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Staff. Mr. R. C. Hayes, professional cadet, was transferred to Samoa on the 22nd April. Mr. A. G. CCrust, M.Sc., was appointed-to succeed him. The regular staff is now constituted as follows :• —A. G. CCrust, M.Sc., temporary professional assistant; T. S. Wyman, clerical cadet. In addition, Mr. H. 0Belworthy, Internal Affairs Department, has attended to the Sunday duty. Mr. T. W. Preston, Lands and Survey Department, assisted on the longitude determinations from 19th September to 28th November. Mr. R. L. C. Grant, Post and Telegraph Department, was in charge of the radio work during the same period, and Mr. B. L. Elphick B.Sc., assisted with the seismological work for a total period of sixty-four days. My thanks are tendered to the staff for efficient and loyal service. The duties at the Observatory are exacting, and are discharged every day of the year, including Sundays and Government holidays. On no occasion has any essential duty ever been neglected. C. E. Adams, Dominion Astronomer and Seismologist. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE METEOROLOGICAL BRANCH. Prom the Ist April to the 31st August the control of the Meteorological Office rested with the Marine Department, but from then it passed into the new Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Being a period of transition, there has been little progress to report, although some important initiatory steps have been taken, which I have long advocated and which promise much for future usefulness. They are — (1) In December an extension of oversea reports was approved, and we now receive brief code messages daily from Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, Alice Springs, Perth, Brisbane, Norfolk Island, and the Chathams. (2) Later in the year arrangements were made for certain ships to report ocean weather on the way to and from Australia. These mostly come at the week-end. (3) Some experiments were made at Sockburn in February and March with pilot balloons,, for upper-air investigation. Weather reports and forecasts are sent out twice daily to all parts of the country, and ocean reports once daily, by radio from Awanui and Wellington. The forecasts are also broadcasted in the evening from the various centres. Inspections were made of some of the stations on the east coast of the South Island in September last. Two third-class stations have been raised to the order of climatological stations—viz., Takaka, in the South Island, and Mangamutu (near Pahiatua), in the North Island. Ten new rainfall stations have been established —viz., Opotiki ; H.M. Prison Farm, Hauto ; H.M. Prison Farm, Rangipo ; Tangarakau ; Eltham ; Flock House, Bull's ; Normanby ; Waipawa ; Hamilton Bay, French Pass ; and Little Akaloa. Notice has been received that the Railway Department requires the Observatory site at Wellington. Another suitable position will have to be decided upon shortly, and this is no easy matter in this city. D. C. Bates, Director, Meteorological Office. DOMINION LABORATORY REPORT. With the creation during the year of a Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Laboratory was transferred from the Department of Internal Affairs, with which it had been associated since 1909, and placed under the control of the new Department. It may be emphasized that the Laboratory already has a good record of achievement in investigational problems dealing with foods, notably milk, with various aspects of coal, with clay, with the kauri-gum industry, and with many minor matters affecting the work of Government Departments. There is a considerable measure of regret in the severance of personal relations with the administrative officers of the Department of Internal Affairs, with whom our relations in the past have been invariably of the happiest. In linking up with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research it is anticipated that greater facilities will be afforded for research, and more time increasingly devoted to investigational work of an industrial character. The work during the year has consisted almost entirely of chemical analyses and examinations carried out on behalf of the Government. The number of samples received from various Departments was as follows ; Customs, 496 ; Justice (Police), 34 ; Main Highways Board, 105 ; Mines, 467

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