N Z. COALS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1927, Page 4

N Z. COALS

I'TKL RESEARCH C O.M M ITTKi’.’S WORK. WELLINGTON. Oct. :L Important, recommendations submitted by the Fuel Research Committee regarding resoai'ch work on New Zenlaml coal wore approved by Cabinet. Tlie proposals were lolly discussed at i recent meeting of the Fuel Research Committee, which was attended by Professor H. (I. Denham, Colonel W. I), Holgate, Messrs A. H. Kimbell ■secretary to the Mines Department), 11. Vickerman, R. I.ee and W. A. Fla veil (Westport Coal Company). Colonel Holgate was unanimously elected chairman of the Committee. The following resolutions were unanimously agreed to by the Committee: — ‘•That a general levy be made by the Coal Mine Owners’ Association to provide funds for setting up a laboratory and staff, the amount raised (£1000) to he subsidised by the Government from the vote in research, making £2OOO per annum in all for a* period of three years.” ‘•That the research work of the laboratory he controlled through a committee consisting of three representatives of the Coal Mine Owners’ Association. together with throe nominees of the Council of S ientific and Industrial Research.” The committee is to sid mil quarterly progress reports to the Research Council end the Coal Mine Owners’ Association. The following programme of work is to he undertaken : s soon as the necessary arrangements can be

made. Steps are to be taken to obtain and collate all information as to coal utilisation processes which have been tried in other countries, together with physical and chemical properties of New Zeaalnd coal, and to place the information at the disposal of the committee.

A survey of New Zealand coals is to he made with the object ol cletoimining in respect of each coal the recoverable values of by-products and the possibilities of utilising each coal most economically lor fuel purposes. The survey is to be a continuation ol the work already done by Dr Maclaurin at the Dominion Laboratory and Professor Denham at Canterbury College. The work of coal investigation being carried out at Canterbury College by j,r Huglison as to the coking properties and oil content of New Zealand coal and blends of New Zealand coal is to bo completed. After the data have been accumulated irom coking tests and tests on a small scale with the Ferseher retort the committee will be in a position to advise whether large scale tests on New Zealand coals are worth trying out in England or elsewhere.

The mines are to he sampled for dust and the samples are to he subjected to physical analysis and ash determination. and a report is to he prepared to each mine as to dust condition.