374 



Transactions. — Geology. 



from 7 feet to 17 feet, those which have heen 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 



Water 1-48 



Ash 6-54 



100-00 

 There is also a small deposit of coal at Kanieri in Westland, of which 

 the composition is — 



• Fixed carbon . . . . . . . . 47-50 



Hydro-carbon . . . . . . 30-17 



Water 1-87 



Ash 20-46 



100-00 



and outcrops are also known farther south near the Paringa Eiver, 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 

 theoretical power than in practice they are found to possess. 



Bituminous Peat. — Chatham Islands. This mineral is described (Col. 

 Mus. and Lab. Eeports, hi., 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. 



Fixed carbon 

 Hydro-carbon 

 Water 

 Ash 



Analysis in its 

 normal condition. 



19-87 



64-67 



7-13 



8-33 



Analysis after 



exposure to air 



until its weight 



is constant. 



20-41 



66-43 



4-61 



8-55 



100-00 

 Percentage of fixed carbon, deducting water and ash 

 Percentage of hydro-carbon, deducting water and ash 



100-00 



23-51 

 76-49 



100-00 



