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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 82, 27 August 1873, Page 3

The remaining oil ™ then retorted off until the distillates therefrom collectively had a specific gravity of 838 or 36 degrees Baume, this being the specific gravity of the lamp oil obtained from the Canadian petroleum, to which this sample very nearly approximates. The yield of oil having this gravity was 55 per cent, by volume upon the petroleum taken. The first portion of this distillate (30 per cent.) was colorless, the next portion exhibited a pale yellow tinge; when mixed together the whole had the odour of common kerosene.

A portion of the 55 per cent, of oil was tried for illuminating purposes in an ordinary kerosene lamp, when it was found to burn with a very voluminous, clear, white flame, which was maintained very steadily until but little of the oil remained unconsumed. These results shew this petroleum to be well adapted for the manufacture of lamp oil (kerosene.) It contains only a small proportion of light oils and will yield at least 60 to 65 per cent, of lamp oil when worked on a large scale and by superheated steam, the process now generally employed for distilling oils of this nature as loss by escape or carbonization will then be avoided. The oil before instanced (the Canadian) yields a considerably larger proportion of lamp oil than this sample, but it seems not to be so highly charged with paraffine. (Signed) William Skey.