SMALL COAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1926, Page 1

SMALL COAL.

A DOMINION PROBLEM. WELLINGTON, April 14. One of the mailers to tie closely investigated by Air \Y. Donovan, Assistant Dominion Analyst, oil a trip to Americu and the Continent, will be the methods employed to deal with .small coal, which is a difficulty for AYcst Coast and ■ Southland mine-own-ers. Mr Donovan is a Master of •Science and has done good service with coal experiments in the Dominion Lnhortalory. In 1918 he prepared a paper entitled “A Laboratory Study of the Inflammability of New Zealand Coal Dusts,” and has given the matter a good deal of attention from time to time since.

The Government lias (availed itself of Air Donovan's services for part of his vacation, so that lie may obtain firsthand knowledge of the results obtained at Pittsbiirv testing station and at a testing station in England, and also that.he may obtain all the latest data as to ho best processes and plans which should he used for making possible the disposal of end slack on a satisfactorv commercial basis.

That a (onsiderublo revenue i, lost to State coal mines in produce, at liros*>nt unusable was made clear by Mr A. 11. Kimbell. Under-,secretary of the Alines Department. "There are

large accumulation-; of slack in Soiitlitmil,” said Air Kimbell-, “and in Reefton there are 20,000 tons of slack deposited outside the mine, for which tlioro is no sale. There are other mines in the same difficulty. If we ■an find a process which would enable that slack coal to ho used for steam or leasehold purposes it would do more ban anything else to solve the serious roubles now prevailing in coal mines 11 this Dominion”