NOTICE. 
The  Scientific  and  Technical  Departments  of  the 
Imperial  Institute. 
His  Excellency  the  Governor  has  received  a despatch  from  the 
Right  Hon’blc  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  Labora- 
tories, 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  ma- 
terials 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, 
when  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. 
