192 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 24, 1913. sation. It is with these two subjects that the book mainly deals, and the treatment of either leaves little to be desired. The most satisfactory view to take of the composition of coal is that it is an agglomerate of the solid degrada- tion products of vegetable decay, together with such of the original bodies as have resisted to a greater extent the actions to which the material has been subjected (p. 11). Taking this statement as his text, Prof. Lewes has elaborated a theory which attempts to explain the various properties of coal and the differences between one coal and another, by ascribing varying proportions to the ingredients of the “ agglomerate.” Thus, the four main constituents of the coal substance are assumed to be:— (A) Carbon residuum of humus bodies. (B) Humus in various stages of degradation. (C) Resin bodies. (D) Hydrocarbons. A rich gas coal would contain equal quantities of these constituents—i.e., A 4- B J- 0 4- H A non-coking coal would contain an excess of humus bodies (A 4- 2B + C + D); whereas in a coking coal the proportion of humus bodies would be small (3A 4- B + 3C + 3D); and so on. The theory is ingenious and, on the whole, satisfying. It certainly explains points which other theories leave untouched, and such lacunas as exist further research may fill—as witness the work recently published by the Explosions in Mines Committee, which establishes a clear relationship between the inflammability of a coal and the constituents of the agglomerate (whatever they may be) extractable by pyridine. In support of the theory, Prof. Lewes has collected together a multitude of data from different sources—an office which in itself renders his book valuable. In particular, he has done well to recall that excellent work on the microscopical characteristics of coal which appeared in Mills and Rowan’s “ Fuel ” ; for this work—which records all that the microscope can reasonably be expected to reveal of the nature of coal—has been ignored by later writers. In his treatment of the subject of modern methods of carbonisation, Prof. Lewes is as successful as when dealing with the abstract question of the composition of coal. In supporting low-temperature carbonisation, despite the modern tendency to push the temperature as high as possible, he is probably right, both scientifically and, in its broadest sense, economically. There are a few minor points of criticism to be offered: it is not to be supposed that Prof. Lewes is really an upholder of the “ peat to anthracite ” theory of the formation of coal, yet the tables on pages 8 and 9, and certain passages on page 17, give that impression ; the cause of spontaneous ignition of coal—or, rather, the reason why one coal is more liable to spontaneous ignition than another—is still unknown; it would there- fore have been desirable to have given some experi- mental verification of the statement (page 20) that the “resin bodies also play a very important, if not the chief, part in the weathering of coal.” In speaking of the calorific values of different coals and their constituents (pages 51 to 53) it is not clear whether the gross or net calorific values are meant, a matter of some importance to the arguments set forth on those pages. The book has, as an appendix, a collection of useful tables and conversion factors, and it is furnished with an adequate index. It is remarkably free from misprints. REFERENCES UNDER THE COAL MINES ACT, Rules, dated January 8,1913, have been made by the Reference Committee under Section 117 (2) of the Coal Mines Act, 1911 (1 and 2 Geo. 5, c. 50). The text is as follows:— In pursuance of Section 117 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, the Reference Committee constituted under that Section hereby make tne following rules :— 1. These rules may be cited as the Coal Mines (Reference) Rules, 1913. 2. —(1.) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,— “ The Act ” means the Coal Mines Act, 1911. “The Secretary of State” means the Secretary of State for the Home Department. “ Matter for reference ” means— (a) any objection to General Regulations proposed to be made under the Act which is required to be referred to a referee by Part I. (4) of the Second Schedule to the Act, or is referred by the Secretary of State to a referee under Part I. (6) or (7), of that Schedule; or (b) any objection to Special Regulations proposed to be made under the Act which is required to be referred under Part II. (4) of the Second Schedule to the Act; or ! place which he thinks necessary for the convenience of the parties to the reference. (6.) Subject to the provisions of these rules, the pro- ceedings at the hearing of a reference shall be such as the referee may in his discretion direct. 8. The referee shall cause copies of his decision to be furnished to the parties to the reference as soon as possible after the hearing. 