KAWHIA COALFIELD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 124, 3 September 1910, Page 8

KAWHIA COALFIELD

ITS GEOLOGICAL FEATURE. In view of the recent public discussion on the possibility of opening up a fresh coalfield in the vicinity of Auckland, it is interesting to note the geological feature of the Kawtoia field (says a message from Wellington). A geological survey of this field was made some time ago, but the findings are not generally lcnown, and Mr. Jennings, member for the district, has had a number of requests for information on the point. The Kawhia coalfield is part of an extensive development that stretches along the western slopes of the range from the Lower Mokau to the Waikato, between Mercer and the mouth of the Waikato. The Miranda and Taupiri coal seams belong to the same field. Coal is known south-east of Raglan, on the Whangaroa Harbor, and exposures are likely to occur in the streams draining into the Aotea Harbor, but for some distance between Aotea and Kawhia harbors the eastern margin of coal lands is covered by volcanic rocks.

In 1883 samples of this coal were analysed, with the following result:—Fixed carbon 41.37 per cent., hydro-carbon 30.22, water 26.20, ash 2.2k It will ibe seen from this that the coal is of poor quality, as regards a steam coal, though it may be of value for household purposes, and may even be of use in stationary engines. If the coal from the Awaroa river stands the weather well, and does not, in losing part of its water, crumble to small nuts and dust, this would to some extent compensate for the low percentage of fixed carbon, and consequent shortage of evaporative power. Some highly hydrous coal possesses this property of cohering niuch better than coals having less water in their composition.