29

"COMPOSITION OF COAL IN 100 PARTS.

Carbon ... ... ... 79.00
Hydrogen ... ... ... 6.35
Nitrogen ... ... ... 0.89
Oxygen ... ... ... 7.71
Sulphur ... ... ... 2.50
Ash ... ... ... 3.50
Water (Hydroscopic) ... ... 1.05

100.00

"I remain, &c.,

"JOHN PERCY."

"J. L. CURTIS, Esq.,
9, Aldermanbury Place, London."

Not having an analysis of Australian coal, I cannot compare the exact composition of each, but it will be observed that while the Grey coal contains a large per centage of carbon the quantity of ash is very small indeed, and nothing is said about clinker, so I presume 3.50 per cent. is the whole of the incombustible matter contained, in this respect it compares very favorably both with English and Australian coal.

English Coal ... ... Ash 1 ... Clinker 5 ... Ash & Clinker 6
Australian Coal ... ... 7.15 ... 2.11 ... 9.26
Grey Coal ... ... 3.50 ... ... 3.50

And this is proved to be the case in actual practice, for whenever the coal is used in steamers, as it is now constantly in the Nelson and Wallaby, the absence of clinker is very remarkable.

I will now make a few remarks on the above observations: in the first place, it is very singular that at Newcastle it costs 7 or 8 shillings a ton to put coal on board without calculating anything for profit; whereas, as before-mentioned 3s. 11d. is the contract price (including, I presume, a margin for profit,) at which it is delivered on board at Bulli, near Wollongong, actually for less than the mere digging costs to the A. A. Co.'s mines at Newcastle, though the seam there is 5 feet higher and the working places 6 feet wider than at Bulli, and at the same time not troubled with rollers; in every respect the seam at Newcastle, is more easily worked, so far as the actual digging is concerned. It is true that at Bulli and Wollongong they have great advantages, in not being obliged to sink and employ expensive machinery for pumping and winding; but this will not account for the great difference in cost, which in my opinion is more owing to social and political, than to physical and mechanical causes. At Newcastle there is, and has for some time been a workmen's union, which has exercised a very prejudicial effect, both on the owners of mines and the workmen themselves. The great object seems to be, not only to equalize the earnings of the men, but also the profits of the employers. One rule is that no man shall be allowed to earn more than 11s. 4d. a day, though he may be quite able to make twice as much in an ordinary day's work. One rule also endeavor to regulate the working expenses by an attempt to equalize prices, independent of natural advantages or disadvantages. For instance, if the coal in A.'s mine requires 4s. per ton to work it, and B. can work his for 2s., it is considered that B. has an unfair advantage over A.; therefore B. shall pay the same as A. Again, the union dictates to masters what men shall be employed and dismissed, the amount of fines, &c., to be levied for breach of contract, &c. In short, that the whole mining interest in the Hunter River district shall be governed jointly by the representatives of labor and capital, and that the latter shall hold a very subordinate position in

the confederation. The tendency of the whole system is to reduce the rate of earnings of industrious good workmen, to the same level as lazy and inefficient men; and to lower the profits of favorably situated mines, to the same standard as those with fewer natural advantages.

I do not mean to say, that the union has been able to carry out the whole programme in its grand integrity, and so reduce everything to the desired level, but there is no doubt, that to a considerable extent, the industry and enterprise of the place has been paralyzed by its operation.

It is difficult to understand how a system having such absurd objects in view, and so prejudicial in its working both to labor and capital, should have such large support; had the object been merely to raise the rate of wages and otherwise better the condition of the laboring classes, it would have been simple; but to support a society the object of which is to reduce labor to the lazy man's standard, and to meet natural advantages with artificial impediments is quite incomprehensible. It is an example of the length of absurdity, to which a body of people may be led by a few unscrupulous men, who hide their own selfish motives under the cloak of philanthropy, and absurd notions on liberty and equality. I never heard it whispered, but I cannot help suspecting, that this union must have sanction and support from others besides the laboring men, can it be that owners of inferior collieries encourage it as a means of lettering their more fortunate rivals? If so, I expect they are making a rod for their own backs, for I am mistaken if we do not hear more of the Miner's Union before we are done with it.

To Mr. Winship, the Colliery Viewer of the A. A. Co.'s works, the whole mining interest is deeply indebted, for the determined stand he has made for some years against the union; I believe it is mainly owing to his talents, energy, and unflinching resolution, that the coal owners of New South Wales are not now almost entirely under the control of this miserable society. And though he has done much in the cause, I fear there is a long and hard struggle before it will be finally crushed, and this district freed from the unnatural incubus, which now almost neutralizes the advantages of its grand natural resources.

I have said more on this subject than I intended, but it is of great importance, and though not immediately affecting us there is no doubt that as the industry of New Zealand is more developed we may expect to suffer from like causes.

In the Wollongong district this union has never yet foot hold, though attempts have more than once been made to establish it there. Partly from this and partly from the peculiarly favorable position of the seams, the cost of this district, in spite of its inferior quality, and the want of railways, can compete advantageously with Newcastle in the Australian and foreign market; and the energy and enterprise of the people, and the Government, are doing wonders to supply the natural wants of the coast by artificial means; so there is no doubt that the coal alone will very soon make this one of the most flourishing districts in the colony.

This part of the coal-field is peculiarly interesting to us in Nelson, as in many ways it resembles our own on the West Coast; superior to it in having the coal more accessible, both as to distance and elevation, but inferior in having no natural harbor, and also in the quality of its coal.