9. The Reference Committee may, in the case of the death or incapacity of the referee originally selected, or in any other case, if it is shown to the Committee that it is expedient to do so at any time before the referee has given his decision, revoke the reference to the selected referee, and select another referee for the purpose of determining the reference. 10. Any failure on the part of any authority or any person to comply with the provisions of these rules, shall not render the proceedings on a reference to a referee, or anything done in pursuance thereof, invalid, unless the referee so direct. 11. —(1.) The remuneration of the referee shall (a) if the matter for reference relates to a general objection to General Regulations, be a sum of 15 guineas for each day on which he is engaged in hearing the reference, together with any expenses for travelling and subsistence necessarily incurred ; (b) in all other cases, be a sum of 10 guineas for each day on which he is engaged in hearing the reference, together with any expenses for travelling and subsistence necessarily incurred: provided that in any case of exceptional difficulty a special fee may be paid on the recommendation of the Reference Committee with the approval of the Treasury. (2.) The remuneration of an assessor shall be a sum of 10 guineas for each day on which he sits as assessor to the referee, together with any expenses for travelling and subsistence necessarily incurred. 12. The cost of the proceedings, including the remunera- tion of the referee and of the assessor, if appointed, shall be payable in such manner as the referee may direct. Alverstone, C. J. Dunedin, Lord President. T. E. Forster. (c) any matter required by the Act to be settled in manner provided by the Act for settling disputes. “ Parties to the reference ” means— (a) in the case of a reference relating to any objection to General Regulations proposed to be made under the Act, the Secretary of State and any body of persons who have made a general objection as defined by Part I. (8) of the Second Schedule to the Act, or any person or body of persons who have submitted an objection referred by the Secretary of State to a referee under Part I. (6) or Part I. (7) of the said Schedule; (b) in the case of a reference relating to an objection to special regulations, the Secretary of State, the person or body of persons proposing the special regulations, and the person or body of persons making objection thereto; or (c) in the case of any other reference, the Secretary of State or one of His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines and the person making objection or refusing compliance with the provisions of the Act in regard to which the matter for reference has arisen. (2.) The Interpretation Act, 1889, applies for the purpose of the interpretation of these rules as it applies for the purpose of the interpretation of an Act of Parliament. 3. In the case of any matter for reference arising, the Secretary of State shall send to the Reference Committee a statement setting forth the matter for reference, and, in the case of an objection to General or Special Regulations pro- posed to be made under the Act, a copy of such proposed General or Special Regulations, together with a copy of the objection or objections, and shall inform the Committee that a reference is necessary. 4. The referee shall be selected by the Reference Com- mittee from the panel of persons appointed by them to act as referees for the purposes of the Act, and, in making the selection, the Committee shall have regard to the nature of the matter for reference, and shall consider any joint representations made by some or all of the parties in regard to the person to be appointed. 5. —(1.) As soon as the Reference Committee have selected the referee, they shall inform the parties to the reference of the name and address of the referee selected. (2.) The Reference Committee shall furnish the referee with copies of the documents submitted to them by the Secretary of State in connection with his application for the reference. 6. In the case of a reference relating to any objection to General Regulations proposed to be made under the Act, the referee, if he considers that he requires the assistance of a person or persons possessing legal or special knowledge to act as assessor or assessors to him at the hearing, may apply to the Reference Committee to appoint such person or persons for the purpose. 