THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 7

very pale yellow; homogeneous; reaction acid, like
sugars generally.

These results show that the poison has only been
locally introduced, and that it follows the line of
discolouration noticed by Dr. Harding. The alkaline
arseniates are so little used that it would seem the
arsenic here was originally introduced as an alkaline
arseniate (Fowler's solution, for instance), and has
oxidized to this particular form. This view receives
countenance from the results of experiments now in
progress to elucidate this point. The change, how-
ever, seems very slow, and should this view of the
origin of the poison in this form be correct, it will
tend to prove that the arsenic has been admixed with
the sugar a long time since.
WM. SKEY.

SUGAR.

Results of analysis of Specimen No. 613-L. For-
warded by Dr. Harding. Locality—Waikouaiti,
Otago. Received, 23rd September, 1869. Reported
on, 23rd September, 1869.

Contains arsenic in quantity sufficient to account
for the symptoms of poisoning described by Dr.
Harding in his letter.

It is present mainly, or altogether, in the form of
arsenic acid (not the common arsenic of commerce),
united with some alkali, the nature of which it does
not seem necessary to determine, but it is probably
potash.

The tests I used were Reinsch's—the silver and the
magnesian tests, also the sulphuretted hydrogen
test.
WM. SKEY.

SUGAR THOUGHT TO CONTAIN SOME POISONOUS
SUBSTANCE.

Laboratory No., 734. Received from Dr. Grace,
Wellington.

Description.—The crystallized sugar of commerce
consists of coarse crystalline granules, generally
loose and non-adherent, but sometimes aggregated in
small lumps of varying degrees of hardness.

Colour.—In bulk, pale brown; not homogeneous,
however, throughout, as is usual with these sugars,
but in parts comparatively white,—in others
decidedly brown. This difference in colour is most
conspicuous in the lumpy portion of the sample, the
softer lumps being uniformly the coloured ones.

Each of these different coloured sugars was
separately examined for deleterious substances, and
the following are the results :—

Light Coloured Sugar.

A saturated solution in cold water is nearly or
quite transparent and colourless; its reaction is
faintly acid. No indications of the presence of
arsenic were found in this solution.

Dark Coloured Sugar.

A saturated solution of this in cold water has a
persistent and great turbidity, which repeated filtra-
tion but partially removes. The predominant colour
of the suspended matter is white; its reaction is
distinctly alkaline to test paper. In this solution
the presence of arsenic was manifested to a variety
of chemical tests. The proportion in which it exists
relatively to the sugar has not been ascertained, but
it would certainly be very large for a substance so
poisonous.

A great portion of the arsenic exists in the sugar
as a constituent of arsenic acid, not of arsenious
acid, the common arsenic of commerce; it is in
combination with an alkali.

It will be noticed that the arsenic in this sample
of sugar is in the same chemical state, and its pre-
sence is accompanied and denoted by the same kind
of discolouration, as that in the arsenical sugar from
Waikouaiti, Otago, tested here some time ago.
(See Reports on No. 614, 623, 676.) The respective
deportments of these two kinds of sugars with water
have been described in this Report, as it is conceived
to be of some value as a ready guide for the detec-
tion of arsenical sugars.
WM. SKEY.

ARSENICAL SUGAR.—FURTHER REPORT.

Laboratory No., 734-69. Forwarded for examina-
tion by Dr. Grace.

Contains 09 per cent. of metallic arsenic in com-
bination with oxygen, partly as arsenious acid, partly
as arsenic acid. In one pound weight, therefore, of
the sugar, there would be 6.3 grains of metallic
arsenic, equivalent to 8.3 grains of arsenious acid,
the common arsenic of commerce.
30th December, 1869.
WM. SKEY.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 10th January, 1870.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
appoint
THOS. KELLY, Esq.,
to be Superintendent Collector for the Province of
Taranaki, under "The Census Acts Amendment Act,
1867."
W. GISBORNE.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 10th January, 1870.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
appoint
KENNETH ROSE, Esq.,
to be Deputy Registrar of Marriages, and of Births,
Deaths, and Marriages, for the District of Inver-
cargill, as the same is defined in Proclamation of
16th day of July, 1863, and published in New
Zealand Gazette, No. 31, of 22nd day of July, 1863.
W. GISBORNE.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 10th January, 1870.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
appoint
WILLIAM DONALD, Esq.,
to be Returning Officer for the District of the City
of Christchurch, for the election of Members of the
Provincial Council of the Province of Canterbury.
W. GISBORNE.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 10th January, 1870.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
appoint
PETER GRANT, Esq.,
to be Registration and Returning Officer for the
District of Riverton, for the election of Members
of the House of Representatives, vice Daniel Shea
Lawlor, Esq., resigned.
W. GISBORNE.

Native Office,
Wellington, 30th December, 1869.

H
IS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
license
JOHN MITCHELL, Esq.,
(of Auckland,) to survey lands under "The Native
Lands Act, 1865."
W. GISBORNE
(for the Native Minister).