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CANTERBURY. Sir, 6 Brittan Street, Linwood, Christchurch, 6th April, 1908. I have the honour to forward you, under separate cover, the returns of the 109 analyses made by me during the year ending 31st March, 1908. In reference to the amount of proof-spirit in drinks, I would like to draw your attention to the need of bringing the various Acts into line in regard to the percentage to be allowed. " The Licensing Act, 1881," especially requires to have the amount stated, as many experts hold, in interpreting the word "beer" under section 4, that, unless the drink in question has sufficient . proof-spirit present to actually make a person intoxicated, it is not a beer under the Act. They hold that it would require at least about 7 per cent, of proof-spirit to make it intoxicating. On the other hand, the Customs collect duty under the new Beer Duty Act on any beer containing over 3 per cent, of proof-spirit, though some solicitors hold that the fact of its being excisable does not prove it to be a beer under the Licensing Act. " The Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1907,' section 22, states that a person commits an offence if he sells any food which, not having paid Customs or Excise duty, contains more than 2 per cent, of proof-spirit. I would again respectfully urge the need for an analytical laboratory in Christchurch, especially as the new regulations gazetted under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act will necessitate a lot of standard appliances being obtained to make the prescribed analyses. I have, &c, A. A. BICKERTON, Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer, Wellington. Government Analyst.

Return of Analyses for the Year ended 31st March, 1908. (Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch.)

20— H. 31.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Nature of Sample. Date received. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Kesult. Customs Health Acetic acid Water, Geraldine supply —river 1907. Mar. 27 .. „ 28 .. Tariff Purity 58 per cent, acetic acid. Total solids, 3-92 gr. per gal. ; loss on ignition, 1-68; chlorides, 0-98; lime, 0-42; silicates, 0-84; free ammonia, 0-008; album, ammonia, 0-005 (parts per million). Total solids, 3-35 gr. ; loss on ignition, 1-68 ; chlorides, 0-98 ; lime, 0-13 ; silicates, 0-56 ; free ammonia, 0-008 ; album, ammonia, 0-005. A good water. Found no poison present. Water, Geraldine supply —service „ 28 .. Police Contents of stomach of late Miss Hodges Towel containing vomit of late Miss Hodges Water from Heathcote River for the consumptive sanatorium April 3 .. Poison 5 .. » Health » 3 .. Purity Loss on ignition, 2-24 gr. per gal. ; chlorides, 2-18; lime, 1-18 ; silicates, 0-56 ; sulphates, iron and nitrates, trace ; free ammonia, 0-01 ; album, ammonia, 0-02. Contained suspended matter which will no doubt settle in time and then the water will be good. 68-1 acetic acid. Analysed each of the nine separately. Found to be sugar, and free from poision. Contained oxalic acid. Morphia was found. Customs Police Acetic acid Powders (nine) „ 21 .. „ 22 .. Tariff Poison Human stomach Washings from human stomach Amber oval bottle Sweepings from floor of "lock-up " White fragments Bottle containing tea .. Glacial acetic acid „ 23 .. „ 22 .. „ 23 .. „ 23 .. Found tobacco. Customs Police Customs Strawberry-jam Peach-jam Apricot-jam Blackberry-jam Cape-gooseberry jam .. Raspberry-jam Acetic acid Glacial acetic acid „ 23 .. „ 23 .. „ 29 .. „ 30 .. „ 30 .. „ 30 .. „ 30 .. „ 30 .. „ 30 .. May 15 .. „ 23 .. Tariff Purity Tariff Was lime, free from poison. Free from poison. Acetic acid, 97 per cent. ; melting-point, 54° Fahr. Not glacial. Pure genuine strawberry-jam. „ peach-jam. „ apricot-jam. „ blackberry-jam. „ Cape gooseberry jam.- „ raspberry-jam. 58-7 per cent, acetic acid. 99 per cent, acetic acid ; 59° Fahr. melting-point. Not glacial. Volatile matter, 7-39 gr. per gal. ; sodium-chloride, 10-9 ; sodium-sulphate, 1-16; calcium-sulphate, 2-51 ; cal-cium-carb., 8-5; iron and silicates, 1-8; magnesia, trace; free ammonia, 0-12 ; album, ammonia, 0-06 ; oxygen absorbed in four hours, 0-05 (parts per 100,000). A bad water, and unfit for drinking. Volatile matter, 11-8; sodium-chloride, 26-2; sodiumsulphate, 11-6; calcium-sulphate, 6-5; calcium-carb., 16 ; magnesium-sulphate, 7-2 ; iron and silicates, 0-6 ; free ammonia, 0-02 ; album, ammonia, 0-04 (parts per million); oxygen absorbed in four hours, trace (parts per 100,000). Health Water, Mackenzie Township June 3 .. Purity Water, Mackenzie Public School well 3 ..