SOFT COALS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15861, 26 February 1912, Page 4

SOFT COALS.

SUGGESTION FOR THEIR UTILISATION. [From Our Correspondent.] AVELLINGTON, February 24. Ihe Mines Commission gave a good deal of attention to the important question of utilising soft coal. They found that there is at present a considerable quantity of slack going to waste in the \\ estport district, that at least 25 per cent of the coal still to be produced in the district will be slack, and in addition to this thero is a large area of unmined soft coal. The manufacture of briquettes would solve the problem of marketing this coal, and the Commission went into this aspect. Dealing with the question of the manufacture of briquettes and eggettes by the Government, tho evidence wont to show that these operations have not resulted in a financial success. " Though the article produced is of a good marketable ouality," they say, " it does not appear to us that any material saving can be effected in the manufacture. It was suggested that the labour of one man might be saved, but this would make no appreciable difference in the cost of fn-oduction. Evon if pitch could be anded at half the former cost, which is impossible, there would still be a considerable loss in the manufacture of briquettes and eggettes with'pitch as a bond. We made inquiries into the question of other bonds, and it does not; appear that any bond would enable briquettes or eggettes to be produced on a payable basis. One new patent bond was brought under our notice with some reports thereon, but this was in the experimental stago only." The Commission calls attention to the new type of boiler suitable for the consumption of slack, or pulverised soft coal, and suggests the advisability of offering a premium or bonus for some process, including a suitable bond, which will produce briquettes or eggettes of a good quality from New Zealand soft coals or slack, and at a marketable price.