THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 99

the vessel, Mr. Nancarrow, kindly offered
every facility for a proper examination of the
qualities of the coal, and I therefore inspected
the fires at frequent intervals, made notes at the
same time of the speed of the engines, force of
steam, and vacuum, &c., endeavouring to keep
these as uniform as possible (in which there
was no difficulty), and the fires of an average
and usual thickness.

Having ascertained from the engineer the
usual rate of consumption of Sydney coal per
hour, I proceeded in conjunction with him to
compare this with the Grey coal on board, and
for this purpose made two separate and distinct
experiments.

A quantity previously weighed was placed
in the stoke hole, and the time required to
consume it was carefully noted, the state of
the fires at the commencement of the trial
being observed, and sustained as equally as
possible during the experiment.

The result of both these experiments was
the same-viz., that 4 cwt. of Grey coal lasted
as long and did the same amount of work as 5
cwt. of Sydney coal.

This of itself is a most important fact. But
another valuable quality of this coal is that
it does not appear to have the slightest dispo-
sition to form "clinkers," not a trace of them
being observable at the end of the run either
way, and the fires never having been "pricked"
or "cleaned" during the whole time.

All that passes through the bars is a small
quantity of grey ash and clean cinders, which
latter would be consumed more thoroughly,
were the fire-bars closer together. It would
appear in fact that the operation of cleaning
the fires and removing the clinkers, so
frequently needed with other coals, will never
be required in using the Grey coal, which will
be an immense saving of very disagreeable
labor to the firemen.

The tubes in the boiler also keep much
cleaner than with Sydney coal, no soot being
formed in them, as is the case with the latter;
a deposit of fine sharp dust is all that is to be
observed, most of which is carried right
through the tubes - thus diminishing the
necessity of cleaning them out, and being a
direct saving of labor and tools: of this fact an
increased economy of fuel is also the certain
result.

The coal burns clear and bright, cakes
sufficiently well to keep the fire open and
lively, emits no unpleasant odour, and is
apparently quite free from sulphur, as indeed
from any impurity whatever, as the fires if left
to themselves burn right down and leave the
bars quite clean.

The weight of this sample of coal appears
to be rather less than that of Sydney coal in
the proportion of 180 to 183, but it is quite
probable and fair to assume that it will weigh
heavier when the seam is worked further in.

In conclusion, I have great satisfaction in
recording my most unqualified approval of the
Grey coal for steam purposes, and doubt not
that it will, when better known, come into
general repute and use, and be the means of

99

making Nelson the future rendezvous for all
steamers in the southern seas for coaling pur-
poses. Whatever means may be taken to
bring it into notice, such an amount of capital
should be employed for the purpose as would
insure its being worked on a large scale, so
that the market might be kept always well
supplied with an article so valuable and desi-
rable in every way.

I have, &c.,
JOHN BLACKETT,
Provincial Engineer.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Nelson.

Nelson, December 26th, 1861.
SIR, For the information of your Honor's
Government, I beg herewith to hand you a
Report on twelve tons Grey River coal supplied
the "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 13th instant.

The fires having been lit with the coals, and
the sample used exclusively, I found we had
steam in 55 minutes-this being about 25
minutes less time than from 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 buru
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 grayish 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 same sample of coals, obtained from a
greater depth in the seam, were delivered to