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"Lord Worsley," on 13th ultimo—the said being written by my engineer. I beg at the same time to fully confirm the same, and take leave to congratulate the province on the discovery of such a quality of coal within its boundaries.

I have, &c.,

A. KENNEDY,
Master s.s. "Lord Worsley."

His Honor the Superintendent,
Province of Nelson.

Report on Grey River Coals, supplied the I.R.M. Co.'s steamer "Lord Worsley," on the 13th instant.

The fires having been lit with the coals, and the samples used exclusively, I found we had steam in 55 minutes—this being about 25 minutes less time than ordinary New South Wales coals; at the same time, of course, only using the ordinary exertion in obtaining a pressure of steam.

During the fore part of the passage from Nelson to Wellington I found a good deal of waste, through the coals falling through the bars into the ash pit but partially consumed. Attributing this to the fire bars being too wide apart (they having been set for Newcastle coals), and to the firemen handling them too roughly, I had more careful usage given them, and found that by not disturbing the fires so much by "pricking" that we could keep an average of 10lbs. of steam with a good deal less labor to the firemen, and with a clear saving in quantity of 12.0 over Newcastle (New South Wales) coal. The coals burn excellently well, making a bright clean fire, and remarkably free from clinker, and burns to a clean white ash.

On examining the tubes, I found they required much less cleaning than ever I remember to have seen them after New South Wales coal, and mixed with the little soot in them was a fine greyish dust.

The coals sent on board the "Lord Worsley" were very small and broken, or I have no doubt the result would have been better than it was; and I am firmly of opinion that if the same sample of coals, were delivered to steamers, screened in the ordinary manner of coals, that the result would be found to be a saving of 20.0 over Newcastle (New South Wales) coals.

WM. GUNDY,
Chief Engineer s.s. "Lord Worsley."

Soho Foundry,
Nelson, January 12, 1862.

SIR—In accordance with your request, I have tried the West Coast coal, both in the smith's forge, and for making coke. In the smith's forge I have no hesitation in saying it is superior to any coal we get here, either English or Sydney coal. We find the Sydney coal is better for smith's purposes than English, and I should estimate the Grey coal to be about as much superior to the Sydney as the latter is to the English. For the making of coke, my opportunities have not been sufficient to enable me to judge properly; I, however, obtained some from the coal, which leaves no doubt in my mind that it has all the properties necessary for the making of most excellent coke.

I am, &c.,

CHARLES BALME.

J. P. Robinson, Esq.

Nelson, January 20th, 1862.

SIR,—I beg herewith to hand an account of the result of my trial as to the quality of the Grey River coal.

Conceiving the best test to be a comparison with a known coal, I procured the best sample I could obtain of the New South Wales coal, accurately weighed and watched it burning, and found that to bring my copper of 386 gallons of water to boiling point, it took 147lbs. of coal. On the next occasion of brewing, I as carefully tested the Grey coal, and found that, to produce the same result, it took 124lbs. of coal only, which you will perceive is a clear saving of 18.0 in quantity actually consumed.

As to its quality for my purpose, I decidedly perfer it to any coal I have ever used in Nelson; as, there being neither dirt nor clinker in the fires, it requires much less labor than ordinary coal. The fire, I noticed, burnt with a clear bright flame, and when the gas was exhausted, the body of the fire burnt a clear bright red. No unpleasant smell arises from them, and they make but a very small quantity of smoke.

I take the liberty of congratulating your Honor and the Province on the production of so fine a sample of coal.

I am, Sir,

THOMAS FIELD,
Brewer, Nelson.

J. P. Robinson, Esq., Superintendent,
Nelson.