1488 June 26, 1014. ___________________________ ____________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN _______________________________________________________________.... they are not in a position to do. Foreign tonnage is being rapidly taken np where available at enhanced rates, but the question will very speedily arise, unless a settlement is arrived at, whether those boats will be loaded, as it is quite within the range of possibility that pressure will be brought to bear upon the tippers and trimmers to abstain from dealing with those boats at all. It is reported that between 30 and 40 vessels which are already loaded at Cardiff, Penarth, and Barry, have not been able to obtain a full complement of men, and naturally, in consequence of this dislocation of tonnage, buyers who are able to place a prompt boat at the disposal of the collieries, are in a position to obtain substantial concessions from the quoted figures, but for future business prices are being steadily quoted at 22s. for best Admiralties, the general opinion being that, even should there be a complete stoppage, orders will accumulate in the meantime, and that there will be great pressure when work is resumed. Another matter which is engaging the attention of coal shippers just now is the alleged nursing of tips at the various docks. This has long been a grievance, and the Council of the Chamber of Commerce, therefore, decided to take counsel’s opinion on the legality of the whole question. Mr. Maurice Hill, K.C., had the matter placed before him, and his opinion has gone against the dock companies. It is not improbable that a test case may be fought out in the Law Courts at an early date. Shipments from Cardiff last week amounted to 335,663 tons, compared with 360,268 tons in the corre- sponding period of last year. At Newport there was a decrease of 3,710 tons, at Swansea an increase of 1,526 tons, and at Port Talbot a decrease of 22,140 tons. Chartering during the week was only on a moderate scale, amounting to 218,650 tons, compared with 307,140 tons in the corre- sponding six days, or a decrease of 88,460 tons. With regard to prices, best Admiralties are nominally quoted at 21s. to 22s., but there is no doubt that these figures can be discounted to an appreciable extent for anything like prompt shipment. Superior seconds are 19s. 6d. to 20s., and ordinaries 18s. 3d. to 18s. 9d.; and, of the lower grades, stocks are increasing, and it is not improbable that, when the shortage of wagons becomes more acute, a number of collieries will be obliged to cease operations. Monmouthshire coals have been rather irregular, but up to the present, the tonnage difficulty has not been felt to the same extent at Newport as at Cardiff. Best Black Veins are 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d.; Western Valleys 16s. to 16s. 3d.; and the best of the Easterns 15s. to 15s. 6d.—in each case f.o.b. Cardiff Bituminous coals have been rather an easy market, and prices, if anything, show a slightly weaker tendency, No. 3 Bhondda large being 17s. 6d.; No. 2, 13s. to 13s. 6d.; and other grades in proportion. Small coal keeps fairly steady, best bunkerings being around about Ils. ; ordinaries, 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d.; and cargo qualities, 8s. 3d. to 8s. 9d. An enquiry is reported on the market from the Greek Government for 30,000 tons of best Admiralty steams, and it is not improbable that the Turkish Government will also be in the market for a large quantity. It is stated that the enquiry of the German Navy for 22,000 tons of steam coal for manoeuvre purposes has been secured by the Westphalian Syndicate. Shipments of patent fuel still continue on a large scale, the exports last week being 34,927 tons. Of this quantity the Crown Company despatched 17,772 tons, other local makers 5,635 tons, Swansea 9,100 tons, and Newport 2,450 tons. Prices of first grades still remain firm at 21s. for delivery throughout the year, second qualities being obtainable at 19s. ts 20s. The coke market is fairly steady, but the demand is slow, and prices generally are without alteration. Pitwood is plentiful and prices weak, the quotation for best French fir being 19s. to 19s. 6d. per ton. to be very dull, and 24-gauge corrugateds are £10 12s. 6d. to <£10 15s. per ton. The advance in foreign plates and bars has had a stimulating effect on the local industry, and more prosperous times are anticipated during the next few months. The Association price of £4 Ils. 3d. for Siemens and £4 10s. for Bessemer qualities is still maintained. There is no change in the position of the steel rail industry, although the mills which are running have been fairly well employed. Welsh pig iron remains at 62s. 6d. to 63s. f.o.t. Scrap metals continue weak, and there is little business doing. Iron ore is without improvement, best rubio being still offered at 15s. 6d. