The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1885. KAKAHU COAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1365, 14 July 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1885. KAKAHU COAL.

On last Saturday Mr H. A. Barker left at the office of this paper a specimen of Fakabu coal. We do not profess to possess any special knowledge of coal, but we can say, without hesitation, that the sample supplied to us really surprised us. Coal is one of those peculiar minerals that requires scientific apparatus and scientific knowledge to estimate its value, but at the same time ws do not hesitate to say that if the sample supplied to us is only lignite, it is lignite of the best kind. Lignite is generally of a brownish color. The Knitangata and Shag Point coals, although dignified by tho name of coal, are only lignite, bat they make an excellent firp. The specimen left at our office is of a black lustrous color, scarcely distinguishnb'e from bitumin' ous coal. The difference between itself and the real bituminous coal to which every one i« accustomed doeß not appear at first glance. It i* only when it is handled, and one finds it so much more eauily broken, that the difference is detected. The quantby we received of it was necessarily small, and consequently we canßot speak authoritatirely an to its heat-producing capabilities, further than that we found it to take fire readily and burn brightlj. We failed to detect the presenceof the agglutinating properties found in the coal which cakes in the process of burning, but neither the Kaitangata nor the Shag Point coals possess these qualities, and yet they are very pleagant household coals, their greatest fault being that they burn too quickly.

Either of thorn makes a much brighter fire than the Newcastle coal. We

firmly believe that this specimen of Kakahu coal is much superior to the two coals above mentioned, and if such a good quality of coal can be found on the surface, there can be little doubt but that the real article exists beneath it, Mr B. A. Barker deserres great credit for the spirit of enterprise which he has shown in this matter, and v?e sincerely trust that hi* efforts wtll be crowned with success. If so, he will be a benefactor to the district. At any rate he deserves the thanks of the community, for he has done what large landowners in the district ougbt to have done long ago. He has, comparatively speaking, very little interest there, and his enterprise is therefore all the more commendable. This is a matter in which the whole of South Canterbury is interested, and we trust the people will recognise the importance of supporting the project if called upon to do so.