March 20, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 611 The Home'.Office enquiry into the RuffordJPiU’disaster will be held at Mansfield on Thursday and Friday, April 3 and 4. Mr. Andrew S. Biggart has been appointed chairman of the firm of Sir William Arrol and Co. Limited, bridge- builders and engineers. Glasgow, in succession to the late Sir William Arrol. Mr. Biggart has been associated with the company for many years, and for some time back has been joint managing director with Mr. John Hunter. Mr. Hunter is now sole managing director. The yearly meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Permanent Relief Society was held on Saturday at the Technical College, Wigan. Mr. Alfred Hewlett presided. Mr. Hewlett was re-elected president, and Aiderman Barrett and Mr. James Latham vice-presidents. The president is the only survivor of a company of men who met in 1871 to devise means of assisting the widows and children of miners who lost their lives in the exercise of their dangerous calling, and the result of their efforts was the foundation of the society in the year 1872. At Saturday’s meeting, Mr. W. Clark, chairman of the board of management, presented Mr. Hewlett with a massive silver tray, and said that gentleman’s efforts had been fruitful of incalculable good to the workers in the coalmines. He had been the society’s greatest and best friend when things were dark and gloomy, as well as in brighter times. Details from the report were given in last week’s Colliery Guardian. At an inquest held last week at Bewicke Main, near Newcastle, on a deputy overman who was killed in the pit there while drawing' timber, Mr. Abbott, H.M. inspector of mines, said it appeared to him that the man had lost his life in trying to save a few props. The death- rate amongst deputy-overmen in the North of England was very high, because they would persist in using a short hammer to get out props, instead of a long punch or a “ Sylvester.’’ It was stated that these were provided at the pit, but that they were awkward to carry, and the work could be done much more expeditiously with the short hammer. For the third week in succession fire occurred early on Sunday morning on the property of the Birtley Iron Company, offices at the Ravensworth Betty Pit, four miles south of Newcastle-on-Tyne, being destroyed. The collieries’ brigade from Elswick turned out, but it was found impossible to save the buildings, a strong wind assisting the progress of the flames. The offices contained a number of rare plans and records 150 years old. A demonstration of a new apparatus for controlling the speed of winding engines and preventing overwinding has just been carried out at the Glasgow Iron and Steel Company’s Parkneuk Colliery, Motherwell. We understand that delay is being occasioned in the opening out of working places in the Six-feet mine at the Pilkington Colliery Company’s new coal pits at Astley Green, near Manchester, owing to inrushes of water said to come from adjacent old workings. More men, however, are rapidly being engaged in the other mines and an increasing quantity of coal is now being turned out. The Clyde Valley Electrical Power Company, which is offering for subscription £300,000 6 per cent, cumulative preference shares, is supplying power to various collieries. It has statutory powers of laying cables and supplying electric current throughout an area comprising the chief industrial districts in the counties of Lanark, Renfrew and Dumbarton, excepting Glasgow and the larger burghs, and has its central power stations at Motherwell and Yoker. The various sections of employees at the Elsecar Main Colliery and Earl Fitz william’s workshop met recently and floated a scheme for the provision of invalid chairs and other appliances for ambulance work. Arrangements were also made to promote a testimonial to Mr. Joseph Firth, who recently retired from the management of the Hemingfield Colliery after holding the position for 30 years. Mr. F. A. Barraclough, mining engineer, of Rotherham, son of Mr. G. H. Barraclough, manager of the Aldwarke Main Collieries, has been appointed mining engineer for a large colliery company in Bengal. Mr. Barraclough, who is 28, commenced his mining career at Aldwarke, under his father. He has held mining positions at Aldwarke, at the Deepcar ganister pits, and at the new Kimberworth Colliery. In the three days’ sale of the plant, stock, and stores of the Thames Ironworks, Shipbuilding, and Engineering Company Limited, at their Deptford Boiler Works, con- ducted by Messrs. Fuller, Horsey, Sons, and Cassell last week, the total amount realised was about £10,000. Mr. George H. Nurse, the new chairman of the Monmouthshire County Council, is the agent for the United National Collieries, and lives at Twyn-y-Carn, Cross Keys. It is stated that Mr. Joseph Shaw, K.C., and Mr. Frederick L. Davis, J.P., have consented to j >in the board of the Anglo-Westphalian Kent Coal Syndicate Limited, as from the date that the resolutions are confirmed. Messrs. Yeadon, Son and Co., of Leeds, have recently received an order to supply a complete coal briquette plant to be erected in the Argentine Republic, and to be capable of producing 100 tons per day. The briquettes will be of the ovoid form, and made specially suitable for loco, con- sumption. When erected this will be the largest coal briquette works in the Argentine Republic. MINING AND