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week was again satisfactory ; the coal trade continued inactive, but the exports of patent fuel were again high. The shipments of coal and patent fuel together amounted to 113,112 tons. An average atten- dance assembled on ’Change, and a slight improvement was noticeable in the tone of the anthracite coal market. There was a fairly steady demand for Swansea Valley large, but Bed Vein large was weak, there being very little enquiry for this commodity. Machine-made nuts and cobbles maintained their improved position. Bubbly culm was in strong demand, whilst duff remained steady. There was not much change in the general state of the steam coal market. Large was freely offered for prompt loading at reduced prices. Smalls, however, were again in excellent request. Prices of coal f.o.b. Swansea (cash in 30 days). Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 22/ -24/ Secondary do. 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 18/6-20/ Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 16/ -17/6 Bed Vein large do. ... 12/6-13/ 12/9-13/6 12/ -13/ Machine - made cobbles (net) 21/ -22/6 21/ -22/6 22/ -23/6 Paris nuts (net) — — 23/ -24/ French do. do 21/9-23/9 21/9-23/9 23'/ -24/ German do. do 21/9-23/9 21/9-23/9 23/ -24/ Beans (net) 15/6-17/ 15/6-17/ 16/6-19/ Machine - made large peas (net) 11/^12/ 11/ -12/ 11/6-13/6 Do. fine peas (net) — —— Bubbly culm (less 2|p.c.) 6/6- 6/9 6/6- 6/9 _____________________________ 7/6- 8/ Duff (net) 4/3- 4/6 4/3- 4/6 5/3- 5/6 Steam coals:— Best large (less 2ip.c.) 18/6-20/ 18/6-20/ 19/6-21/ Seconds do. 13/6-15/6 13/6-15/6 16/ -17/ Bunkers do. 10/6-11/9 10/6-11/9 11/6-12/6 Small do. 8/6- 9/6 8/3- 9/ 8/ - 9/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Bhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/6 Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) — — 15/ -16/ Small (less 2| p.c.) ... 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ 13/ -14/ Patent fuel do 17/ —18/ 17/ -18/ 20/ -21/ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, June 25. ________________ _____________ Dublin. Business continues to be dull both in the city and country districts, consumers in the latter still holding back their orders in anticipation of lower prices. ‘Some large local con- tracts are open, and it is expected that these will be arranged at figures a little lower than those of last year. Some of the small coal firms here are buying large quanti- ties of mixed coal, which is sold at low prices owing to the cheap rates at which it is now obtained at the collieries, where stocks are very heavy at this time of the year. There is no further change in prices, which stand as follow Best Orrell, 26s. to 27s. per ton; Abram, 25s. to 26s.; best Wigan, 24s. ; best Whitehaven, 24s.; Pemberton Wigan, 22s.; kitchen nuts, 21s.; Orrell slack, 20s.—all less Is. per ton dis- count. Steam coals from 22s. per ton; best coke, 20s. per ton delivered. Irish coals at Wolf hill, Queen’s Co., are :— Large coal, 20s. per ton; small coal, 18s. 4d.; nuts, 16s. 8d.; beans, 15s.; peas, 12s. 6d.; culm (coarse), 10s.; culm (in pond), 3s. 4d.; culm (fine), 5s.; prices, retail, from 5d. to Is. per cwt.—all at the pit mouth. The collier vessels arriving- in this port during the past week amounted to 54, as com- pared with 45 the week previously, chiefly from Newport, Ayr, Garston, Irvine, Campbeltown, Liverpool, Swansea, Ardrossan, Preston, Partington, Ellesmere Port, Working- ton, Whitehaven, Cardiff, Glasgow, Llanelly, Maryport, and Troon. