528 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 16, 



Notes on the Coal. — Particulars of the combustion of the different 

 specimens of coal obtained are given below. The mode of com- 

 bustion adopted was not perhaps the best ; but it was the only con- 

 venient one on board ship, and it gave the general character of each 

 variety, and comparative results. There is no evidence whatever to 

 lead to the hope that true coal — coal anything like that of the coal- 

 fields of Great Britain — exists in New Zealand. All that has been 

 found partakes of the character of that of the tertiary deposits of 

 Europe and elsewhere. One specimen only has been obtained from 

 the North Island : it has much the same character. 



Coal from Preservation Island. 



This coal is of a different character from, and apparently of a 

 better description than, any of the other coals found in New Zealand, 

 and presents more the appearance of a true bituminous coal ; its 

 colour is black, with a somewhat vitreous lustre ; fracture irregular ; 

 it soils the fingers, and feels heavy in the hand ; in some specimens 

 great quantities of pyrites may be seen, but there is little or no sul- 

 phurous odour during its combustion. It inflames readily, and burns 

 with a good, strong, persistent flame: 210 grains, burned in a cru- 

 cible under the blow-pipe, gave a residue of good cinder weighing 

 106 grains. 



Coal from the Neighbourhood of Motopipi, Massacre Bay. 



1 . This coal is of a jet-black colour, with a vitreous lustre ; la- 

 minar in its structure ; irregular in its cross fracture ; exceedingly 

 hard and difficult to break ; some portions of it crepitating when 

 inflamed, and showing distinct evidences of the presence of bitumi- 

 nous matter by caking and throwing out jets of gas, in the same 

 manner as the bituminous coal of Newcastle, N. S. W. When the 

 flame of the blow-pipe is applied, it does not kindle very readily ; 

 but, when kindled, it burns with a strong, clear, and persistent flame 

 — a considerable quantity of inflammable gaseous matter being given 

 off. Slight sulphurous odours were perceptible on the first appli- 

 cation of the flame, but instantly disappeared. The smoke was 

 without peculiar odour, and of a light yellow colour. The time 

 required to consume 210 grains of this coal under the blow-pipe was 

 very considerable, — much longer than that required for any other 

 specimen of coal as yet obtained in New Zealand, and examined 

 under the same circumstances. During the combustion, a white ash 

 is formed on the surface ; and, after all the volatile and inflammable 

 matters have been dissipated, a friable cinder remains, mixed with a 

 black charcoal-looking powder, which continues under the blow-pipe 

 to give a strong, clear, white light, with considerable heat. The 

 residue amounted to 96 grs. 



2. The quality of this coal is very inferior; it is light, and of a 

 greyish-black colour externally ; fracture somewhat resembling that 

 of Cannel coal, but with a vitreous lustre ; it does not soil the fingers. 

 When immersed in water, it crepitates loudly, and crumbles rapidly 



