Alleged Poisonous Honey

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 450, 1 March 1890, Page 6

Alleged Poisonous Honey

D eking his recent stay in Auckland Messrs G. L. l'eacocke (New Zealand Farmer) and I. Hopkins {Australasian flee Journal waited upon the Hon. Mr Mitchelson, act ing Premier, with reference to the recent cases of honey poisoning in the North They were introduced by Mr F. La wry M.H.R., president of the New Zealand Beekeepers’ Association, who explained the objects of the visit.

Mr Peacockesaid it was a matter of very great importance that everything connected with these alleged honey poisoning cases should be fully investigated—that vague statements such as had already been made in connection with the alleged case of honey poisoning at Mataba would undoubtedly do the beekeeping industry, which is now of considerable magnitude in New Zealand, a great deal of harm, and that he thought, in the interests of beekeepers and the public, the Government should bake the matter in hand, and obtain the most skilful assistance possible in ascertaining the exact nature of the deleterious substance causing the mischief, and whether it was really in the honey or not, and he suggested that samples of tho honey, pollens, combs, etc., should be obtained and anal3'sed. Mr Hopkins pointed out that he and others had gone to considerable trouble in obtaining a report and samples of the socalled poisonous honey from Matata, and although the latter had been in the hands of an analyst for some months, they had as .yet been unable to obtain bis report, hence the reason for their wishing the Government to take the matter in hand. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson, in reply, agreed with the deputation that the matter was of great public importance, and promised to do all that was possible in obtaining tho desired information, and with this object in view would wire to an official in the North to obtain samples of the honey, etc., to be forwarded to Wellington for analysis.