The Globe. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 735, 27 October 1876, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1876.

The report of the Native Fuel Committee, which has just been printed, is a most interesting, and we also think, valuable document. The committee have succeeded in bringing together a large amount of valuable information regarding the nature and uses of our New Zealand coal, and their recommendations are sure to produce valuable results. The first conclusion arrived at is, that native brown coal can be used on all the railway lines of New Zealand at a less cost than that of Newcastle, with but slight alterations to the locomotives; all that is necessary to fit the engines for its use, being merely the placing of the furnace bars closer together, and the furnishing each locomotive with a “ spark-catcher.” We are glad, therefore, to notice that the Colonial Government are fully alive to the importance of this question, and have issued instructions for the use of brown coal on the Canterbury and Otago railways. It is already in use, we are informed, on the Auckland lines.

The committee also addressed circulars to the leading manufacturers and engineers throughout the colony, putting a number of questions, which have elicited interesting answers. In reply to the first, What kind of coal do you use in your business ? various answers were given. Mr J. Anderson, Canterbury Foundry, states that he uses Grey coal; Messrs Sparrow and Co, Dunedin, say they use brown, Grey Eiver, and Newcastle; Messrs Masefield and Co, Auckland, use Newcastle for smith’s fires, and Bay of Islands and Wangarei coal for steam boilers. In reply to the question, What coal do you use for steam purposes ? Mr Anderson’s answer is, Grey Ewer coal; Messrs Sparrow and Go’s, brown coal; Messrs Masefield and Co’s, Bay of Islands and Wangarei coal. All also agree that Grey coal is best for blacksmith’s work. We learn from the report before us that Grey Eiver coal is used entirely in the Canterbury Foundry, and that Mr Anderson considers it more economical than English, Scotch, or Newcastle. In the appendix to the report we find some valuable information. Sir Julius Vogel has taken a deep interest in the development of our fuel, and has placed before the committee some very interesting and useful information. His attention has been chiefly directed to the profitable use of the brown coal of the colony, and in a letter to the Chairman of the Committee gives the result of his inquiries. He finds that the brown coal of New Zealand is capable of being made into valuable artificial fuel by compression. Its advantages over ordinary coal are, he says, undeniable; it is perfectly clean in use ; it can be closely packed, does not suffer from attrition or exposure to the atmosphere, and finally, its manufacture is very inexpensive. A machine, capable of turning out twelve tons per hour, can be obtained free on board in London for £4500. Deprived of water and compressed in bulk, and not liable to waste, Sir J, Vogel is of opinion that a ton of Otago compressed brown coal ' would be * worth more than a ton of Sir J. Vogel strengthens u-*- /''•■nation with several reports from high .a’* 0 *I*® 1 *®- J h ® “ 08 ‘ foresting is from Mr. McCulloch, the engineer who has chaij 8 E O F‘ chase of coal for the Admira.^ v * gentleman answers a number of qu tions put to him by Sir J. Vogel ■ the first being, “ Will New Zealand coals “ make a good patent fuel, especially “ the brown coals P ” and his answer is in the affirmative. In reply to a question as to the relative value of New Zealand and New South Wales coal, Mr McCullach says that New Zealand compares very favorably with New South Wales, and, in fact, the Buller Eiver and some of the Canterbury coals are much superior to the best New South Wales. As regards the relative value of patent fuel to coal, this gentleman gives his opinion in favour of the manufactured article. For steaming purposes it is far superior to coals, and it is not only cleaner and easier to handle, but will require less room in the bunks of steamers. He believes there is a great future for patent fuel, if properly made, and that it will be highly remunerative to those who embark in its manufacture. Altogether, we can fairly congratulate the committee on the report which they have furnished. We believe they have directed attention to an industry which, at no distant day, will be one of the most important in the colony.