PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2822, 13 July 1916, Page 6

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

A meeting of the Technological Section of the Philosophical Society was held in the 'Dominion Museum last evening. Mr. E. Parry, B.Sc., presided. Mr. J. E. L. Cull, B.Sc,- recorded some interesting tests of steel rolled in New Zealand at the Burnside Rolling Mills. Mr. E. Parry exhibited and explained one of the latest Edison storage batteries for vehicle purposes. Mr. P. 6; Morgan, M.Sc., read a paper on the "Coal Resources of New Zealand." He 6tvessod the fact that the coal deposits of New Zealand arc by no means unlimited, and that the greatest economy is, therefore, desirable in its use. The majority of the Dominion's coal is deposited by drift or concentration under water, and the seams are, therefore, likely to bo irregular and uncertain. The lecturer estimated the proved deposits of New Zealand at 400 million tons of bituminous coal, and 500 million tons of lignite, or only about ono twohundredth of the proved coal in Great Britain, while the probable deposits were estimated at only 800,000,000 tons of bituminous coal, and 1,600,000,000 tons of brown coal. While this would last some centuries at the present output of 2J million tons per year the proved coal in New Zealand would only last three years if used at the rate Great Britain ■uses coal, and the . estimated probable coal would only last ten years. feuppoeing the increase in population and in coal production maintains its present rate, Mr. Morgan considered that all our good steam coal will \be exhausted in loss than 100 years, and he pointed out the many avoidable sources of waste in using coal, which should be prevented. Among, other interesting suggestions, Mr. Morgan pointed out that the production of electricity from coai dust at the mine would probably provo the most economical form of power development in New Zealand. The lecturer was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.