309
32. Fire enquiry. In April a report was called for by the Police Magistrate on a basket of débris from a house that had been destroyed by fire. There was a considerable quantity of paper that had been oiled with petroleum and a fixed oil; but the chief object of interest was a curious arrangement of matches round a large joss stick. The matches were secured in a row with thread and strips of paper, the heads being all in the same direction and in contact one with another. The joss stick, about inch in diameter, was placed in the middle of the row in such a way that, when it had smouldered down to a particular point, the matches would instantly be ignited. It was an exceed- ingly clever device and would answer the purpose of a slow match and firing train admirably.
33. Disinfectants.-Special reports on the composition of Tuson's, Essets, and Blackheads's Disin- fectants, have been prepared for the information of the Sanitary Board.
34. Laboratory. The performance of analytical work has been considerably facilitated by the fitting up of the new Government Laboratory which fronts on Eastern Street. The Laboratory Office, store rooms, &c., comprise the greater part of the wing at the west end of the Staff Quarters. The room containing the laboratory fittings is 41 feet long, 21 feet wide and 14 feet high. Around the walls are five benches, each 11 feet long, two of which are fitted with high pressure taps for
• filtration and drying in vacuo. The benches are of teak throughout and the tops have been thoroughly dressed with hard paraffin to obviate any damage from contract with strong acids and alkalis. Each bench is raised about 2 inches from the floor to guard against the attacks of white ants. The gas and water fittings have also been so arranged as to admit of the benches being readily moved away from the walls when necessary. A commodious fume chamber is attached to the east wall and as the flue is connected with the chimney communicating with the room below an extra strong current can be created from the fire-place underneath the Laboratory. In the construction of this chamber as much glass as possible has been used. It is therefore well lighted and can be kept "thoroughly clean. A desk, balance table, and distillation bench are located in the centre of the room. The distillation bench has a superficial area of 18 sq. feet. The top is suitably leaded and amply provided with gas and water. Adjoining it. stands a water tank of a capacity of about 50 gallons-a suitable reserve in view of contingencies. The balance table supports two instruments by BECKER of Rotterdam and one of the Roberval type. A two-inch gas supply is laid on to this room.
Two smaller rooms are used for the storage of chemicals and apparatus: another of moderate dimensious serves the purpose of an Office and Library.
35. It will be seen from the above description that the arrangement of the laboratory differs in several particulars from what is usually considered desirable in Great Britain, but climatic conditions, and an experience extending over more than a decade as to the nature and structure of the plant desirable for the proper discharge of the chemical work likely to be required by the Government has rendered certain departures necessary.
36. Library.—The following works have been added to the Library during the past year :-
"Animal Alkaloids, Cadaveric and Vital;" by A. M. BROWN, M.D. (1894).
"Micro-organisms in Water;" by PERCY FRANKLAND, F.R.S., and Mrs. PERCY FRANE-
LAND, (1894),
"Dictionary of the Active Principles of Plants" by C. E. SOHN, F.C.S., (1894). "Watts' Dictionary of Chemistry" 4 Vols., by M. M. PATTISON MUIR, M.A., and H.
FORSTER MORLEY, M.A., D.Sc., (1890).
"Manual of Bacteriology" by Dr. S. L. SCHENK, (1893).
E
(C
Principal Starches used as Food" by W. GRIFFITH, (1892).
Agricultural Chemistry," by F. T. ADDYMAN, F.I.C., (1893).
Dictionary of Applied Chemistry," by T. E. THORPE, F.R.S., 3 Vols., (1891).
37. The library is not yet on a satisfactory footing, as for the most part only spasmodic additions have formerly been made thereto. I am hoping that the Government may be able to make a small grant annually in order that necessary works of reference may be provided and the library kept up to date.
38. Research. An investigation dealing with the composition of Chinese Opium was completed last year, and the results, in the form of a paper by Mr. FRANK BROWNE, the Assistant Government Analyst, were published in the Pharmaceutical Journal of the 14th December, 1895.
39. During my absence on special service at the Sanitary Board from April 18th to December 1st, Mr. FRANK BROWNE, the Assistant Government Analyst, undertook the direction of the Government- Laboratory.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
THE ACTING COLONIAL SURGEON,
&c.,
&C.,
&c.
W. EDWARD CROW, Government Analyst.