NEW ZEALAND COAL FROM WOOD FUEL [From the Wellington "Government Gazette," Feb. 21.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 517, 29 March 1851, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND COAL FROM WOOD FUEL [From the Wellington "Government Gazette," Feb. 21.]

Colonial Secretary • Office, Wellington, 14th February, 1851. The Libutenant-Governor has been pleaied to direct the publication of the following Reports on the Coal and Wood Fuel of the New Zealand Itlands, forwarded to His Excellency by Captain J. Lort Stokes, R.N., of Her Majesty's Steam Ship Acheron. By His Excellency's Command, Altueo Domett, Colonial Secretary.

H. M. Steam Ship "Acheron." 2 1st December, 1850. Sin, — I have the honor, in compliance with your Excellency's request, to enclose herewith a Report on the Coal and "Wood Fuel of these Islands, experimented upon in Her Majesty's Steam Ship under my command. I regret that the result it not more satisfactory. However, the coal we procured was from surface ieams, and probably a better quality lies beneath. 1 earnestly hope to, for on this success depends the question of Steam Navigation for New Zealand, and the attainment of commercial greatness, which, without it, is beyond h?r reach. But independently of steam purp ses, certainly the first consideration, your Excellency is well aware that an ample supply of cheap fuel will be requisite for that large community by which the vast and almost treeless plains of the Middle Island will soon be overspread. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, J. Lort Stokes, Captain. To His Excellency the Lieutenant-Gorernor, Wellington. REPORT. On the Coal and Wood Fuel of New Zealand m reference to their adaptation tor Steam purposes, deri-

ved from Dr. Forbes's analysis ; — with an extract from the Acheron's Engine Room Register, kept by Mr. Thompson, Chief Engineer*

I The several quantities given in the Table, were taken from. 1. A heap of 30 tons. 2. A hand specimen. 3. A heap of 5 tons. 4. A hand specimen. 5. The Government Depot at Wellington, 500 tons. Portions of each vrere burned under the same conditions, as nearly as possible, in order to test their individual and relative qualities. Massacre Bay Coal is a species of anthracite, and when burned in a crucible under the reducing flame of the blowpipe, gives the following resulti : — Ignition slow and difficult ; flame feeble, yellowish noc persist tent, much smoke and strong sulphurous odour: no traces of bituminous matter, or inflammable volatile gaaet observed. Waikaio Coal ignites more readily than the preceding, burns with a clearer flame and lest smoke, and Ic&vet a. cinder of better quality. No traces of sulphur were observed, neither were there any of bituminous matter, but in neither case whs the heat given out apparently very great. Saddle Rill, Otago. This coal is a variety of Lignite, or brown coal, which ignites more readily than the preceding specimens, burning with a rather feeble, yellowish red flame, and greyish smoke, which toon ceases, leaving a charcoal-like cinder, which disappears under the continued action of the blowpipe, leaving a white ash mixed with a coarse powdery charcoal; no traces of bituminous matter, but a alight sulphurous odour was observed. Motunau Coal, Canterbury Plains, resembles tbat of Massacre Bay in its general characters, bul ignitei more readily, and burns with less smoke ; it contains a great quantity of sulphur, but no traces of bituminous matter ; its residue is composed of hard clinkers of brownish red colour, and of powdery charcoalhke substance. Newcastle Coal, New South Wales. A portion of this coal was tried under the same conditions as the preceding specimens, for the sake of comparison, with the following results : — Rapid ignition, clear flame, extrication of highly inflammable gases and of bituminous matter, tht coal forming a cakey mags, and leading a cinder capable of combustion.

Locality of Coal, to s s a 3" 6 or g. w Quantity and description of Residue. 1. Maiaacre Bay .. 2. Waikuto River .. 3. Saddle Hill, Otago Grains. 210 210 210 Grains. 12 Semi-Carbonaceous whitish powder. 32 Cinder. 28 White Ash, with coarse powdery charcoal, 77 Hard Clinkers, do. do. 126 Good Cinder. 4, Motuuau „ „ 5. Newcastle, N.S.W 210 220

TABLE OF RESULTS FROM DR. FORBES'S EXPERIMENTS.