13

H.—22

cent.; three contained preservative, contrary to regulation; forty-four were decidedly stale; sixty-two contained excessive amounts of dirt. In all 198 samples, or over 23 per cent., failed to comply with the regulations. The activity of the Inspectors did much to check watering and skimming towards the end of the year. The proportion of stale and dirty milks, however, showed no diminution. Some causes of such unsound condition of milk are lack of cleanliness on tho farms, insufficient cooling, carelessness in handling, and undue delay in distribution. They are all remediable. Other Districts. —The following table summarizes the results from the other districts : —

Post Office. The samples analysed for the Postal Department comprise beeswax, bichromate of potash, copper sulphate, cable-sheath, damaged wire, disinfectants, paraffin, and quicksilver. Other Departments. A few miscellaneous samples were received from the Railways and Marine Departments. The total work done for each Department is shown in the following table : — Summary of Analyses. Agricultural ... ... ... ... ... ... 33 Customs ... ... ... ... ... ... 239 Defence Forces ... ... ... ... ... ... 120 Explosives Branch... ... ... ... ... ... 45 Internal Affairs ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 Justice (Police) ... ... ... ... ... ... 478 Mental Hospitals ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Military Supplies ... ... ... ... ... ... 56 Imperial Supplies Purchase —Scheelite shipments ... ... 131 Mines— , Geological Survey ... ... ... ... ... 93 Head Office ...'" ... ... ... ... ... 52 Inspectors ... ... ••■ ■■■ •■■ ■■■ 66 Prospectors ... ... ... ... ■■. ■•• 224 Post Office ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 Public HealthAuckland District ... ... ... ... ... 10 Christchurch District ... ... ... ... ... 51 Dunedin District ... ... ... ... ... 15 Wellington District ... ... ... ... ... 1,318 Public Works ... ... ■■• ••• ••• ■•• 87 Railways ... ••• ••• ••• ••■ ••■ 30 Other Departments ... ••■ ... ••■ .... 13 Total Government Departments ... ... 3,118 Miscellaneous samples ... ... ... ... 76 Total samples analysed ... ... 3,194

Locality. Samples received. Seriously .dulterated. i Slightly below Standard. Skimmed. Watered. Hutt Valley Palmerston North 10 16 7 21 I .5 13 6 8 42 1 1 8 9 6 8 13 1 3 5 10 4 20 15 28 1 2 1 3 Marton 1 i 3 Wanganui Waverley Patea Hawora Eltham Stratford New Plymouth . . Whangamomona .. Hunterville Taihape Featherston Greytown Carterton Masterton Dannevirke Hastings Farndon Napier Wairoa Gisborne Blenheim Nelson I . . i i i 3 i i i 1 i i i 2 2 i 2 i 5 Totals .. 261 7 19 15 i