16,865. You don't think it is fit for use at all?-I do not; at least I don't think it would do in Edinburgh.
16,866. What is it?-My opinion is, that there is good deal of barley-meal in it, not flour at all.
16,867. Then, if that is the case, it would in your opinion be overcharged at 2d. per lb.?-Yes. That would be 14d. per peck of 7 lbs., or 46s. per bag, which is about the price of the best flour just now.
16,868. What was it in December or January last?-It was cheaper than it is now.
16,869. Then you think that 2d. per lb. would have been an absurd charge for that flour at that time?-Perfectly absurd.
[Page 434]
16,870. No. 12 is a sample of rice which you have valued at 21/2d. per lb.: was that rice of good quality?-Yes; it was of fairish quality.
16,871. Would 31/2d. be too much for it?-It would be more than could be got for it here.
16,872. Would it be extravagant to charge that price for it in an outlying country district?-I think it would. I think 3d. would be the outside that could be got for it.
16,873. Are you aware that the expense of carriage to some of these places must be pretty high?-They have direct communication to Lerwick twice a week, which, as I said before, cannot exceed 2s. per cwt., and that would be about 1/4d. per lb.