DOMINION ANALYST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 17

DOMINION ANALYST.

DR MACLAURIN’S RETIREMENT,

(Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, February 26. Dr J. S. Maclaurin, D.S.C., F.C.S. Dominion _ analyst and chief inspector of explosives, is to retire on super annuation on March 31. ’ P- r was born in November, 38b4_, and has completed over 28 years’ service with the State. He was educated “l 1 P l k . land University College and was , Exhibition science scholar. He gradu at<>d B.Sp. in 1892, .with first-class honours in chemistry, and D.S.C, five years later. He is a fellow of the New Zealand Institute. It is not generallv known that the scholarship which en abled Sir Ernest Rutherford to go to England was first awarded to Dr Mac laurin, who refused it. It was tha< refusal which gave Sir Ernest his oppor tumty, the outcome of which is known throughout the world. Recently, Dt Maclaurin attended the Pan-Pacific Science Conference and returned to New Zealand with valuable. information regardmg flax fibres.

Dr Maclaurin has had a distinguished eaxeer in the realms of science As Dominion analyst he has for ‘ years handled the analyses of the Health Department’s samples, including all cases of adulteration, and has undertaken in numerable analyses for the Police Department. Part of his official duties has been to carry out investigations in connection with the kauri gum industry, as a result.of which he developed what is known as the flotation method of separating the gum from the soil. Considerable effort was expended also in investigations in connection with mining, radio activity, and natural "ases occurring in New Zealand. For the last Bix months he hap been engaged on methods of bleaching flax and it is Understood that arrangements have been made for him to continue this work after his retirement from the position pi Dominion analyst.