THE WILTON WAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1927, Page 2

THE WILTON WAY

UTILISATION OF SLACK. The problem of finding a market for the slack coal produced at West Coast mines has reached great dimensions within recent years, and is seriously exercising the minds of mine-owners, who find that there is practically no market for slack. The question has also been considered at recent meetings of Greymouth local bodies, and it has been suggested that the waste produced might be utilised in the manufacture of briquettes. So far, nothing definite has been done, and the Government’s reply to representations is to the effect that scientific processes are being closely watched, and their success is hoped for. In view of the position outlined, therefore, the visit of Mr. H. S. Burleigh to the West Coast is of considerable importance. It is Mr. Burleigh’s first visit to the Coast, and he may be introduced, therefore, as the Managing Director of the Wilton Furnace Coal Co., Ltd., of Auckland. That his mission is important may best be shown by quoting the remarks he made in the course of conversation with a “Star” representative to-day. After explaining that the Wilton furnace provided a special method of dealing with slack, or lignite, coal of low calorific value, Mr. Burleigh stated that his purpose in visiting the Coast really was to supervise the installation of a Wilton furnace at the Liverpool Mine. Rewanui.

“The furnace is a method of close fire-bars, which have the correct component parts of combustion supplied through flues, to enable the finer coal" to be efficiently burned. The method assures a saving in coal of anything from 12J per cent, to 30 per cent. We have installed these plants right throughout the North Island, and also at Invercargill. This is the second installation going in now at the State Mines. ’ The fact that the Wellington and Auckland Harbour Boards use these furnaces, and have ordered additional plants, is a satisfactory indication as to their value. One factor is that the Wilton furnace entirely eliminates the cost of replacing firebars. Thirty-five thousand Wilton furnaces are in use throughout the world.

“I have had a good opportunity of inspecting the State Mine this week,” continued Mr Burleigh, “and I have been very much impressed with the methods generally of handling the coal, and the efficiency with which the work is being carried out. I also think that there are great possibilities for improving the condition of their market for slack, when they realise that there are correct methods of dealing with slack and making it equally beneficial for fuel purposes as the steam coal. It may be interesting to mention that, many years ago, a. wellknown mine in the North Island, the Kamo Collieries, carried on business for a number of years, but eventually had to cease operations owing to the fact that the mine produced 75 per cent, slack, as against 25 per cent, steam coal. In those days there was absolutely no market for slack, and the consequence was that many thousands of tons of slack were dumped at rhe tip, while great quantities were packed into the old workings of the mine. When we commenced operations with the new type furnace, the idea struck me that this slack might be available as a waste product. I inspected the Kamo dumps, and found there were thousands of tons of slack, overgrown with gorse, fern, and ti-tree. I decided to purchase them, and we are now sending regular scow loads away to various gold-mining centres in the Coromandel, where the slack is being used in Wilton furnaces. The Auckland Gas Company is also a customer for slack. This waste product has thus been turned to good commercial use, and that indicates what possibilities there are of dealing with low-grade fuels. I understand that in the South Island there are a great many slack deposits of this nature.” Requested for his opinion regarding the proposed manufacture of briquettes from slack, Mr Burleigh stated that the necessary plant for the carbonisation process would be costly, and must necessarily be located at one place, with the result that the overhead cost of distribution would be a big handicap. By the Wilton furnace method, on the other hand, such furnaces could be installed all over New Zealand, and the slack could be used at any place where it was produced.

Another advantage of the Wilton furnace was that it could be utilised efficiently as a destructor. “I understand,” said Mr Burleigh, “that the sawmilling people on the Coast arc experiencing trouble in disposing of sawdust, and that objection is being made to the dust being dumped in the rivers. By the Wilton method, all such residue can be dealt with quickly and efficiently. In fact, the engineers of the Northern Marine Suburbs made us demonstrate the capabilities of the furnace by burning fish offal. This was done successfully, and in consequence a contract was secured for installing the destructor at Takapuna.” Mi* Burleigh expects to complete his supervision of the State Mine installation on Monday, and will then proceed to give some of the West Coast scenery the “once over,” prior to his return to Auckland.