PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 13 



The staff consists of two chemists (Mr. J. 0. H. Mingaye, 

 f.i.c., etc., and Mr. H. P. White) ; two junior chemists, 

 two assayers, one labourer, one care-taker, and one 

 laboratory attendant. 



The work of this branch consists largely in experimental 

 and analytical work in connection with the treatment of 

 ores, metallurgical products, alloys etc., analyses of water, 

 minerals, rocks etc., and wet and dry assays for various 

 metals. The following papers recording the results of 

 chemical investigations undertaken in the Mines Laboratory 

 have lately been published in the Geological Survey 

 Records: — 

 I. "Analcite-Basalt Rocks from the Sydney District," 



(Card, Mingaye, White). 

 II. "Notes and Analyses of Olivine-Basalt Rocks from 

 Sydney District," (Mingaye, White). 



III. "Notes from the Chemical Laboratory, Department 



of Mines," (J. O. H. Mingaye). 



IV. "On the Occurrence of Monazite in the Beach Sands 



of the Richmond River, N.S.W." (J. O. H. M.) 

 V. "Chemical Notes on Glaucophane Schists from Aus- 

 tralia and New Caledonia," (H. P. White). 

 VI. "Notes on the Composition of Meteoric Iron from 

 Bendoc, Victoria." (J. 0. H. M.) 



The Laboratory, Department of Agriculture. — In the 

 laboratory of the Department of Agriculture chemical ques- 

 tions relating to agriculture are dealt with, the routine work 

 comprising analyses of soils, manures, waters, fodder-plants 

 and foods, wheat and flour, and all kinds of agricultural 

 products or substances used by the farmers. In addition, 

 all chemical questions relating to the treatment of the soil 

 and of crops receive consideration and investigation. For 

 an account of the work I invite your perusal of the annual 

 reports of the department. Records of investigations 



