TARANAKI'S COAL MEASURES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 217, 12 March 1912, Page 8

TARANAKI'S COAL MEASURES

F®UR HUNDERED SQUARE MILES OP OUTCROP. The Hon. Thomas Kelly, M.L.C., writes as follows: * Dr. Maclaurin, Dominion analyst, has been good enough to analyse for me two samples of coal—No. 1, from the Tangarakau Gorge, Taranaki, and No. 2, from the Huntly coal mines, Waikato. The Taranaki coal is from the surface, which may account for extra water and; a somewhat smaller proportion of volatile hydrocarbons. In both the sulphur is considerably less than one per cent. Dr. Maclaurin states: "No. 1 is very similar in composition to No. 2, and should be equally good for both household and steaniing l (purposes." The ascertained area of this coalfield as shown by known outcrops is at least 400 square miles. Surely it is to the interest of all political parties, Labor, Liberal, or Reform, to push on the line of railway that will open up for colonial use such a vast coalfield. , The following table is an analysis -of the two samples. No. 1, from Tangarakau Gorge, Taranaki, 25 miles by road from Whangamomona, and No. 2, from Huntly mines, Waikato:— , No. I No. 2. Fixed carbon 44.28 42.92 Volatile hydro-carbon 40.05 4212 ter 13.35 12^96 Ash 2.32 2.00 n*■ , ,t. 100 100 Total sulphur 0.63 0.35 No. 2 coal is used in New Plymouth and is railed about 360 miles, via Marton, to New Plymouth. The Taranaki coal is about 70 miles from New Plymouth, and the line of railway from Stratford to Te Koura when it joins the main line to Auckland,' is surveyed through the coal scam from which the No. 1 sample has been 'obtained.