NOTICE. 



The Scientific and Technical Departments of the 

 Imperial Institute. 



His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch from the 

 Right Hon'ble the Secretary of State for the Colonies calling 

 attention to the advantages offered by the Imperial Institute to 

 Merchants, Planters and others, who may wish to have samples 

 submitted to scientific experts for opinion as to their commercial 

 value, etc. The following extracts from a Memorandum published 

 by the Authorities of the Imperial Institute will give an idea of the 

 work undertaken and carried on there. 



"The Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute has 

 "been established to acquire information by special enquiries and 

 " by experimental research, technical trials and commercial valua- 

 tion regarding new or little known natural or manufactured pro- 

 " ducts of the various Colonies and Dependencies of the British 

 " Empire and of Foreign Countries, and also regarding known 

 " products procurable from new sources, and local products of 

 " manufacture which it is desired to export. This work is carried 

 " out with a view to the creation of new openings in trade, or the 

 " promotion of industrial developments. " 



2. In an extensive and well equipped series of Research Labor- 

 atories, a numerous staff of skilled chemists under the direction of 

 Professor Wyndham R. Dunstan, m.a., f. r. s., carry out the 

 investigation of the chemical constitution and properties of new 

 dye-stuffs, tanning materials, seeds and food-stuffs, oils, gums and 

 resins, fibres, timbers, medicinal plants and products, with a view 

 to their commercial utilization. Whenever necessary these mate- 

 rials are submitted to special scientific experts, by whom they are 

 made the subject of particular investigation or practical tests. Re- 

 ports are also obtained from technical or trade experts in regard 

 to the probable commercial or industrial value of any such products, 

 while full information is collected from official or other trustworthy 

 sources regarding the probable extent and cost of available supplies. 



Reports on the results of enquiries or experimental investigations 

 are supplied as a rule, without charge, but should special expenses 

 be incurred in connection with any such reports, or with the com- 

 mercial value of particular materials or manufactured products, 

 which the Council do not consider themselves warranted in meet- 

 ing, a statement of such outlays will be furnished, for repayment, 

 vvhen the Reports are supplied. Should an investigation or report 

 of exceptional character be asked for by a Government Depart- 

 ment, an estimate of the attendant expenses will be submitted, 

 with a view to ascertain whether authority for such expenditure 

 will be given. 