OTHER NOTES. There was an interesting gathering at Wigan last week of the friends of Mr. G. Knox, M.I.M.E., formerly attached to the Wigan and District Mining College as head of the mining and geology departments, who has been recently appointed director of the new mining school at Treforest, Pontypridd, South Wales. The object was to make a presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Knox. Mr. Twist presented Mr. Knox with a handsome suit case and Mrs. Knox with a pretty afternoon tea service. Messrs. Bniks, Fairclough and Stephen have reported upon the proposed working of coal und^r the surface reservoir at Westhoughton by the Wigan Coal and Iron Company, and a j unt meeting of committees of the Leigh Corporation and the Hindley District Council, having considered the report, has resolved that a letter be forwarded to the Wigan Coal and Iron Cjmpany stating that the Councils had decided not to purchase the coal under the reservoirs. The company are now being asked to get the coal in such a manner as to do the least possible damage to the surface. The construction of the new works at Pitnbo-lane for the Mountain Mine Colliery Company, which has been formed to work the seam and to build a large battery of patent coke ovens, is proceeding rapidly. The Simplex Coke Oven and Engineering Company are erecting the plant, and the whole scheme is expected to be finished during the present year. When completed the works will find employment for more than 300 men. Sir John Randles, M P., in the presence of a large number of representative men of Cumberland, on the 14th inst. opened the new Technical College and secondary schools at Workington, built and equipped by the Cumberland County Council at a cost of .£30,000. Sir John Randles announced his intention of making a gift of £1,000 in Workington Iron and Steel Company preference shares to provide a travel scholarship, and to be awarded to a student of the college for proficiency in the metallurgy of iron and steel in association with the local industry of the district. A case of much interest was heard in the King’s Bench Division on the 14th inst. by Mr. Justice Channell, Mr. Justice Bray, and Mr. Justice Coleridge. A rule nisi was obtained on November 19 last against the respondents, justices of the Lindsey Division of Lincolnshire, to show cause why a mandamus should not issue to compel them to hear a prosecution against a limited company, named Bellamy Brothers, for an offence against Section 63 of the Factory Act, 1901. The justices refused to hear the charge, on the ground that any fine inflicted might have to be enforced in default of distress by committal; and that a company could not be committed to prison. Mr. Branson, who appeared on behalf of the Home Secretary in support of the rule, pointed out that the Act provided that pro- ceedings should be taken against the occupier of the factory, and the occupiers of factories were very often limited companies. The word ** occupier ” was not defined in the Act. Mr. Justice Channell said there must be a rule that the justices should hear the case, but that would be without prejudice to their right to state a case for the consideration of this Court if, when they heard the argu- ments, they still thought the point they had taken was a good one. Mr. Jas. Baird, foreman engineer, Gilbertfield Colliery, Cambuslang, has been presented by the officials and work- men there with a purse of sovereigns, together with a marble timepiece and ornaments, in view of his appointment to a position of greater responsibility at Glencraig Colliery, Lochgelly, Fifeshire. At a meeting of the River Tyne Commission on the 13th inst., Mr. Arthur Scholefield made his annual statement. The revenue receipts for 1912 amounted to .£440,962 Is. 2d., showing a decrease of £42,043 as compared with the previous year. The chief items of decrease were :—Dues on vessels, £28,225 ; ballast dues, £1,337; dues on coal, £10,502; dues on merchandise, £3,317. The exports of coal and coke in 1912 were £18,681,372 tons, a decrease of 1,862,311 tons, equal to 9 96 per cent. As a result of his suggestion made a year ago, that they should endeavour to get the Com- missioners’ facilities for shipment used to a greater extent than they were, a conference with North-Eastern Railway officials was held at York. The congestion at Tyne Dock and Dunston was discussed, and they endeavoured to persuade the railway company to divert some of the traffic to the Commis- sioners’ spouts. It was pointed out that Tyne Dock was never constructed to take 10,000-ton ships, and it would be of enormous benefit to the Tyne if arrangements could be made so that large vessels could go to the Commissioners’ staiths right opposite. In answer to this the Commissioners were reminded of the extraordinary mixing of coal that took place on large steamers. An instance was given of an 8,000- ton steamer having taken in coal from 17 different collieries. The railway company ageeed to allow a halfpenny rate per ton off the carriage rate in respect to Dunston, and the Commissioners gave a halfpenny off the dues to all colliery companies shipping at the Commissioners’ docks and staiths. The rebate came into operation on July 1 last, and the total amount allowed up to the end of the year was £724. The actual number of vessels diverted was 37, and the quantity of coal shipped thereto was 82,379 tons. The result was, so far, very disappointing. At a joint meeting, which’was largely attended, of the Scottish branches of the National Association of Colliery Managers and the Association of Mining Electrical Engi- neers, was held in the Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh, on Saturday evening—Mr. C. Augustus Carlow (Leven), in the chair. Discussion was resumed on the paper by Mr. Sam Mavor, Glasgow (Messrs. Mavor and Coulson, Glasgow), on “The* Mining Electrical Engineer.’’ Contributions to the discussion were made by the chairman, Messrs. C. C. Reid (Cowdenbeath), David Beveridge (Kelty), Mungo Mackay (Newbattle Collieries, Newtongrange), G. L. Kerr (Glasgow), J. Paterson (Netherburn), Neil A. Wilkie (Cardenden), Alexander Sneddon (Chapel), and R. G. M. Prichard (H.M. inspector of mines). The Darngavil Coal Company have appointed Mr. John Barrowman to be manager of Nos. 3 and 4 pits, Swinhill Colliery, Dalserf, Lanarkshire. Mr. Barrowman, who until lately was the mining engineer and surveyor to the above company, is a son of Mr. James Barrowman, Hamilton—for a long period of years secretary of the Mining Institute of Scotland. The Mannesmann Tube Company have decided to transfer their works from Landore, near Swansea, to Manchester. This decision has been’formed in view of the need for extensive transport facilities, and the company consider that Manchester offers them the means of distribution which they require. A decision has been given in an arbitration case in which the Banknock Coal Company Limited, Denny, are involved. It is a claim for damage by mineral workings to Banknock Mansion House, offices and walls, by Mr. A. H. Boyle, of Banknock, against the company. The sum claimed for was £2 465, and liability was disputed. The coal company’s predecessors paid the sum of £675 to the claimant in 1902 in full, of damage by mineral workings to that date. Evidence was given at length on both sides by mining engineers, architects, &c., and the arbiter has just given his decision in which he repels Mr. Boyle’s claim to the extent of £2,400 for damage to the mansion house and offices, and awards £65 in respect of damage to boundary walls. The arbiter awards to the coal company four-fifths of the whole expenses incurred by them in the reference. A party of mining students from the Doncaster Technical School recently bad a very enjoyable and profitable outing. Accompanied by their instructor, Mr. Geo. Lodge, M.I.M.E., they set out for Edinburgh. The electrically equipped and up-to-date mines of the Broxburn Oil Shale Company were visited, both on the surface and below ground. The party also inspected one of the collieries worked by the Shotts Iron Company at Loanhead, and were greatly interested in some of the deepest workings in Great Britain. They were shown seams of coal and ironstone at an inclination of 60 to 90 degrees being worked by novel and ingenious methods. Miners’ Electric Lamps.—In view of the importance which is now attached to improved lighting conditions as a remedy for miners’ nystagmus, considerable interest was centred in the lecture which Mr. William Maurice, F.G S., M.I.E.E. (ex-president of the Association of Mining Elec- trical Engineers) delivered at the University College, Nottingham, on Saturday afternoon. The lecture, the subject of which was “Miners’ Electric Lamps,” had been arranged under the auspices of the Midland branch of the National Association of Colliery Managers and the Notts Education Committee, and it attracted a large number of colliery managers, mine deputies, mining students and miners. The lecturer, in his introductory remarks, stated that the first attempt ever made to adapt the incandescent lamp to mine illumination dated from 1881, when Mr. (after- wards Sir J. W.) Swan devised a form of lamp for this purpose, and it was interesting to note that these lamps were first used in a Nottinghamshire colliery. On December 12, 1885, Mr. Swan exhibited the first portable electric lamp before the North of England Institute. After touching upon the introduction of various kinds of electric lamps, Mr. Maurice said it was reasonable to assume that the improvement in the amount of illumination provided for underground workmen would have a marked effect in reducing the annual toll of accidents. The electric lamp, said Mr. Maurice, was destined to promote the welfare of the miner and the industry in far-reaching and perhaps not yet wholly recognised ways. The lecturer next alluded to the principal features of different types of electric lamps, touched upon the organisation of electric lamp installations for mines, the management of electric lamp cabins, gas- testing appliances, and, in conclusion, expressed the belief that the flame lamp was destined to rapid and complete disappearance, and that the working faces and every centre of activity in all important mines would, within the next few years, become as brilliantly illuminated as the best lighted pit-bottom. Light in the mine was not a luxury ; it was an urgent and far-too-long-delayed necessity. If only one point of justification were needed for making so important a change in underground conditions, it was surely to be found in the remarkable increase in the number of cases of nystagmus. The lecture was illustrated by a number of lantern slides, and two electric lamps were exhibited which had not been seen in this country before ncluding the new Edison battery lamp.