150

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 16, 1914.

MOTES FROM THE COALFIELDS.

[Local Correspondence.J
Northumberland and Durham.

Tyne Coal Shipments—The Sherburn Collieries.

The Tyne Improvement Commission met at Newcastle
last week, Sir William Stephenson presiding. The annual
return of coal and coke shipped showed that in December
^ast 1,734,865 tons of coal were shipped, an increase on
the 1912 shipments, and a decrease on those of 1911.
For the year the total shipments were 20,299,955 tons,
compared with 18,681,372 in 1912, and 20,543,683 in 1911,
the increase being 8'66 per cent, on 1912, and a decrease
of ITg per cent, on 1911.

With the close of 1913 a new epoch has been marked
in connection with the Sherburn collieries. After
belonging to the Lambton Collieries Limited for about
17J years, they have now been transferred to the new
owners, Messrs. Samuelson and Co., of Newport Iron-
works, Middlesbrough, who took possession on January 1,
1914. The collieries are comprised of Lady Durham
Colliery, working the Low Main seam; Sherburn House
Colliery, where sinking operations to the Busty seam
are proceeding; and Sherburn Hill Colliery with three
seams working—viz., Low Main, Main Coal, and Busty.
Littletown Colliery, of course, ceased coal-drawing about
six weeks ago.

Col. C. B. Palmer, of Wardley Hall, Felling-on-Tyne,
deputy commissioner for No. 6 district of the St. John
Ambulance Association, has given a first-aid case of
appliances for the best kept records of divisional secre-
taries in the No. 6 district, which comprises the whole
of the North of England. The winner this year is
Corporal Robert Tait, secretary of the Carl division of
the Ashington Coal Company’s Ambulance Brigade.

Mr. G. A. Skentlebury, late of Palmer’s Docks Com-
pany Limited, Hebburn-on-Tyne, has been appointed
manager of the docks department of Bly th Shipbuilding
and Dry Docks Company Limited, in the place of Mr.
Joseph Dunn, who has become manager of Messrs.
McClelland’s Yard, Willington-on-Tyne.

Mr. John Jacques, of Holywell, Northumberland, who
has been for 49 years an official of the Holywell Coal
Company, has just retired after having spent 64 years
in the mines of the company.

Mr. Matthew Tate, the pitman poet of Northumber-
land, is retiring from work at 76 years of age. Mr.
Tate has been a coal hewer up to the. end of 1913,
working in the Forster Pit, Delaval, owned by the
Seaton Delaval Coal Company. He is the recognised
poet-laureate of the Northumberland miners, and
regularly pens poems fitting any occasion of note in
the industry. About a year ago he published a history
of the Northumberland Miners’ Union in verse.

Cumberland.

The Whitehaven D%ist—Depression in the Coke Trade.

Under the auspices of the Cumberland Colliery Officials’
Association, a lecture was given in Whitehaven on
Saturday evening by Mr. J. W. McTrusty, lecturer in
mining to the Warwickshire County Council, on
“ Colliery Explosions and Coaldust.” Mr. A. C.
Scoular, who presided, mentioned that the coaldust at
Whitehaven, which was undoubtedly one of the most
active agents in the disaster they had four years ago,
when experimented upon at the Eskmeals Station, was
found practically innocuous. That might seem very
strange, but there was undoubtedly a certain contribu-
tion of practically innocuous elements, which would
bring about the most disastrous holocaust and give
them one of the greatest disasters which could possibly
be imagined.

In the face of the trade depression at Mary port and
Distington there is the statement that a second
furnace will be put on blast at the Oldside Works,
Workington, the property of the Workington Iron an
Steel Company, as soon as the necessary repairs to the
blowing engines have been carried out. Generally the
iron trade shows signs of slight improvement.

There was an interesting presentation at the Alice
Colliery, Little Broughton, on Thursday of last week,
when Mr. Joseph Morrison, under-manager, who is
leaving the district, was the recipient of several hand-
some gifts from the officials and workmen. Mr.
Morrison has been appointed lecturer to the Stoke
Mining School.

Progress is noticeable in connection with the Flimby
and Broughton Moor Colliery Company’s new colliery
at Risehow, near Maryport. A railway track is being
made from the level crossing at Fothergill. About
200 yards from the highway leading to Maryport a
borehole is being put down, and it is stated that this is
the position wThich has been selected for the new shaft.
In the meantime Seaton Moor Colliery and two or
three seams in the Bertha Colliery (belonging to the
same company) have been closed, thus throwing some 150
hands out of work. About 30 or 40 have been taken
on at Watergate Colliery.

The reduction of the number of furnaces blowing in
West Cumberland is having a serious effect on the local
coke trade. Every available wagon was loaded up with
coke last Friday, and it is feared that unless some out-
let is found for the fuel, many of the batteries of ovens
will have to be closed down.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Developments at Bacup, Rainhill, and Bankhouses—
Town-planning Scheme at Walkden.

