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Return of Analyses. (Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch.) — continued.

OTAGO. • Sir, — ■ University Laboratory, Dunedin, 3rd June, 1908. 1 have the honour to forward by this mail my annual report as Government Analyst for the Department of Public Health for the year ending 31st March, 1908. The work for the year includes analyses and reports on 51 samples of milk, 23 samples of water, 16 samples of whisky, 10 samples of wine, 15 samples of tea, 1 sample of hop-beer, 1 sample of condensed milk—ll7 samples in all. My report shows the composition and quality of the individual samples of milk submitted for analysis, but there are a few points I wish to draw attention to in connection with them that deserve a little more attention. I am therefore tabulating the milk results in groups 11, 13, 13, 5, 3, 6 samples respectively, as received by me for analysis.

Tabulated Summary of 51 Samples of Milk for Year ending 31st March, 1908, shown in groups as taken by different officers—Constable McIntyre, Messrs. Fountain and Donaldson, and Oamaru Police.

(a.) The police in all three of their batches got a much higher quality of milk than Mr. Fountain, of the Dairy Industries Department, or Mr. Donaldson, of the Foods Department. (b.) The sudden falling-ofi in quality between the 18th May and the 22nd May is accounted for by the fact that the police (Mclntyre) raided the road leading to Dunedin from the north on one of these dates and the road leading from the south on the other. (c.) The samples submitted by Mr. Fountain for the Dairy Industries Department included, I believe, several samples from the retail shops, and this probably accounts for the low average quality of the batch taken by him. (d.) The high average quality of the Oamaru samples is very satisfactory. These were taken later, and further into the winter season than Mr. Fountain's Dunedin samples. The Oamaru

Department or I'orson from whom Sample received. Nature of Sample. Date received. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. | Hesult. Customs a . , Acetic acid 1907. Dec. 20 .. » 24 .. 1908. Jan. 5 .. 5 .. „ 10 .. „ 27 .. Tariff 49 - 8 per cent, acetic acid 49-8 „ „ (Check.) 58-2 98-5 „ „ Melting-point, 58-5° Fahr. 58-6 Volatile and organic matter, 1-96 ; sodium-chloride, 0-8 ; sulphates, 0 - 6 ; lime, 0-84 ; silicates, 0-84 ; iron, trace ; free ammonia, 0-015 ; album, ammonia, 0-005. Volatile and organic matter, 2-4; sodium-chloride, 10-6; sulphates, 1-57 ; nitric anhydride, 0-07 ; lime, 1-48 ; silicates, 1-57; iron, trace; free ammonia, 0-03; album, ammonia, 0-008. Not very good. 58-3 per cent, acetic acid. 58-5 Specific gravity, 1-032; total solids, 12-09 per cent. ; fat, 3-4 per cent. ; solids not fat, 8-69 per cent. ; ash, 0-68 per cent. Volatile and organic matter, 0-84 ; sodium-chloride, 1-15 ; sulphates, 0-35; lime, 0-74; silicates, 1-12; iron, trace; free ammonia, 0-01 ; album, ammonia, trace. Free from poison. 49-2 per cent, acetic acid. Found coal-tar hydrocarbons and phenols soluble in ether. Volatile and organic matter, 1-68 ; sodium chloride, 1-04; carb. lime, 0-64; silicates, 0-56. Traces of iron. sulphates, and ammonia. ,, .. Health Water, Kaikoura Purity „ 27 .. (Customs Acetic acid Feb. 4 .. „ 22 .. Mar. 5 .. Tariff Purity Health Milk Water, Doyleston „ 11 .. >> Polici Customs Health Contents of stomach Acetic acid Coal briquette Water, Waimate „ 22 .. „ 24 .. „ 23 .. „ 28 .. Poisons Tariff Irritants Purity 6th Apri , 1908. A. A. Bickerton, Analyst.

From whom received. Number of Samples. received. Total Solids. Average Percentage of Fat. Jonstable Mclntyre, Dunedin .. **' lr. Fountain, Dairy Industries 11 13 13 5 3 6 May 18 .. „ 22 .. June 8 .. „ 13 .. „ 26 .. „ 29 .. 13-9 13-5 12-5 1246 12-82 13-34 4-35 3-69 3-1 3-21 3-21 3-85 lr. Donaldson, Inspector of Poods .. 'olice, Oamaru j