10 Notes on the Qiudity of Hartley and Greta Shale. 



I now produce samples of the Greta or Anvil Creek coal, 

 and petroleum shale, together with the section of the seam. 



Of the quality of the shale for gas making purposes I have 

 before spoken, but the small slips I have sawn from the 

 specimens before you will show that they can be easily 

 ignited, and that they burn like a candle or vesta match. 



Next to their quality, perhaps the most important feature 

 respecting the shale and coal from this seam is the statement 

 that they can be put on board at Newcastle at the same (or 

 a little less) cost as the ordinary coal mined within two 

 miles of the port. 



The supply of coal to Melbourne and its suburbs is now 

 becoming of gTeat importance. The quantity used by the 

 Government railways, engineering establishments, flour mills, 

 paper and sugar manufactories, distiQeries, breweries, and 

 other industries requiring steam power, shows a rapidly 

 increasing demand ; a demand that is accelerated on 

 account of the distance from which flrewood has to be 

 brought, and its consequently enhanced price. Coals are 

 also being used extensively for domestic purposes, especially 

 in houses of the better class, and therefore the quality and 

 price is an object of general interest, and one that demands 

 occasional investigation. 



The quality of the coals in New South Wales changes 

 very much. For instance, coals that I tested five years ago 

 for the Melbourne Gas and Coke Company, were then of a 

 very superior description, lately, the coals from the same pit 

 I find are much deteriorated, containing more impurities, 

 less gas, and that of a very inferior quality. As the coals 

 here referred to are used for the generation of steam, the 

 change in their quality must have prejudicially aifected 

 them for that purpose ; also, the demand for gas coal has 

 now reached about 30,000 tons jjer annum, and this demand 

 may be expected to still farther increase, if gas should be 

 employed for cooking purposes. 



Mr. Lewis Thompson, the celebrated analytical chemist, 

 in a pamphlet published by him, refers as follows to the use 

 of gas as a calorific agent : 



" To obtain a perfect estimate of the relative money values 

 " of gas and coal as calorific agents we must begin by tak- 

 " ing a comprehensive view of the contingencies inseparably 

 " attached to both, and perhaps when the expense and 

 " inconvenience arising from soot, smoke, and ashes, are 

 " added to the cost of coal in the shape of labour for cleans- 



