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W. Skey.—On the Mineral Oils of New Zealand. 257 
which, as I have before observed, this oil approximates most nearly of any of 
those from America. 
The yield of oil of this gravity was 55 per cent. of the original charge 
by volume. The first portion of this—30 per cent.—was colourless ; the 
remainder had a feeble tinge of yellow, which deepened a few shades in a 
week, 
A portion of this oil was tested for illuminating purposes in an ordinary 
kerosene lamp, and was found to burn with a voluminous clear white flame, 
which was maintained very steadily until but little of the oil remained 
unconsumed in the well of the lamp used. 
A further experiment upon this petroleum showed that by three successive 
distillations, and treatment with acids and alkalies, about 65 per cent. of an 
oil could be obtained from it, having a specific gravity of ‘843, and burning 
with a good flame in lamps of this kind, although containing paraffin in some 
quantity. Most, if not all of our kerosenes, however, contain paraffin in 
greater quantity than the oil in question, so that I should consider the 
presence of a little paraffin no serious objection to the oil. 
These results then show that about 65 per cent. of this oil may be obtained 
sufficiently light for use in our ordinary kerosene lamps. In this 65 per cent. 
I have included the “feints” in the very lightest oils of this petroleum, and I do 
not see why I should throw them out, as our kerosenes are charged with oils 
still lighter than these, and in greater quantity, as I shall presently show. 
However, from 1 to 1} per cent. taken off does not affect the value of the oil 
at all seriously. 
I will conclude my note on this oil by stating that the lightest and the 
heaviest oils I have yet obtained from it are of a specific gravity of ‘7289 and 
‘885 respectively, at 50° Fah. 
3. The last of these petroleums is that from Manutahi, on the Waiapu River. 
The first sample was forwarded to the Colonial Laboratory by Major Ropata. 
It is the lightest oil of any I have yet tested, occurring in this country 
in a native state. The following are its special characters :—Colour pale 
brown, nearly or quite transparent ; does not manifest a green-black colour by 
reflected light. Flows with great freedom ; has the odour of kerosene. 
Specific gravity, 8294 at 60° Fah. Burns well in a kerosene lamp for some 
time. 
These di he show the oil to be of a very superior class, indeed so very 
superior that I at first suspected it had been * improved" by some one. 
However, further operations upon it soon showed that that was not the case. 
Thus it contains at most but traces of paraffin, as it does not acquire any 
increased consistency when lowered in temperature to + 8? Fah., while all our 
kerosenes now in the market solidify at this temperature, and the other 
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