﻿148 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



of these, the Old Lambton being second, and Co-operative Company's third. 



Bay of Islands coal gives a large quantity of gas, of average illuminating 

 power ; the coke obtained is smaller in quantity, and not of such good quality 

 as that obtained from the CoUingwood coal ; the large quantity of sulphur 

 contained in this coal makes it difficult to work and expensive to purify ; this 

 defect reduces very considerably its value for general purposes. 



A specimen of coal sent from Mount Somers, on the Ashburton River, iu 

 Canterbury, is entirely useless for gas purposes, in fact, appears to be a sort 

 of lignite. The gas obtained from this sample burns with a small blue flame, 

 giving no light whatever. 



[t is necessary to mention that the weight of coke is ascertained after 

 being extinguished with water, on being removed from the retort, and it 

 shows the weight available for sale. This accounts for the great difference 

 observable in the weight of coke, as, if rapidly extinguished, it takes up more 

 water than if extinguished gradually. 



I may, in conclusion, state that the trials or experiments have been made 

 with only a practical purpose in view, and that every endeavour has been 

 made to obtain a large number of samples for comparison, but without success. 

 I hope that at some future time I may be enabled to carry further these tests, 

 and to report a more exact result. There can be no doubt, however, that 

 New Zealand coal is superior for all purposes to that at present imported. 

 The only cause of its not being more freely used is the difficulty of obtaining 

 it, and the great price charged for it as compared with New South Wales coal ; 

 it appears only to be necessary te invest sufficient money in plant to work the 

 mines economically, to make coal become an article of export instead of the 

 colony depending on other places for its supply. The following will, I think, 

 be found a correct statement of some of the circumstances that combine to 

 shut out the New Zealand coal from the market. 



At the Grey River the price of coal is twelve shillings per ton, delivered 

 alongside the vessel ; twelve shillings towage per ton is charged for vessels 

 entering and leaving the river ; making the price twenty-four shillings per 

 ton before paying freight and dealer's profit. The report of Dr. Hector and 

 Mr. Blackett* will furnish information as to the necessary means of developing 

 the mine. 



The CoUingwood mine is situated on a small river, allowing vessels of 

 only seven feet draft to enter, and the price charged for coal alongside is 

 sixteen shillings and six-pence per ton. One disadvantage this mine labours 

 under is, that the coal is only a thin seam of about three feet, and is always 

 delivered wet. 



At the Bay of Islands, a short time since, sixteen shillings and six-])ence 



*Parliamentary Papers, 1871. 



