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DOMINION LABORATORY. The work of the year consisted almost entirely of chemical analyses and investigations undertaken for various Government Departments. The numbers of samples received from the various Departments were : — Wellington (Main Laboratory): Customs, 256 ; Police, 61; Geological Survey, 164 ; Main Highways Board, 288 ; Mines, 109; Health, 2,943 ; Post and Telegraph, 47 ; Research, 206 ; Public Works, 33 ; Railways, 19 ; Stores Control Board, 4 ; Agriculture, 50 ; Defence, 18 ; Prisons, 342 ; Government Printing Office, 14 ; External Affairs, 17 ; other Departments, 191. In addition to these, 5 samples were received from municipal and other local bodies, and 82 from miscellaneous sources, a total of 4,849. Auckland (Branch Laboratory) : Agriculture, 10 ; Customs, 1 ; Defence, 2 ; Health, 3,198 ; Lands and Survey, 2 ; Justice (Police), 145 ; Post and Telegraph, 9 ; Public Trust, 14 ; Public Works, 74 : Total, 3,455. Christchurch (Branch Laboratory) : Health, 2,4-44 Justice (Police), 147 ; other Government Departments, 23 ; Local bodies and miscellaneous, 22 : Total, 2,635. Dunedin (Branch Laboratory) : Health, 1,090; Justice (Police), 62 ; Agriculture, 14 ; Public Works, 1 ; Scientific and Industrial Research, 11 ; Railways, 5 ; Post and Telegraph, 2 ; University Medical School, 6 ; miscellaneous, 1 : Total, 1,192. The total number of 12,132 samples was received in the main Laboratory and the three branches. Customs. The majority of the 259 samples examined for this Department were analysed for approximate composition as a guide in classifying for tariff purposes. A number of materials were examined to ascertain if they complied with the regulations under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. In cases of non-compliance importation and sale would not be allowed. Police. A large number of diverse materials were examined for the police in connection with criminal investigations, and various members of the staff were consulted in cases where their special knowledge might be of assistance. Wellington.—ln each of two cases of poisoning strychnine was found. A number of samples were examined in connection with alleged illegal sale of liquor. In a case of suspected incendiarism several samples of fabric were found to have been soaked with kerosene. Various drugs were analysed in connection with cases of attempts to procure abortion. A special investigation was made in a case where deceased had taken a very large known quantity of barbitone (veronal). A number of organs from various parts of the body were examined and it was found that the barbitone was very uniformly distributed. In a " hit and run " case minute green patches on two overcoat buttons of the deceased, and a dull streak on the mudguard of the accused's motor-truck were submitted for examination. It was shown that the green patches on the buttons corresponded with the green paint on a bent bar of the truck. Scrapings from a number of points of the dull streak on the mudguard all gave the characteristic smell of burning rubber, when carefully heated over a small flame. No similar smell was observed with scrapings from any other part of the mudguard. Smears were then made on the mudguard with the rubber grip of deceased's motor-cycle handle and scrapings from these all gave the smell of burning rubber when heated. It was found, however, that after a period of three weeks no such smell could be obtained from these or the original smear. This was probably due to oxidation changes in very thin deposits of rubber. It was therefore concluded that the original smear could not have been more than three weeks old when first examined. A number of samples of blood and urine were examined for alcohol. Auckland.—Of the investigations for poisons there was one case each where nicotine, veronal, luminal, and chloral was isolated. Numbers which had been filed off several stolen bicycles were made visible by using a solution of copper chloride in hydrochloric acid containing 5 per cent, of glycerine, the solution being kept saturated by a freezing mixture until application. A small reservoir of dental sheet was made round the number and the solution applied for several short periods. In the case of a forged receipt which was said to have been through the washtub it was possible to show by means of absorption of eosin from ether by the paper fibres that as little as thirty seconds immersion in water would have removed the sizing of the paper. A preparation sold as aluminium solder was found to be a mixture of 8 per cent, aluminium powder with melted sulphur and quite useless for the purpose of soldering aluminium. With a forged pa-ka-poo ticket it was found possible from an examination of the ink and paper to discover the method used by accused. Christchurch. —The following substances were present in exhibits submitted for toxicological examination: Friar's balsam, Glauber's salts, alcohol, methylated spirits, chloroform, ether, and arsenic. Friar's balsam had been used in a case of attempted suicide. Glauber's salts or sodium sulphate, a definitely mineral salt, was the main constituent of a " herbalist's" remedy. In connection with two cases of criminal abortion, numerous medicinal preparations and appliances were examined.

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