1855.] C. FORBES NEW ZEALAND. 529 



to pieces ; under the blow-pipe it burns slowly with a feeble yellowish 

 flame, much smoke, and strong sulphurous odour. The flame is not 

 persistent, and the residue is a coarse brownish-black cinder. If the 

 flame of the blow-pipe be continued, the cinder gradually smoulders 

 away, leaving a brownish-white powder mixed with some semi-carbo- 

 naceous particles : 210 grains were burned in an earthen crucible, a 

 residue of 12 grains of this powder was the result. The specimen of 

 the Massacre Bay coal, which was tested in this manner, was part of a 

 mass which had been taken two years before, from a depth of 8 feet 

 below the surface, during the whole of which time it had been ex- 

 posed to the action of salt water and to the atmosphere, conditions 

 which must have had a very detrimental effect upon its quality. 



Coal from Waikato, West Coast y Northern Island. 



This coal occurs in seams lying in contact, both above and below, 

 with a yellowish argillaceous sandstone. Its colour is a greyish- 

 black ; it is somewhat vitreous in the fracture. A piece of trap-rock, 

 taken from a ravine 200 feet below the coal, and some nodules coated 

 with oxide of iron, accompanied the specimens. 



On submitting the coal to the flame of the blow-pipe, it burns 

 with a clear yellowish flame, a moderate quantity of volatile matter 

 escaping in the form of smoke ; no sulphurous or other peculiar 

 odour is perceptible. The flame is not persistent, the carbonaceous 

 and volatile inflammable matters being quickly consumed or dissi- 

 pated, leaving a cinder, which, while under the blow-pipe, gives a 

 clear white light, without smoke, forming at the same time a small 

 quantity of white ash. 



This coal in its general characters resembles the Massacre Bay 

 coal ; but, judging from the results of the combustion of the speci- 

 mens now under consideration, it appears to be of a better quality, 

 and more fitted for general use, than any we have seen from Mas- 

 sacre Bay. Circumstances, however, having reference to the local 

 position of the respective beds whence the specimens of each have 

 been derived, may in a great measure explain the chief differences 

 observed, namely, more especially the absence in the Waikato coal 

 of any traces of sulphur ; its more rapid ignition when brought in 

 contact with flame ; when ignited, its burning with less smoke, and 

 with a clearer, stronger, and better flame ; and leaving a greater 

 residue of carbonaceous matter. It is much inferior to a specimen 

 of coal from Newcastle, N. S. Wales, which was experimented on. 

 The following are the results of the combustion, under the blow- 

 pipe, of nearly equal weights of each variety of coal alluded to, care 

 having been taken that the conditions of the combustion in eacli 

 case should be as nearly alike as possible : — 



From Massacre Bay 210 grs. . . residue 12 grs. 



„ Waikato 210 „ .. „ 32 „ 



„ Newcastle (N. S. W.). . 220 „ . . „ 126 „ 



Coal from Saddle Hilly Dunedin. 

 This coal appears to be a variety of lignite or brown coal ; its 



