CARBONISING OF COAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 975, 19 May 1930, Page 10

CARBONISING OF COAL

OPERATIONS IN THE WAIKATO ROTARY CLUB TALK Addressing the Rotary Club today on "The Carbonisation of Coal,” Mr. W. D. Holgate, president of the Coal Mine Owners’ Federation of New Zealand, said that he had no doubt that the carbonising pi*ocess at Rotowara Mine would prove a success. Mr. Holgate said that he Avas not in a position to say to what extent carbonisation would be extended in Ncav Zealand, but in his opinion a great deal depended on the price of the coal when it was put through the carboniser. The introduction of hydro-electric power had seriously affected the coal industry in the South Island, Avhile in the North the use of Arapuni power had made about 80,000 tons a year of slack unsaleable, he continued. Unless some means of burning the slack was obtained, slack Avas likely to prove a loss to the company interested and to the country. The endeavour of the Waikato Coal. Company was to convert what Avas a national loss into a national gain. 250 TONS A DAY The plant being erected in the Waikato was guaranteed to deal Avith 250 tons of slack a day, and Avould produce a hard fuel residue of more than 50 per cent, of the original amount reated, Avith a calorific value of more than 12,500 B.T.U.’s and a certain percentage of tar oils. Ileferring to the sale of residues, Mr. Holgate said that his company had already had inquiries from overseas in regard to pulverised charcoal for steamers. The briquettes which Avould be produced would be ideal for railway locomotives, as they were easily handled and were practically smokeless and sparkless. “This carbonising plant in the Waikato will be the first in the southern hemisphere,” Mr. Holgate said. Introducing Mr. Holgate, Mr. F. Reid, president of the ciuh. said that if everyone connected with the coalmining industry in New Zealand had the faith and confidence of Mr. Holgato all would be Avell Avith the industry. ,