4

H.—23

REPORT on the ANALYSIS of TEN SAMPLE of MILK received from Constable STEPHENSON, 1st October, 1878.

The above analyses prove these samples of milk to be of a good average quality. No. 2 appears to be the best, and No. 4 the poorest sample. A. W. Bickebton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 7th October, 1878. Analyst. Eepoet on the Analysis of Theee Samples of Watee received from the Locomotive Engineee, Christchurch, 19th November, 1878. Sample marked "Ngapara" {Laboratory No., 311). Physical examination: Appearance, clear; taste, good, slightly of vegetable matter; smell, nil. Chemical examination of dissolved solids: Reaction, neutral; lime, present, considerable amount; chlorine, present, moderate amount; sulphuric acid, present, considerable amount; nitric acid, present, small amount; nitrous acid, trace; ammonia, present, small amount; iron protosalts, nil; iron persalts, nil; sulphuretted hydrogen, nil; magnesia, present, moderate amount; phosphoric acid, trace; silicic acid, present, small amount; organic matter, present, small amount. Quantitative results: Hardness, total, 5075 parts per 100,000; permanent, 47'15 parts per 100,000; temporary, 3-60 parts per 100,000; total solids, 10840 parts per 100,000, or 75'88 grains per gallon. Sample marked " Windsor" {Laboratory No., 342). Physical examination : Appearance, hazy; taste, rather flat; smell, rather unpleasant. Chemical examination of dissolved solids : Eeaction, neutral; lime, present, moderate amount; chlorine, present, moderate amount; sulphuric acid, present, considerable amount; nitric acid, nil; nitrous acid, nil; ammonia, present, small amount; iron protosalt, nil; iron persalt, nil; sulphuretted hydrogen, nil; magnesia, present, small amount; phosphoric acid, nil; silicic acid, present, small amount; organic matter, present, considerable amount. Quantitative results: Hardness, total, 4270 parts per 100,000 ; permanent, 38'58 parts per 100,000; temporary, 412 parts per 100,000; total dissolved solids, 112'40 parts per 100,000, or 784 68 grains per gallon. Sample marked " Teaneraki " {Laboratory No., 343). Physical examination : Appearance, hazy, considerable amount of suspended matter; taste, bad; smell, very unpleasant. Chemical examination of dissolved solids: Eeaction, neutral ; lime, present, small amount; chlorine, present, moderate amount; sulphuric acid, present, moderate amount; nitric acid, nil; nitrous acid, nil; ammonia, present, small amount; iron protosalt, nil; iron persalt, nil; sulphuretted hydrogen, nil ; magnesia, present, considerable amount; phosphoric acid, nil; silicic acid, present, small amount; organic matter, present, considerable amount. Quantitative results : Hardness, total, 23-74 parts per 100,000; permanent, 2210 parts per 100,000; temporary, IG4 parts per 100,000; total solids, 75'80 parts per 100,000,0r 5306 grains per gallon. Inferences. From the above analyses it will be seen that, owing to the rather high proportion and nature of the solids contained in them, these samples of water cannot be recommended as possessing first-class qualities for boiler purposes. The Ngapara water appears to be the least suitable, and the other two about equal. None of the samples are worse than such as are frequently used, but they are much inferior to those formerly analyzed, and should be avoided if better can be obtained. As drinking waters, none of them possess good indications. A. W. Bickekton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 4th December, 1878. Colonial Analyst. Eepoet on the Analysis of a White Powdee received from the Police, 17th October, 1879. Hatino examined the powder received from the police, 17th October, 1878,1 find it to consist of common alum. A. ~W. Bickeeton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 17th October, 1878. Colonial Analyst. Eepoet on the Analysis of a Sample of Sheeey (supposed to be spurious) received from Mr. J. Jones, 19th October, 1878. The sample of sherry received from Mr. J. Jones, having been analyzed, was found to contain 21 per cent, of alcohol by volume, which is a very good proportion for this class of wine. It is probablv a real wine, or, if made, it most likely is from brandy, as there is a certain proportion of tannin contained in it; if not from brandy, most certainly from pure spirit. The wine is adulterated with a considerable quantity of alum, for the purpose of giving it a dry flavour. It is absolutely impossible that it could have been made from dry chemicals or more essences. A. W. Bickeeton, Canterbury College Laboratory, 20th October, 1878. Colonial Analyst.

Moratory numbers darks on samples ipecific gravity at 62 deg. I". ?otal solids, per cent. }ream, per cent. Lsh, per cent. ... Lbnormal Physical Characteristics 312 No. 1 1032 1214 7-0 •64 313 No. 2 1-032 12-58 100 •58 314 I 315 No. 3 No. 4 1029 i 1-029 11-50 | 11-28 7-0 7-5 ■52 -46 Nil Nil 316 No. 5 1031 12 04 7-5 •50 317 No. 6 1032 1244 80 •60 318 319 No. 7 No. 8 1-027 1031 11-62 1202 85 90 •52 -60 Nil Nil 320 No. 9 1029 11-78 8-5 •54 321 No.K 1030 11-88 8-5 •50 | Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil