THE BAY OF ISLANDS COAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 355, 31 December 1864, Page 6

THE BAY OF ISLANDS COAL.

It is with a feeling of something like priclc and gratification that wc point to the experiments made by H.M.S. 'Falcon ' on tlie coal newly discovered at the Bay of Islands. The Falcon took 1)0 less than 30 toils Of this coal on board, and left the harbour on an express Cruise to give it a fair trial. In every way, therefore, the value of the coal for steaming purposes may be said to have boon fairly tested, and we may sit down comfortably under the verdict passed upon its capabilities by the commander of (no ' Falcon,' that it is superior to the coal of Kciv South Wales, or t<> any which has been placed 011 board (lie ' Falcon ' either in Australia or New Zealand. It will not- be saying too much, perhaps, if we pronounce t ef|ual to the best English coal.

But it is not for steaming purposes alone that it is peculiarly valuable. Let anyone.who wishes to test its value do so by using a small quantity in a common grate, or even on the hearth, and he will be astonished at the great heat generated bj- this coal, aild the slowness with which the process of combustion proceeds. It runs, as it were, into a solid mass of glowing fire, burning do wn eventually, if not replenished, to a fine clean ash. It is not only economical for domestic uses, but cleanly also ; 10 its value for smiths' purposes we have before adverted. The experiments made by Messrs. Maxefield & Vickiry, and also by others, prove ii to be possessed of evtraordinary qualities in this respect. In engineers' foundries, ifcc., it will become a general favourite.

There is another branch of industry which it just appears possible to us may, to the advantage both of this Province and for South Australia, be developed by the discovery of this coal at the liny of Islands. Large quantities of copper ore are forwarded from Australia to Swansea in the \\ est of .England to be smelted, which might be far more ccouomiealty' performed at the Bay. the copper only in its" pure state being sent 011 to England, if only smelting premises were erected near the mines. There would too be a return cargo of cords for vessels bringing the ore from Adelaide. But whether or no this project might be found a practicable one, there can be no doubt, but that the proximity of the Kawa Kawa coal mines to our own copper mines will tend to assist in the profitable working and further development of the latter—while to a company such as that of the Panama it necessitates the port of call being fixed in this Province, that is, if the company are anxious to secure their own "literests, which no Southern influence will we think induce them to neglect. We trust that during the coming session of the Provincial Council sueli steps will be taken as to ensure the thorough and speedy opening of these mines. Aucklaud has long been taunted with having no export- ; it is her own fault if she long remain in this state. —December !!•.