7. —(1.) The referee selected shall, as soon as may be, proceed to fix the time for the hearing of the reference, which shall not be less than three days or more than 21 days from the time of his appointment, unless the Reference Committee for special cause shown approve an extension of this period, and he shall forthwith serve notice by post on the parties to the reference of the time and place fixed by him for the hearing of the reference. (2.) Unless otherwise directed by the Reference Com- mittee, or by the referee, the hearing by the referee of the reference shall be in private. It shall be open to the parties to the reference to appear at the hearing either in person or by solicitor or counsel or agent. (3.) (a.) In the case of a reference relating to proposed General Regulations, if a substantial number of the owners or of the workmen affected thereby who have not made a general objection to the proposed Regulations apply to the referee for permission to be represented at the hearing of the reference, the referee shall require the applicants to submit a statement in writing of the grounds on which they desire to be heard, and, unless he is of opinion that the application is frivolous or is not made by a substantial number of the owners or of the workmen affected by the proposed Regulations, he shall allow the applicants to attend and take part in the proceedings. (6.) In the case of a reference relating to Special Regula- tions, the owner or a majority of the workmen, if he or they have not made objection to the proposed Regulations, may apply to the referee for permission to take part in the proceedings at the hearing of the reference, and on receipt of such application the referee shall allow the applicant or applicants to attend and take part in the proceedings. (c.) Where the referee has granted an application made by a number of owners or of workmen under paragraph 3 (a) or 3 (b) of this rule for permission to take part in the proceedings at the hearing of a reference, he may require the applicants to appear at the hearing by solicitor or by counsel or by agent. (4.) The referee may make such inspection of any mine or mines affected by the reference as he may deem necessary. (5.) The referee may adjourn the hearing from time to time so far as may be consistent with the prompt settlement of any question affecting the safety of workmen in the mine or mines, and may hold adjourned sittings at any YORKSHIRE COAL AND COKE TRADES. Wagon Representatives Dine at Doncaster. Some interesting statements were made concerning the progress and prospects of trade in the new coalfield around Doncaster, on the 11th inst., when, at the Danum Hotel, the 12th annual dinner of the Yorkshire Coal and Coke Trades Wagon Representatives was held. The function proved very successful and, considering the blizzard which was raging on Saturday evening, was remarkably well attended. The chair was taken by Mr. D. W. Rees (general manager and sacretary of the North Central Wagon Company Limited, Rotherham). The company included Messrs. J. H. Williamson (North-Eastern Railway Company, Hull), G. Dunston (Thorne), S. F. Brightmore (Doncaster), C. E. Cooper (Wagon Finance Corporation, Sheffield), O. E. Gatenby (Great Central Rail- way Company), Moreton (Rotherham), Shaw (Cook and Sons), J. Booth (Doncaster), W. H. Butler (Great Eastern Railway), Jacobs (Midland Railway), White (London and North-Western Railway), Chough (Hull and Barnsley Rail- way), Stevenson and Croxall (Great Northern Railway Company), Dickinson (British Wagon Company), C. Pearsen (Burnett and Co.), Cooke and Shore (Yorkshire Main Colliery Company), R. Kinnear (Bee, Bingham and Co.), Thomas (William Bros., Hull), M. Cole (locomotive super- intendent, Great Northern Railway), C. Collinson (hon. sec.), A. Robinson (hon. treasurer), and many others. Apologies for absence were announced from Messrs. W. Hague, E. Watkin, C. Markham, — Clive, T. Hutchings, C. C. Ellison, J. P. Houfton, T, C. Higgins, M. Deacon, W. Morton, W. Moy ley, and A. Usher. After the loyal toasts, a statement was made by Mr. Collinson, who afterwards made a collection in the room on behalf of the society. The chairman, in proposing “ The Trades,” remarked that the coal, coke and allied trades were now enjoying a prosperity which was gratifying to everybody concerned. Let them not lose their heads. They were in an exception- ally prosperous condition, and it behoved them at that juncture to be careful what they did and which way they turned. He added that the development of the Doncaster coalfield was in the hands of experts who were certain to do justice to the responsibilities which rested upon them. Mr. Geo. Dunston, in responding, said they were satisfied with the gigantic strides which were being made in the coal trade. At their first dinner, 13 years ago, they spoke of the new 30,000,000,000 tons coalfield. Thirteen new collieries were now drawing coal, and during the year that had just closed more than five million tons extra coal had been drawn from these new pits. With the ever-increasing output from these collieries and other collieries which were in process of development) the calculation must be made for some years to come on the “ horseshoe-nail ” principle. A few years ago the question was perplexing the minds of those interested in the older collieries as to markets being found for this gigantic output,