Describes Noad's activities as government referee in the testing of charcoal iron supplied to the Royal Gun Factory, Woolwich by the Acadian Iron Company. Includes detailed chemical analyses and mechanical test results, with a description of the testing machine at Woolwich. Gives an account of the dispute over interpretation of results between Noad and the Company's referee, Frederick Bramwell, with a copy of the report of the arbitrator, William Fairbairn, dated 31 March 1859.