rusty coloured chüker. The components were
found to be silica, alumina, iron, magnesia, and
a considerable proportion of lime, which last
communicates the very objectionable quality of
fusibility. Specific gravity, was found to vary thus:—

In bulk ...................... 1.297.
In small fragments ........ 1.301.
After standing ten days
in water ................. 1.311.

In the last case the air was completely expelled
from the minute cracks.

Gas.—The quantity of gas given off by the
coal was determined by heating about 120
grains in a small iron tube retort to a full red
heat. The result in the above table is at the
rate of about 14,000 cubic feet to the ton of
Coal.

The following results were also obtained from
other specimens by the same process for the
sake of comparison.

Bellambi Coal.

Cubic in. Cubic ft.
@ 100 gals. per ton. about

(Specimen 1 of Report, Nov. 15th, 1858) ........ 116 10,500
Newcastle (N. S. W.) Coal .................. 129 11,700

It would thus appear that the New Zealand
Coal gives from one fourth to one third more
gas than ordinary Coal; the gas is also more
clean and free from tarry matters.

These experiments, however, being on a
small scale and quickly accomplished give
higher results than those obtained in practice;
they are only useful for comparison.

Remarks.—This Coal would probably be
useful for gas-making, or, provided it were kept
away from water, for house purposes. Its
tendency to break up into small stuff, would
not prevent its employment in furnaces, but
the fusibility of its ash is an objection in this
respect.

(Signed) W. S. JEVONS,
The Deputy Master.

TENDERS FOR CLOTHING FOR POLICE.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, February 14, 1859.

TENDERS will be received at this Office
until noon of Tuesday, 22nd instant, for
furnishing Clothing for the Armed Police
Force, the particulars of which can be obtained
from the Inspector, at the Police Station,
Wyndham-street.

Tenders to "be sealed, and endorsed
"Tender for Police Clothing."

J. WILLIAMSON,
Superintendent.

PAINTING.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 14th Feb., 1859.

No satisfactory Tenders having been
received for the Painting required to be
done in the City and Suburbs of Auckland,
Tenders for this work will be received at the
Provincial Road Surveyor’s Office, on or before
Monday the 21st instant.

Tenders to be endorsed "Tenders for Paint-
ing"; each Tender to be signed by two
competent persons expressing their willingness
to become Sureties for the due performance of
the contract.

J. WILLIAMSON,
Superintendent.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, February 4, 1859.

The following Tenders have been received,
and are published for general information:

J. WILLIAMSON,
Superintendent.

For Purchase of Ketch "Medway."

(Tenders received 10th November, 1858.)

Accepted Tender.
£ s. d.
John Tiller .................. 155 10 6

Non-accepted Tenders.
£ s. d.
Henry Nicol ................ 106 0 0
Edward Coleman ............ 90 0 0

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, February 9, 1859.

The following Report and Returns, fur-
nished by the Provincial Surgeon, are pub-
lished for general information.

J. WILLIAMSON,
Superintendent.

Provincial Hospital,
Auckland, 25th January, 1859.

SIR,—

I have the honor to transmit for your
Honor’s information the enclosed Medical
Returns for the year 1858, and beg to
accompany them with a few short explanatory
remarks. Pursuing the plan adopted in my
Report of last year, I shall divide my
observations into three distinct parts, viz.,
Provincial Hospital, Lunatic Asylum, and
Prisons.

1st. Provincial Hospital, A.—Comparing
Return No. 1, A. with that of the preceding
year, it will be observed that the total number
of In-door Hospital patients (225) exceeds
that of 1857 by forty-eight: this is the
natural consequence of the increasing popula-
tion of the Province; of these one hundred and
sixty-three were discharged, twenty-three died,
and thirty-nine remained in Hospital on the
31st December last. Although the obituary is
somewhat larger in proportion to the number
treated than that of 1857, this is not
attributable to Climatical or other causes
affecting the sanatory condition of the district.