UTILISATION OF SOFT COAL.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13416, 14 May 1912, Page 4

UTILISATION OF SOFT COAL.

MANUFACTURE OF BRIQUETTES j A GOVERNMENT BONUS TO BE OFFERED. (Special to "The Colonist.") Wellington, May 13. Jho Government hae decided to oiler a bonus for the, best method of economically manufacturing briquettes. Tip's is in accordance with a recommendation of 'the Mines- Commission, which re- \ ported to Parliament last .January. At! present a considerable quantity of slack | goes to waste in. tiio 'We-istport district, j and a large- araa of un mined soft coal i remains there. It is estimated that at I ' least 25 per cent of the coal still to be ! , l>roducsd in the Westjwrt district is ol I that description. Wliat is urgency I < needed is somn cheap substitute for! pitch, which is too expensive as the ■ j binding material in the manufacture of briquettes, the result being that bri- \ ju^ttes cannot compete with coal. The, Mining Commission recommended ' that consideration bo given to the use of x special typo of boiler for th© use of •oft coal, and also suggested the adrisibility of offering a bonus for some I r;rocr>ss, including a suitable bond. \ .vhich will produce briquette*; and egg-jtt-eg of good quality from New Zealand soft coals or slack, at a marketable \ ■mce> j-i