Important coalmining developments are pending in
the Rossendale valley of East Lancashire, Messrs.
George Hargreaves and Co., of the Rossendale collieries,

having struck a fine new seam of coal 18 in. in thickness at
Heap Hey, Todmorden-road, in the Bacup borough
boundary. The new pit adjoins the Upper Mountain
Mine, and it is expected that employment in working
the new mine will be provided for a considerable number
of additional miners and other workers. It is stated
that a second seam will be tapped at a deeper level in
conjunction with what is known as the Gannister mine.

A correspondent understands that the Hulton Colliery
Company intend pushing forward with the opening-out
of new collieries in the Rainhill neighbourhood of
South-West Lancashire. Important coalmining develop-
ments are also projected in the adjoining Huyton and
Knotty Ash districts.

The Tyldesley Coal Company Limited are sinking a
new mine at Bankhouses, and are also erecting new
screens and washeries in connection with their Cleworth
Hall collieries, Tyldesley. A new Trencherbone mine
is also being opened out at their Cleworth Hall pits.

The Earl of Ellesmere has had an important town
planning scheme prepared in connection with the
development of his estates in the Walkden district,
where several of his principal collieries and head offices
are situated, and we understand that the same is now
under the consideration of the local District Council.

An event of great interest to those connected with
the Lancashire coal trade took place on the Coal
Exchange lately, when a handsome memento presented
by Mr. James Roscoe, in commemoration of his second
period of office as president, was hung in the large room.
The plate, which is mounted in an elaborately carved
black oak frame surmounted by a laurel wreath,
contains the names of presidents and trustees.

An important motion is to be brought before a
meeting of the Wigan Borough Council by Councillor
E. Yates, who will move that rigid enforcement be made
of a particular section of a standing order of the
council, and that all present contracts with persons or
firms supplying coal to the corporation, and not com-
plying with the same, be suspended until they conform
fully to the standard rate of wages for colliery surface
workers in Lancashire and Cheshire.

Yorkshire.

Memorial to the late Mr. Pickering—Railway Develop-
ments around Doncaster.

There was an echo of the Cadeby Colliery disaster on
Sunday last, when, at the Doncaster Parish Church, the
Bishop of Sheffield unveiled a brass tablet which has
been erected on the north side of the church to the late
Mr. W. H. Pickering. The inscription it bears explains
its purpose, and is as follows :—“ To the glory of God
and in memory of William Henry Pickering, his
Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Mines for Yorkshire and
the North Midlands district, who was killed while
leading a rescue party after an explosion in Cadeby
Main Colliery on 9th July, 1912. This tablet is erected
to commemorate the purity of his life, the strength of
his faith, and the heroism of his death.” Mr. Pickering
was a churchwarden of the Doncaster Parish Church,
and was likewise, with Archdeacon Sandford (vicar of
Doncaster), one of the joint hon. secretaries of the
South Yorkshire Coalfields Church Extension Com-
mittee. It will be recalled that he was about to conduct
King George (who was in July 1912 on a visit to Earl
Fitz william), over one of the earl’s coalmines when news
of the Cadeby calamity arrived. He had to forego the
honour of being the King’s guide, and hastened to Conis-
boro. Here he at once descended the stricken mine,
together with a party of other mining inspectors, colliery
officials and others, when the dreaded second explosion
came and wiped the party out.

The memorial was unveiled at an impressive service,
and was largely attended. The congregation included
Mrs. W. H. Pickering (widow), Mr. Basil Pickering,
manager of Wath Main Colliery (and who was with the
party when the second explosion occurred, being one of
the few survivors), Mr. T. H. Mottram (chief mining
inspector for the Yorkshire district), and others
interested in the colliery world.

The Bishop said into the facts of the tragedy he did
not need to enter. They recollected how Mr. Pickering
was about to lead his King in that unique progress
through the South Yorkshire coalfield when he had a
call to a higher duty, and to a still better royal progress,
to rescue his fellowmen, and to the call of duty he
answered. And there he fell asleep, leaving them an
example that they should follow in his steps. Let them
take the lesson to heart.

Railway developments continue in the Doncaster
district, and are following closely in the wake of colliery
expansion. The Great Northern Railway Company
intend shortly throwing two new steel bridges across
the River Don, in Marsh gate, directly north of the
Marshgate bridge. Each bridge will have two sets of
metals, and the object of their erection is to provide for
the increased colliery traffic which is likely to accrue
within the next year or so. Tenders have already been
invited, and the work will be put in hand very shortly.
Looking forward to the finding of coal at Harworth, the
Great Northern Railway Company are now constructing
sets of metals to link up the new colliery with their main
line, and the work is proceeding satisfactorily. The
new sets of metals will be about 4 miles in length, and
will proceed along the main line from Scrooby to
Ranskill, a distance of about J mile, and then go across
country, through the South Carr and Harworth woods,
to the site of the new collliery. It is expected that the
work will be completed before the end of this month.
Another development is that it is comtemplated, a few
months hence, that the rapidly rising colliery district of
Bentley shall be equipped with a first-class station. As

