SOUTHLAND COAL.

Southland Times, Issue 987, 17 July 1868, Page 2

SOUTHLAND COAL.

Geological Survey Office, Wellington, Bth July, 1868. Sib, — In continuation of my previous memorandum on the subject of the coal deposits of Southland, dated 20th March last, I hare the honor to report that the specimens of coal ob« . tamed by Mr Thomson, so far as I am able to judge from the report and samples sent, belong to the following formations, the general distribution of which I hare previously described. Ist. The specimens from Otipiri Creek belong to the secondary coal formation of New Zealand, as proved by the specimens of the fossil fern (Peeopteris Australia) obtained from the rock forming the floor of the coal seam. The specimens from the go-called 3ft. 6in., seam are not brown coal bat carbonaceous shale, the larger proportion of which consists of clay, and it is probable that there is only a few inches ; of really good coal in the thickest indicated. I hardly think that the indication obtained at Otipiri Creek warrant any further expenditure in boring or sinking as the sections of the same formation at the Mataura River and Waikawa have only exposed similar thin and irregular seams as that found by Mr Thomson. At the same time the settlers resident in the district might observe carefully for any further indica* tions, bearing in mind that in the same formation on the West Coast there are valuable coal seams associated with coarse grained grits and sandy clays. The best Beam of coal yet found in this formation in the south-east district is at Waikawa, but even in this accessible position it is too thin and irregular to repay the working. I append the composition of this coal for con* parison with the brown coals, its superiority over which as a useful fuel is not rery evident from the analysis. ..._ _... 2nd. The remainder of tha samples of coal obtained by Mr Thomson /ire from the tertiary brown coal formation, the coal being of the same superior description as the samples which hare been bo frequently reported on from Morley Creek. The composition of the recently obtained specimens is now sent, from which it will be observed that ,it maintains the same composition over, a large area of the Province, with a thick" ness of seam ranging from 30ft., at the Hbkanui Mountains to 17ft. at Clifton, and 18ft. 6in. t at Reinecker's station, as determined by Mr Thomson. All that remains to be done is to fiad'the most convenient and accessible locality for opening a mine in this v coal, and if worked cheaply a demand for it is certain. It has the sains composition as the coal at Preservation Inlet, which of late has been exciting some interest, and is of superior quality to that now extensively mined at Green Island, near Dunedin, and on the Waikato Biver, near Auckland - ■ * • ir There is no information contained in Mr Thdinson's report that enablas me to add to the Geological Sketch Map previously forwarded. The only suggestions I can venture to give for Mr Thomson's future guidance is forhim to endeavor to trace the coal by following the direction of the seams from poirta where they are exposed, to localities where mines can be advantageously opened. v During the past summer I have had the dis* tricfc between the Clutha and the Mataura Hirers examined, and a report ou it is being prepared j and next season I am anxious to continue the examination westward to Windsor Point, which will embrace all. the coal bearing districts in the Province of Southland. In reply to your enquiry in your letter of the ; Bth June, you will observe from the analysis that the last sent sample of coal does not differ from the others in any perceptible degree excepting that it contains a larger quantity of resinous matter, and rather less water. . The result of Mr Conyers 1 experiments on the application of this coal to locomotive engines is, I think, very satisfactory, as the rapidity with. which the coal burns seems to compensate for its feebler evaporating power. The. diminished evaporating power ia wholly to be attributed to the large per centage of water which the coal contains, and if this could ba driven off by preliminary baking, (not caking) I have no doubt that a steam coal, equal in every respect to the Newcastle coal, except as regards comparative bulk, would to obtained. - I have tho honor to be, Sir, . Your most obedient Servant, JAICB3 HBOTOB. His Honor the Superintendent of Southland. „ .. . ANAiXBIS OF COAIi.. Eeinecker's Kun, per Mr Thomson, No.

10 on -list, water, 16-67 ; filed carbon, 4178 ; hvdro"-i>tirbon, 33 67 with a little sulphur; ash, 4 : 88 ; color, brown ; color of ash, pale yellow. Tolerably compact black jet coal, better in appearance than No. 15, but poor in volatile matters, hence more difficult to burn. It is nearly free from retenite, doi a not coke. Jlolalive per cent of fixed carbon, deducting wut.r ami ash, 53"26 ; relative per cent oi hydro carbon, deducting water aiui ash. 4.6 7-ii.

Howell and Slovms Eun, per Mr Thomson, No. 13 and 14, water, 11-33; fixed carbon, 36 01 ; -hydro-carbon, 40-21 ; a3h, 12 45 ; color, dull brown ; color of ash, yellowish. Brown pitch cod, burning readily in an open fire. In closed vessels ir yields 4846 per cent, of a slightly lu3trous incoherent coke ; relative per cent, of fixed carbon, deducting water nnd ash. 47*24 ; relative per cent of hydro-carbon, deducting water and ash, 52-76. Holt's Eun, per Mr Thomson, No. 15, water, 1533 ; fixed carbon, 28-44 ; hyli-o-carbon, 50-01, sulphur, &c. ; ash, 6.22; color, blackish brown ; color of ash, faint yellow. Burns freely with much smoke, but does not cake. Fracture dull. This coal i 8 thickly interspersed with irregular nodules of resin, which, no doubt, accounts for its richness in volatile hydrocarbons ; relative per cent of fixed carbon, deducting water and ash, 36"25; relative per cent of hydro-carbon, deducting water and ash, 6375.

Mr Thompson, (last sample sent), water, 10-94; fixed carbon, 37 81; hydro-carbon, 48*28 ; ash, 2-97 ; color, brown. — This is the coal that was tried in the locomotive engine. It is compact and abounds in a resinous substance, resembling, if not identical, with retinite, lustre, and resinous ; cleavage, wavy, and semi-conchoi-dal; coke incoherent ; black and lustrous. Waikawa, new shaft, sea level — (survey.) Two samples A. andß. (secondary Beam as sample from Otipiri Creek), (a) water, 709 ; fixed carbon, 28-55; hydro-carbon, 40*72 ; ash, 23-64; color, brown ; color of aeb, grey ; (I) water, 1050 ; fixed carbon, 5101 ; hydro-carbon^ 32-10 ; ash, 639 ; color, brown ; color of ash, red. Very compact and massive, structure regular. This sample exhibits two kinds of coal, one is an earthy looking very hard coal, of regul-r structure (a) and the other (bj, a lustrous pitchy looking coal, having a eemi-conchoidal fracture, and moderate coherance, and it appears to form irregular beds of laininse in (a), both are rather pyritous. Preservation Inlet, per Capt. lnverarity, water, 17-72 ; fixed carbon, 39-49 ; ash, 387 ; color, black brown ; color of ash, grey. — A moderately black jetty coal, perfectly homogeneous, except when dotted with retinite. Fracture imperfectly conchoidal, coke lustrous and incoherent. ; JAHES HJECTOB.