H.—3l

66

Cotton-waste. Some friction has arisen during the year over the Department's action in refusing to admit without disinfection several bales of cotton-waste, which is prohibited by Gazette order unless a pure mill-waste. Some of the samples submitted were extremely dirty, and consisted of dirty shredded rags. A satisfactory standard lias now been adopted, and doubtful cases submitted to an expert. Special Inspections and Special Reports. 1. Dunedin Water-supply. —As a result of several analyses made at my laboratories, this supply falls far short of a satisfactory standard. The reservoirs are exposed to far too much risk of pollution, which risks I have pointed out to the Council's Water Committee. Picnic parties are allowed to frequent the banks of the reservoirs and to use the gathering-grounds in the immediate vicinity, with the result that in one sample examined after a rainfall B. Coli was present in 1/10 c.c. '2. Dunedin Laboratories. By a special arrangement with the Department, University, and Hospital Board, rooms were secured at the Hospital for this purpose. These include a bacteriological laboratory, water-analysis room, and large workroom in the basement. The rooms have been well fitted for teaching purposes, for research work, as well as the ordinary routine work of the Department. The Public Health bacteriological work for the South Island is conducted here, the Hospital bacteriology and the material lor the University and other classes prepared. In December complete sets of bacteriological outfits in which to take ami forward specimens wenissued to the medical men of the South Island, and much use is already being made of them. 'A. Dunedin Milk-supply. —Owing to reports in the newspapers as to the presence of tubercule in milk, I was approached by the Dairy Association and asked to report mi the milk-supply of Dunedin. Three hundred farms supply Dunedin with milk, and arrangements have been made with the Stock Department whereby the two Departments will work together. The work is delayed meantime pending the arrival of a large electrical centrifuge, but it is hoped to commence what will be an extensive investigation in June of l!ll I. 4. In May of 111 111 Dr. Ogston resigned his position as District Health Officer, after nine years of faithful service, and I had the honour of being appointed to succeed him. Much of the pioneer work has been his. and I am deeply indebted to him for the help lie lias placed at my disposal at all times. 5. In December, 1910, Mr. Andrew hogan. from the Usher Institute of Public Health, Edinburgh, was appointed jointly by the Government, Hospital Board, and University as assistant to the Laboratory. 6. I have also to record the help which the Department has received from Inspector Donaldson, the City Council Sanitary Inspector, who is also an Inspector under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, who has been instrumental in securing large quantities of foods under the Act. Syhnkv T. Champtaloup, M.8.. B.Sc. (P.H.), District Health Officer.