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Report on the Administration of the Explosive and Dangerous Goods Act, 1908, from Ist July, 1917, to 30tii Junk, 1918. Legislation. — Dining (he period under review an amendment to the War Regulations was gazetted dealing with the safe custody of high explosives. Authorization, of New Explosives. —No new explosives were authorized for importation into, or for manufacture, storage, anil sale in. New Zealand during the year. Manufacture. —The number of factories licensed for the manufacture of explosives remains the same as last year, viz. : — (1.) Sabulite (N.Z.) Limited, at Waikumete, for the manufacture of sabulite. (2.) H, F. Bickerton, at Wainoni Park, Christehurch, for the manufacture of fireworks. (3.) Colonial Ammunition Company, at Mount Eden, Auckland, for the manufacture of small-arms ammunition. Importation. —The condition of imported explosives was on the whole satisfactory, but a number of packages of blasting-powder which arrived early in the year had been broken in transit, and required to be repaired before being allowed to go into magazines. The quantities of explosives imported into New Zealand during I ho year were as follows:— lb. Gelignite ... ... ... ... ... ... 357,500 Gelatine dynamite ... ... ... ... ... ... 700 Quarry monobel ... ... ... ... ~. 18,000 Quarry stomonal ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,500 Viking powder ... ... ... ... ... ... .145,000 Farm powder ... ... ... ... ... ... 25,000 Blasting-powder (grain) ... ... ... ... ... 116,250 (pellets) ... ... ... ... 211,600 (sporting ... ~. ... ... ... 1,000 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 877,550 Detonators ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,510,000 Fog-signals and fireworks (packages) ... ... ... ... 1,384 Storage. —The total number of magazine licenses issued for the year was 158. Of these, fortytwo were for quantities up to 300 Ib., fifty-four for quantities between 300 Ib. and 2,000 Ib., and sixty-two for quantities between 2,000 Ib. and 20 tons. Government magazines available for public use remain the same as last year—viz., three— al Wellington, Greymoutk, and Dunedin, In Dunedin the new magazines recently erected at Wingatui are now in use, and are proving much more satisfactory for the storage of explosives than the old magazines at Port Chalmers and Anderson's Bay. Owing (o shortage of material the new magazines being erected at Greymouth will not be ready for occupation for some considerable time. Packing and Conveyance. —The number qJ licenses issued during the year to carry explosives was 322. Condemned Explosives. —On the 27th August, at Wellington, ninety-nine cases of Globe gelatine were condemned on account of exudation of nitroglycerine, and destroyed by taking out to sea and dumping. On the Bth September, at Greymouth, 470 cases of super-excellite, which had been under observation for some time, were finally condemned on account of containing an excessive percentage of moisture, and were destroyed by dumping at sea. On the 4th December, at Tauraroa (Whaugarei), a quantity of explosives was examined, and 25 lb. of gelignite was condemned on account of exudation of nitro-glyeerine, also 20 lb. carbonite on account of absorption of moisture. The gelignite was destroyed by burning, and the carbonite by spreading over swampy ground. Licensed Premises. —During the year 613 licenses were issued in respect of premises licensed to sell explosives and to keep explosives for sale in quantities not exceeding 1001b. Accidents. —No accidents occurred during the year in the manufacture, storage, or transport of explosives, as defined under Part 1 of the Act. Legal Proceedings. —l have to acknowledge the valuable assistance afforded by the Police Department in investigating a number of cases of persons selling anil storing explosives wit limit a license from this Department. inspection and Testing. —lnspections have been made during the year of public magazines, licensed factories, licensed magazines, licensed premises, and conveyances. Explosives dial had deteriorated to such an extent as to become dangerous were destroyed by Inspectors, Aboul 100 samples of commercial explosives, and 110 samples of cordite and exploders for the Defence authorities, have been tested for stability by the heat and other tests. General. —lt will be noted that the quantities (if explosives imported into New Zealand during the period were considerably lower than those imported during the previous year. This is mainly duo to shipments arriving just lief ore and after the period under review. J. S. Maclaubin, Dominion Analyst and Chief Inspector of Explosives. The Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.

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