TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 57 
and difficult to break, and when broken, showing a conchoidal or semi-conchoidal 
fracture. Others, again, are very brittle, and exhibit a cubical or even fracture. 
The streak in all the samples is dark brown. It is only here and there through the 
masses that they show any traces of woody tissue. The mean specific gravity of 
six of the samples is 17340. These characters, when taken along with their 
chemical composition, would place these lignites in the variety of the earthy 
brown coals. 
In composition and in economic value, whether regarded as fuel or as sources of 
gas or oil, the Table which accompanies this paper shows that the New Zealand 
lignites are greatly inferior to the coals of the carboniferous formation of any 
country; and especially are they inferior in the somewhat large amount of ash 
which they contain. When, howeyer, compared with other lignites, they must 
be regarded in a favourable light. 
New Zealand Lignites. 
(The quantities are those contained in one ton.) 
Designation. fle ne | Coke. eae Ash, Gas. Oil. Sp. gr. 
Ibs. | Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. | cub. ft. | gallons. 
{X 2. |1267 we 887 | 85 | 2954] 17 | 1-262) 
: zs No. 3. {1194 | 964 82 | 3175} 152 | 1-195) 
Saddle. Hill (Otago) ’ No. 6.1140 1099 | 733 | 366 | 1889]... | 1-626| 
oT ae No. 8. |1217 {1021 | 659 | 862 | 3175] .. | 1:147 
No. 9.| 977 [1262 | 681 | 586 | 3024 7% | 1:337 | 
Abbot’s Creek Lignite .... |1170 (1068 | 737 | 331 | 3024 1-496 
MColl’s , , «-.. (1296 | 943 | 632 | 303 | 3931 
inthay 5. 5 wwele 1878. |) SOL e787, 73 | 3250 
Ennerglyn (Nelson) Coal? [1266 | 973 | 911 62 | 4400 
Lignites from other places. 
Provence (15 samples) .... |L097-6| 864°6| 589-1 (2755 | 
Hesse Cassel (5 samples) .. | 963-2 |1187:2 |1099°2 | 88:3 +8 »» | 137 
MSP retearhayc.6) «(nie eyes) os: e%~:« fy =a os, (REEOO 
South American (3 samples) | .. a .. |206:00/ .. Rn ta {0 
24 samples of German Lignites yielded on an average 18 gallons of crude oil per ton. 
U 
Définer par la Végétation V Htat moléculaire des Corps. Analyser la Force 
végétale par des Essais raisonnés de Culture. By M. G. Vuxt. 
On the Oxidation of Beta~Hexylice Alcohol. By Professor Wanxiyn, F.R.S.L. 
This paper contained an account of some researches by the author and Dr. Erlen- 
meyer “On the Oxidation of Beta-Hexylic Alcohol.” Beta-hexylic alecohol—the 
alcohol which was obtained from mannite, and which belongs to a new series of 
alcohols isomeric with the alcohols of the vinic series, but differing widely from 
them in properties and reactions—is easily oxidized by a mixture of ‘bichromate of 
potash and dilute sulphuric acid. Its first product is beta-hexylic aldehyd, thus :— 
BC,H,,0+0=8C,H,,0+H, 0. 
The next products are carbonic acid, water, and butyric acid, thus :— 
Hexylic Aldehyd. Butyric Acid. 
a —_—_—_. 
BC,H,,0+0,=2C0,+2H,0+C, H, O,. 
The interest attached to this decomposition depends upon its furnishing a proof 
that two atoms of carbon in the beta-alcohol are differently combined from the 
remaining four, 
