincent,” aud “Dr Blain," besides a testimonial from “Toe Scientific Chemist, N.S. Keith,” who seems to have been in the special service of the manufacturer. Thepapersays “Thepublic cannot too particularly guard themselves from impositions, and are requested to particularly observe the name on the la -eland on the metalic capsule covering the cork, and the general stylo of our label, which we had engraved at great expense, with a view of still further guarding the public against fraudulent imi ations, and the imposition of a spurious compound in lieu of our truly valuable and well-known compound fluid extract of sarsaparilla.” The paper also further stated that, “mixed with iced water or spirits, it makes a delicious drink.” The addresses of the manufacturer an 1 referees are not given. A witness who, as an old tradesman, ouvht to know, explained that while the stuff these labels were intended to cover was made in New Zealand and everywhere else,” it was perfectly harmless and enjoyed a very larsre circulation among the temperance men and others troubled by any • f the twenty-six diseases the wrapper enumerated. It came out in evidence, adds the ‘Lyttelton Times,’ that the p'amtiff, in the course of transactions with the defendant, represented to the latter that it would be a paying thing to go in together with him for the making of cordials, in whion trade he (the plaintiff) was an expert. He induced the defendant to purchase a copper’ and certain other articles necessary for the purpose, which he had brought up from the South. The defendant, when he found out the purpose to which these “frauds” were to be applied, decided to have nothing more to do with the affair, notwithstanding the assurance that such practices were common in the trade. The presiding Magistrate. Mr Beetham, expressed his opinion in strong terms of dishonesty. The ‘Times’ says that a pro ninent cordial manufacturer "f (Juris church denies that the practice of using forged labels is prevalent in that city.J at all events. The “virtues" plaintiff was Charles Wilkins, formerly of Dune 'in.