THE NEW COAL SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 308, 7 November 1864, Page 7

THE NEW COAL SUPPLY.

Fi:w facts move pregnant with prospective and present interest have recently occurred than the delivery on the wharf last week of about a ton and a half of coal from the new mine at Russell. I f all that is asserted of 1 lie result, of this experiment., made by order of the Superintendent, should prove true in actual practici—if the richness of the seam, (he facility of its working, its nearness to a port of shipment, and convenient access, should come anywhere near the representations that have been given, a discovery has been made that will be Qir more important than the .success or failure of any gubernatorial conjuring trick, and more likely "to inlluenee our future destinies than a great victory achieved over rebel nalives. or even the opening i.f a paying gold-liekl. Tho.-e lew bags of coah brought up by the • Wonga Wonga.' may be the. germ of a commerce that shall cover the whole Southern seas. llio main problems to solve for (he due npapprcciation of the lull importance of this discovery are. the true commercial value of the mineral, and the price at which it can be delivered here in Auckland or some other convenient port of shipment. With regard to the. first we are not yet in possession of accurate scientific data, lint through the courtesy of his Honor, Jiaving been lurnislied with a bag of this coal we have been enabled to test it in firing the engine used for printing the JI i:;:au>. °We found it equal weight for'weight with the Kcwcastlc coal (N.S.W.) we had been pVeviously using, and like that coal leaving only a fine ash and 110 clinkers. From these experiments both in engine furnace and in common stoves it would seem to be admirably adapted for steam purposes and for domestic use. 11 is of a somewhat dull appearance, having but lit lie of t!ie bright metallic lustre, or the sharp, clean fracture of (lie Australian coal. wliicJi would lead Mi uninformed person to depreciate its quality,

but immediately on its igniting it bursts into a a bright, clear, cheerful blaze which continues steadily, without much gaseous flickering, until the whole quantity is reduced to an incandescent mass ol red embers, giving out an extraordinary amount of heat, until it disappears in fine ashes leaving scarcely any residuum. The cheerfulness of the (ire and its cleanliness are qualities that will he likely to bring it rapidly into use for ordinary fire-places. AVhat the respect iye values of its heating power and that of Lnglish coal may be, we are not yet in a situation to judge.

There remains (hen the important consideration ol cost. It has been stated, and upon good authority, that, even with the present imperfect appliances, it might be delivered in Auckland at 2l)s. a ton; and by improvements, easily' ell'ected at 15s. If this be so. or even if it should be necessary to add fifty per cent, to this estimate, there must surely be a sudicient margin ol profit to induce capitalists to take up at once and without delay, one of the most promising speculations that has yet been offered them. Apart from mere hopes of pecuniary advantage, we should look upon (he formation of a company to develop (his most, fecund source of provincial wealth as a truly patriotic enterprise, and we know (here are among our citizens patriots enough to risk their names, wealth, and influence in trying an experiment which, whether it. succeed or fail, commercially, cannot but redound to their own honor and the ultimate prosperity of the Province. To the Superintendent, of the Province wo must not omit to offer his due meed of praise. Energetically and perseveringly lie has caused these works (o be prospected, completed tlie purchase of the land, and at last, we believe, realised the hopes of the Province in developing a valuable art icle, not. only for home use, but for export,.—November