NGAKAWHAO COALMINE.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 998, 23 August 1872, Page 3

NGAKAWHAO COALMINE.

The following communication from Dr Hector to Harbor Master Captain Leech, we are permitted to publish for general information:— Geological Survey Office, Wellington, 10th August, 1872. Sie, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19 th ultimo, and to inform you that the two sacks of coal therein referred to, from the Ngakawhao mine, were duly received ; and I beg to enclose an extract of my report on the same, which was forwarded to the Government, with a copy of your letter. I have the honor, &c. James Hectok. Extract. " The coal was very much damaged in transit, and by some mistake was carried past this place to Dunedin, and returned from there. It appeared to have been trampled on by cattle, so that the coal being naturally tender it was reduced to small dross. " The following is the result of an analysis of an average sample : Water 231 Fixed carbon ... 71 - 16 Gaseous matter ... 25-75 Ash -78 100- " The coal on the fresh fracture is very bright and lustrous, but very friable. It ignites with difficulty, except in a good draught, forming a very light vesicular coke. With a little care in stoking—on account of its friable nature, tending to clog the furnace bars, —-it should be a very excellent steam coal, its evaporative power being 9£ pounds of steam for each pound of coal, which is considerably above -the best samples of the Grey coal, or New South Wales coal that have been examined. " Notwithstanding the bad state of the coal, as received here, it proves to be superior for household purposes to the coal lately obtained from the Grey." (Signed) James Hector. The bags of coal referred to in the foregoing communication, were forwarded per the steamer Lyttelton to Dr Hector, in compliance with his own request, made on his last visit to the district; and the coals were of the same quality as the cargo disposed of in Nelson ex Lyttelton, and were taken from the seam 83 feet in from the mouth of the tunnel.