M(1)44
# THE NEW LABORATORY
About the beginning of December, the move to the new Laboratory in the New Fire Station Building was begun and extended over a period of three weeks. Work was carried on in the old building during the first portion of this period and was gradually transferred to the new building as the equipment was installed. No interruption of work took place.
The new Laboratory is up-to-date, gives increased space which was badly needed and gives far better facilities for work. The following figures are given for the purpose of comparison:
New Laboratory Old Laboratory Laboratory floor space 2,230 sq. ft. 1,427 sq ft. Bench space 463 281 Fume chamber space 77 36In addition to the above increased accommodation the new Laboratory has an office for the Analyst, a clerk's office, an assaying room for ores, fitted with electrically driven machinery for the crushing, pulverisation and sampling of ores, electric and gas furnaces. There are also two store rooms, one for chemicals and the other for apparatus, a sample room where portions of all samples examined are kept securely for twelve months, a spectroscope room and a photographic dark room.
The floors of the laboratory rooms and the fume chambers are finished in fire-proof Decollite. The bench tops have a chemically-resistant aniline black finish and the electric lights above the working benches are fitted with "daylight" lamps giving a light of "daylight" quality essential for work involving colour comparisons in dull weather or after dark.
The organic, inorganic and chemico-legal laboratories are fitted with electric ovens and furnaces and the two latter are equipped with electric distilled water apparatus.
# RESEARCH
The work on the pollution of the harbour has been continued during the year, some 191 samples of harbour water taken in various places at low tide have been examined. In connection with this work, cast iron and mild steel plates have been placed in position in various parts by the Public Works Department. These will be inspected at intervals to obtain data regarding variation in the corrosive action of the water.
Some work was also carried out during the year on the pollution of the Repulse Bay water.
A method for the rapid determination of opium in stomach contents has been worked out and is the subject of a paper read before the Society of Public Analysts.