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(Mecting held at the Magistracy, Hongkong, at 5 p m., on Friday, August 12th, 1898).
Present:-Commander W. C. H. HASTINGS, R.N., Chairman.
Rev. R. F. COBBOLD, M.A.
Dr. F. O. STEDMAN.
Mr. F. BROWNE, (Secretary).
Mr. FRANK BROWNE, Acting Government Analyst, was further examined as follows:— The CHAIRMAN.Have you any remarks to make on the analysis of samshu?
Mr. BROWNE.-I shall be glad to inake clear anything in my report on which further information may appear desirable. I may say that I have made very complete enquiries as to the sale of samshu to Europeans by Chinese retailers.
Have you inspected the samshu distilleries ?—Yes.
Did you see any decayed or inferior materials ?-No.
Have you made enquiries as to whether samshu is drunk by Europeans-soldiers and sailors, and others ?--Yes, I found that a few years ago it was customary for beach- combers to frequent a place at the corner of Upper Lascar Row known as "Samshu Corner" and there to drink samshu, but no drinking in recent years has been noticed. There have also been a few cases in which samshu has been taken into barracks for the. use of soldiers.
Dr. STEDMAN. Is there any clause in the Ordinance to prevent samshu being sold to Europeans?
The CHAIRMAN.-It is forbidden in Schedule N of the proposed new Licensing Bill. Dr. STEDMAN. Then under the present Ordinance can any European get samshu? The CHAIRMAN.-There is a flaw in the Ordinance.
Dr. STEDMAN. But what is the advantage of forbidding the sale of sanshu to Europeans? Is it because samshu is so cheap? I believe samshu is not a deleterious liquor.
Mr. BROWNE.-I presume it is because samshu is so cheap that its sale to Europeans has been prohibited.
Rev. R. F. COBBOLD.-Is it cheaper than some of the cheap Hamburg liquors ?-- Yes.
The CHAIRMAN.--Twelve years ago there was not such cheap European liquor ?— No.
And samshu always was cheap ?--The price of samsbu has varied but little. If anything, it is dearer now in consequence of the rise in the cost of rice.
Do
know a brand of whiskey known as you
a bottle). It is labelled "
፡፡
"?-Yes (producing ..., Pure Scotch Whiskey, guaranteed distilled in Scotland." This was sent to me for examination. I heard from a clerical friend that this whiskey made soldiers and sailors very drunk; that one glass only of it was sufficient to make them drunk. Its composition is as follows:-
In 100 fluid parts of proof strength.
Total solids dried
Strength. at 100° C. in 100
fluid parts.
Free acid as acetic,
Compound ethers as acetic ether.
Higher Alcohols.
33 u.p.
.048
.005
.080
.015