a matter of fact, this is at present being constructed
just within the boundary of the Selby road, where it
forks from the North road, and not far from the
Doncaster borough boundaries. In a few months’ time
it is hoped the station will both be built and have trains
running into it, and also that the new Hull and Barnsley
and Great Central joint line will have been completed.
The Bentley passenger station will be upon the
“island ” system, similar to the new station proposed to
be erected at Doncaster. The two main platforms are
to be 500 ft. long. A goods station and warehouse will
be erected close to the passenger station, and provision
will be made for dealing with minerals. Eleven sets of
metals from the main lines are contemplated, and if
necessary more can he put down—for the companies
own adjoining land. Our correspondent was informed
that the principal object of the promoters of the new
line is to tap the new collieries of the district. The line
goes up to Braithwell, where it joins a joint Great
Central Railway, Hull and Barnsley, and Midland Com-
pany’s line, which connects up the collieries around
Maltby, Kiveton, and Dinnington. Then, coming
further down towards Doncaster, a branch line goes to
the Yorkshire Main at Edlington, another to Bentley
Colliery, and yet another to Bullcroft Colliery. It is
stated to be possible that further branch lines may be
put down in the near future connecting up the Hatfield
and Thorne collieries, should they prove to be successful.
On the far side of Bentley, beyond the colliery sidings,
the promoters intend putting down large exchange
sidings, to cover an area of 20 acres. These will be
situated on the Arksey side of Tilts-lane, where in the
near future will be rows and rows of coal trains waiting
to be conveyed to Hull with their export freights. So
far as present arrangements go, passenger traffic is
likely to be a minor thing compared with mineral traffic
on this new line.

At the Rotherham Technical Institute Engineering
Society’s meeting, on Saturday, a lecture on “ Elec-
tricity Applied to Mining” was delivered by Mr. J. E.
Tongue, the chair being occupied by Mr. J. R. Lilleker.

Derbyshire and Notts.

Rope Breakage at Loscoe.

An accident occurred at the Butterley Company’s
Ormonde Colliery, Loscoe, on Friday afternoon, which,
had it taken place a little later when the winding of
men of men would have been in operation, might have
had a terrible result. What was almost the last wind
of coal was taking place when the rope snapped, and the
cage, which was some distance from the bottom, fell and
was smashed to atoms. In consequence of the accident,
all the miners had to be drawn up the fan shaft.

Mr. W. H. Harvey, of Hucknall, has been appointed
to succeed Mr. John Barker as under-mana ger of
Hucknall No. 2 Colliery, the latter having a position as
manager of the Charlesworth collieries, near Leeds.

The Midlands.

South Staffordshire Mines Drainage—Miners'Relief.

At the monthly meeting of the South Staffordshire
Mines Drainage Commissioners, at Dudley, it was
decided, in accordance with the provisions of the
award of the arbitrators dated December 19 last, to
levy a rate, payable in two half-yearly instalments, upon
all occupiers of mines in the northern sub-district of the
Old Hill district of 3d. upon every ton of fireclay and
limestone, and 7d. upon every ton of ironstone, coal,
slack, and other mineral raised at such mines during the
year.

The question of the formation of a central fund for
relief of mining distress, brought into prominence a few
months ago and advocated by the Lord Mayor of
London, has been raised at a meeting of the committee
of the Pelsall Mining Accident Fund, where it was
contended that there was a fund in the locality having
thousands of pounds lying dormant which could be put
to good use. The Hamstead Disaster Fund, the subject
of the reference, was formed in 1908, the loss of life from
the fire, which originated at the bottom of the downcast
shaft, being 25, and the total fund £15,486. It was urged
that the benefit of the surplus funds should be extended
to isolated cases of death. A member of the committee
remarked that a miner had been heard to say that it was
better to get killed “ in the ruck.” It was decided to
communicate with the Lord Mayor. The bank deposit
account of the Pelsall Fund stood at £203 10s., and the
current account at £27 5s. 4d. The expenses of office
rent and salary for the last quarter amounted to £10,
plus £1 for postages. The disposal of surplus relief
funds has previously been discussed in the district, when
it was argued that a disaster fund, being earmarked for
a particular purpose, should not be devoted to other
objects which are outside the intentions of the
subscribers.

Scotland.

Iron Ore in Raasay—Power Supply in the Clyde Valley
—Housing in Ayrshire—Find of Anthracite.

Messrs. William Baird and Co. Limited, Gartsherrie
Ironworks, who are at present engaged in developing
the mineral resources of the island of Raasay, of which
they are proprietors, in order to provide accommodation
for an additional number of workmen, have decided to
erect other 36 houses on the island.

The Clyde Valley Electrical Power Co., with its power
station at Yoker, is to extend its mains right through
Dumbarton to the Vale of Leven, and secure a monopoly
of supplying light and power over that wide district. It