f1.—22

12

At the request of the Minister of Munitions an investigation was made into the possibility of utilizing the manuka (Leplospernwm scopariiim) and the kamahi or red-birch (Weimannia racemosa) for the production of khaki dye. Reports have also been made on other suggestions for the use of various local products in the manufacture of munitions and military supplies. The work done for other Departments is of the same character as in previous years. Customs. No comment is necessary on the samples submitted by this Department, which are analysed to assist classification for tariff purposes. Police. A few medico-legal cases, and some liquors for purity, comprise most, if not all, of the work required by the police this year. Mines. The number of prospectors' samples tends to diminish, and the results on the whole disclose little of value. The search for scheelite would appear, however, to be particularly vigorous. Numerous analyses of mine-airs have been made for the Inspectors of Mines. The Geological Survey forwarded a total of 135 specimens, comprised mainly of coals, rocks, limestones, clays, and quartz for assay. An exceptionally large number were examined for phosphate to assist the Director in his search for further deposits of phosphate rock. Public Health. The 928 samples analysed for the Public Health Department include baking-powder, butter, coffee, cream, cream of tartar, aerated drinks, lime-juice, lemon-squash, jam, infant and invalid foods, margarine, mince-meat, milk, tomatoes and tomato-sauce, sardines, tea, vinegar, water for potable purposes. The samples of jam were obtained from over twenty manufacturers. The majority complied with the standards, but some were adulterated with excess of apple-pulp. A few contained colouring-matter and preservative. Of twelve samples of butter examined, three contained an excess of water. Several coffee samples did not comply with the regulations. The position of infant-foods in the Dominion would seem to require careful attention. There are still some in the market that are unfit for young children. Many also tend to deteriorate on long keeping. Milk-supply. Samples analysed during the year cover the Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, and Nelson districts. In all 593 were received under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Wellington City. —Only 338 samples were taken during the year from retailers and suppliers in Wellington City and suburbs, and of these eleven had been watered, ten others were below the standard in solids other than fat, four were deficient in fat, and ten were stale. The average adulteration of the watered samples was 15J per cent., equivalent to J per cent, over the whole of the supply. This is less than in previous years, but would still be highly profitable to the vendor. The use of preservatives does not appear to be so general as is popularly believed. Other Districts. —Over two hundred samples were received from outlying towns and districts. Of twenty-nine from Palmerston North, two were watered and two others slightly below the standard. Wanganui forwarded thirty-two, one being skimmed, another watered, and three more slightly under the standard. Taranaki Province furnished forty-four, of which two were deficient in fat. From the towns in the Wairarapa district twenty came to hand, only one of which was seriously adulterated. Hawke's Bay supplied five, two being watered. Of forty samples from Gisborne, six contained added water, and two others were deficient in fat. Thirtjrtwo samples came from Nelson, two being slightly below the standard, and nine from Marlborough, all good milks. Thirty-two were received from towns on the Main Trunk line, from Marton to Ohakune inclusive. Of these six had been watered, two partly skimmed, and two others were slightly below the standard. The results of legal proceedings taken against vendors for selling adulterated milk are shown in the following table: —

District. Number Number of of Cases. Convictions. Pines and Costs. Vellington City lutt and Otaki 'almerston North darton ?aihape lunterville )hakune 9 8 4 4 2 2 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 8 4 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 5 8 4 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 5 £ s. d. 67 19 0 118 16 0 12 17 0 30 1 6 5 7 0 6 0 6 5 0 0 48 1 0 4 0 0 3 0 0 5 19 6 2 19 6 127 4 0 iVanganui 'Jew Plymouth dasterton iVaipukurau ... Napier lisborne 32 31 437 5 0 I The substantial fines im osed in man cases should have a lalutar fleet.