374 Transactions.— Geology. 
from 7 feet to 17 feet, those which have been worked hitherto being all 
12 feet thick or over. Two mines are at present at work here, but another 
which has been sold will, it is probable, be shortly at work again, and a 
new company is being formed to open up another lease. The average com- 
position of these coals is as follows :— 
Fixed carbon . 53:25 
Hydro-carbon 38°73 
ater .. 1:48 
6:54 
There is also a small deposit of coal at Kanieri in Westland, of which 
ihe composition is— 
Fixed carbon .. js ys AGE WEST 
Hydro-carbon m ae ves BOSE. 
Water .. oe 1:87 
20:46 
100:00 
and outcrops are also known farther south near the Paringa River, but no 
work has been expended in opening them up. 
The question of the evaporative power of the different coals is now 
receiving the attention of the department, since it has been found that the 
number which theoretically represents the number of pounds of water which 
can be converted to steam, by the combustion of a pound of each coal, is 
only approximately true for the hydrous varieties, giving them a higher 
theoretieal power than in practice they are found to possess. 
Bituminous Peat.—Chatham Islands. This mineral is described (Col. 
Mus. and Lab. Reports, iii., p. 11) as follows :— 
** Colour, black; somewhat vesicular, otherwise very compact; lustre, 
rather dull generally, bright jet on margins of vesicles. Burns freely to a 
white ash with much flame; when once set fire to, all the carbonaceous 
matter is consumed without re-ignition. Does not cake; powder of mineral 
brown; ash, alkaline; sulphuretted hydrogen cannot be detected in its smoke. 
Analysis after 
Analysis in its exposure to air 
no condition. until its weight 
Fixed carbon  .. 2s 19:87 
Hydro-earbon .. es 64-67 66:43 
Water .. T E 713 4'61 
Ash zv i i5 8:33 8:55 
100-00 100°00 
Percentage of fixed carbon, deducting water and ash .. ve 2951 
Percentage of hydro-carbon, deducting water and ash .. s.c UA 
100-00 
