THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 167

ranges on the Northern side of Rangitoto-
mountains.

THE NEW ZEALAND BROWN COAL.

(*The following are the results of several
analyses of specimens of the Drury Brown
Coal, sent to England some months ago by
Mr. Turnbull. The analyses have been for-
warded to me by Mr. Farmer.

Laboratory, Museum of Practical Geology,
Jermyn-st., London, April 13, 1859.

Sir, I have completed the analysis of the coal
(lignite) which you left at the Museum, and herewith
furnish you with the results of the examination.

I am, Sir,
Yours obediently, CHAS. TOOKEY.

Brown, Esq.

Per centage composition of Lignite, from Auckland.
Carbon .......................... 55.57
Hydrogen ........................ 4.13
Oxygen .......................... 15.67
Nitrogen ........................ 1.15
Sulphur......................... 0.36
Ash ............................. 9.00
Water ........................... 14.12
100.00

Coke ............................ 50.78 per cent.

The amount of sulphur is small, and this will be a
point for favourable consideration in the application of
the coal for smelting purposes. The whole of the
water is expelled at a temperature of 120 centigrade.

Dundee Gas Works,
March 17, 1859.

Analysis of Auckland Coal.

Produce of gas per ton of coal carbonized, 9.632
cubic feet.
Illuminating power of gas, 1.75.
Durability. the length of time that a 4-inch jet
requires to consume a cubic foot of gas, 53 minutes.
Specific gravity, 495.
Produce of coke per ton, carbonized, 9\u00bc cwt.
(Signed) JOHN Z. KAY,
Engineer Gas Company.

Gas Works, Berwick,
March 12, 1859.

NEW ZEALAND COAL.

Gas, in cubic feet, per ton of coal, 7617.
Coke, per ton of coal, in lbs., 1155.
Tar and ammoniacal liquor, per ton of coal, in lbs.,
571.
Value of gas, per ton of coal, in lbs. of sperm, 384.
One cubic foot of gas, burned in a No. 2 fishtail
burner (or union set), equal sperm candles, 3.12.
Value of one cubic foot of gas, in grains of sperm,
374.40.

Coke, trable, retains the granular structure of the
coal; disintegrates when exposed to air; during com-
bustion gives out little heat; and leaves a large mass
of stone coloured ash; specific gravity, 1.471.
Composition
{
Combustible matter... 39.25
Silica and alumina ... 54.44
Protoxide of iron ...... 6.31
100.

This coal is well adapted for the purpose of gas
manufacture: the quantity produced is not large, but
you will observe of a high quality, approaching several
of the Scotch cannels in illuminating power.

The coke is of very inferior quality for heating pur-
poses; but the quantity of iron share found in it is so
great that it may possibly turn out to be a product of
value.

JAMES PATTERSON,
Civil Engineer.

I subjoin comparative average analyses of
the three principal kinds of fuel, from which it
may be seen that the Drury Coal is precisely
similar to the European brown coals in the
proportion of its three principal constituents:

I embrace here the opportunity of saying a
few words on the commercial value and
applicability of the New Zealand Brown
Coal.

Although of entirely different charac-
ter, and, generally speaking, of inferior
value, to the older coals of the Primary
formations, I cannot see any reason why this
kind of coal should not be used in New Zea-
land for the same purposes as a similar brown-
coal is extensively applied to in various parts of
Europe, and particularly in Germany, where it
supplies the fuel for manufactures of all kinds,
for locomotives and steamers, and for domestic
purposes. I am perfectly familiar with this
kind of coal, and can assure the people of
Auckland, that the Brown Coal of this country
is quite as good as that which is used in Ger-
many for the purposes I have just mentioned.

I would strongly recommend that any Com-
pany which may be formed for the purpose of
working the coal should also at the same time
establish Potteries for the manufacture of
earthenware. Remarkably suitable Clays of
every necessary variety have been shown to
exist in the immediate neighbourhood of the
coal-fields, by the borings which have been
made by the Provincial Government at my
request.* By the establishment of such works,

(*The following are the results of two borings made in
the flats between Drury Hotel and the Drury Ranges,
under the direction of Mr. Ninnis, to whom I am
indebted for the tables subjoined :--

BORING NO. I.
Feet. Inch.

1. 2. 0 Dark soil.
2. 9. 6 Plastic clay, yellow and blue.
3. 1. 6 Gravel and pebbles.
4. 1. 0 Yellow clay.
5. 3. 0 Grey clay.
6. 6. 0 Blue clay.
7. 11. 0 Arenaceous clay.
8. 15. 0 Grey clay.
9. 2. 0 Greenish clay.
10. 1. 0 Dark grey clay.
11. 5. 0 Bluish grey clay.
12. 2. 0 Sandy clay.
13. 5. 2 Volcanic ashes and gravel.
14. 5. 6 Hard basaltic rock.

69. 8

BORING NO. II.

1. 1. 0 Dark soil.
2. 7. 0 Yellow clay.
3. 6. 6 White clay.
4. 7. 0 Yellow and red clay.
5. 1. 4 Brown clay.
6. 8. 0 Yellow clay.
7. 5. 0 Brown.
8. 4. 0 Redish.
9. 10. 0 Brown.
10. 4. 6 Gravel and Volcanic ashes
11. 9. 6 Hard basaltic rocks.