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 22,000 tons. Belfast. There has been, no change in any direction during the week, the local trade remaining dull, and prices unchanged. Demand from inland consumers continues to improve, and as merchants have large stocks of all qualities, requirements are fulfilled without difficulty. Quotations stand as follow : Best Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal, 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d. per ton; Scotch slack, Ils. 6d. to 12s. 6d. per ton; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s.; Welsh steam coal, 17s. to 18s. per ton delivered. Freights are easier owing to tonnage being fairly plentiful. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Ayr, Garston, Work- ington, Glasgow, Silloth, Preston, Girvan, Maryport, Elles- mere Port, Irvine, Troon, Briton Ferry, and Whitehaven. Between May 31 and June 13 the total number of colliers entering the harbour was 110. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—There is a quieter tone about the market, and in some cases prices are lower. Benzols remain much about the same. Pitch, however, is on the decline. Naphthas are quiet, while creosote and carbolics are unchanged. Nearest values are :— Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ Superior seconds 19/6-20/ 19/9-20/3 18/ -19/ Ordinary do 18/3-18/9 18/6-19/ 16/9-17/6 Best bunker smalls 10/9-11/ 10/9-11/ 10/ -10/6 Best ordinaries 10/6-10/9 10/3-10/6 9/6-10/ Cargo qualities 8/3- 8/9 8/6- 8/9 8 - 8/6 Inferior smalls 7/ - 8/ 8/ - 8/6 7/ - 8/ Best dry coals 18/6-19/ 18/ -18/9 18/6- 19/ Ordinary drys 15/6-16/ 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ Best washed nuts 16/ 15/9-16/3 15/6 Seconds 15/ 14/9-15/3 14/6 Best washed peas 14/ -14/6 15/ 13/6 Seconds 13/6 14/ 12/6-13/ Dock screenings 11/ -11/6 11/6 9/6 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 17/3-17/6 17/3-17/9 17/ -17/6 Western-valleys 16/ -16/3 16/6-16/9 16/9-17/ Eastern-valleys 15/6-15/9 15/ -15/6 16/ -16/6 Inferior do. 15/ -15/3 14/ 15/6—16/ Bituminous coals :— Best house coals (at pit) 20/ 20/ 20/ Second qualities (at pit) 17/6-19/6 17/6-19/6 17/6-18/ No. 3 Bhondda— Bituminous large 17/6 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 Through-and-through 14/9-15/ 14/9-15/ 15/ -15/6 Small 12/ -12/3 12/6 12/ -12/6 No. 2 Bhondda— Large 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 14/ Through-and-through 11/6 11/6-12/ 11/6 Small 8/6- 9/ 8/6- 9/ 7/6- 8/ Best patent fuel 21/ 21/ 23/ Seconds 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 21/ Special foundry coke ...... 27/ -29/ 27/ -29/ 30/ Ordinary do. 22/ -25/ 22/ -25/ 28/ Furnace coke 18/ -19/ 19/ -20/ 24/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 19/ -19/6 20/ -20/6 22/3 IRON. During the past week the usual activity was observable at the blastfurnaces at Landore, and the production of pig and hot metal was heavy. The tin-plate trade is only fairly good, some of the works being engaged on short time. There was an increase in the production of tin-plates at the Duffryn Works, where they were working eight hours per day. Things were slacker at the Upper Forest and Worcester, where only six hours per day was done. The tin-house sets were doing well, and the full complement of sheet mills were at work. Orders were increasing in the demand for bars at the local steelworks. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 145,540 boxes, receipts from works 138,606 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 225,245 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The position of the coal market is still most unsatisfac- tory, and so far no improvement has taken place in any department. The inland trade for the time being has practically gone, and orders are scarcer than they have been for a considerable period, and tempting reductions in prices seem to have little effect. Several enquiries have recently come in for quantities over the next six and 12 months, and competition is keen, but for prompt delivery very little is doing. The best large sorts are not doing badly except that prices are not so high as they should be, but horticultural qualities are a quiet market. The machine-made kinds are also very easy, but culm is in good demand, The condition of the steam and bituminous market is also bad, and every quality is difficult to pWe, Owing to the short time worked at the steel works, gas coals are very plentiful, but prices are the same. This week’s are:— Prices f.offi, Benzols, 90’s _____'............................. Do. 50’s .................................................... Do. 90’s North ......................... Do. 50’s North ............... ....................... Toluol ...................................... Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) .......... Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ........ Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... Crude ditto (in bulk) ....................... Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ............ Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ..................... Do. (f.a.s. west coast) ..................... Tar (ex-works, London) ..................... 1/1 /Il /10 /10i /10j /10| to 1/11 /3g- /9f- , /3i5a 32/ to 32/6 30/6 to 31/6 24/3 to 28/3 Sulphate oe Ammonia.—There has been a very marked decline in prices all round. It is true there is but little business passing to test the validity of current quotations, but discrepancies such as exist should not be possible. German sulphate is about 60s. per ton dearer than British, and this, in the face of their long increased output, to say nothing of the fears of synthetic ammonia as a competitor. It is a striking instance of what co-operation can effect, and confirms the necessity for arranging unanimity amongst British sellers. It may be a difficult task, but not so difficult as trying to stand up to the throat-cutting com- petition that is impending. Prices are:— London (ordinary makes) __................. £10/5 Beckton (certain terms)_______............... £9/17/6 Liverpool .,...........................__ £10/10 Hull________________................................ £10/8/9 Middlesbrough __................. £10/7/6 Scotch ports ....................... ‘ £10/12/6 Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ... 9/10| ____________________________ IRON. The tin-plate trade continues to show weakness, and many works are reported to be in need of new specifica- tions in order to keep the mills running. Shipments last week were 145,540 boxes, against 138,406 boxes received from works, and stocks on hand now amount to 225,245 boxes. Prices are again easier, and Bessemer standard cokes have been done at Ils. lO^d., although the quotation stands nominally at 12s. to 12s. l|d. One order of 12,000 boxes is reported to have been placed as low as 11s. 9d. Oil sizes are 12s. 3d. for 18| x 14 plates, and 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d. for 20 x 10 sizes. In the galvanised sheet trade there is a rather firmer tendency, but new business is still reported Anthracite :— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Bed Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do______........... Machine-made beans ... Do. peas........ Culm ................ Duff ................ Other sorts:— Current prices, 21/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 16/ -17/ 12/6-13/6 19/ -21/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -20/ 11/6-12/6 6/ - 6/6 4/6- 6/ I/st week’s prices. 20/ -22/ 18/ -20/ 16/ -17/ 12/6-13/ 19/ -21/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -20/ 12/6-13/6 6/ - 6/6 4/6- 6/ Last year's prices. 20/ -22/ 18/ -20/ 16/6-17/6 12/6-13/6 18/6-20/ 19/6-21/6 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 19/ -21/ 11/6-13/ 7/ - T/6 5/3- 5/6 Large steam coal..... 16/ -17/ Through-and-through... 11/ -11/6 Small ............... 8/ - 9/ Bituminous small coal.. J 10/6-11/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 8/6- 9/6 10/9-11/3 17/ -18/ 11/ -12/ 10/ -11/ 10/6-12/ _______________________________ Messrs Donovan and Company (47, Cornwall-street, Birmingham) list a selection of motor panels. Included is a useful type of free-blade switch in iron case specially adapted for colliery use on circuits up to 600 volts. Various watertight fittings are also shown. OBITUARY. After a long and painful illness, Mr. Adam Harvey, son of Mr. Bobert Harvey, under manager at Bearpark Colliery, has died. Deceased was an official of the Bearpark Colliery, and held a manager’s certificate. One of the chief benefactors of Welsh institutions has1 passed away in the person of Miss Clara Thomas, of Llwynmadoc, owner of large estates in the three counties' of Brecon, Glamorgan and Badnorshire. Under the anony- mous designation of “ A Glamorgan Colliery Owner,” she has made many large donations to the Cardiff Hospital, one of these being for the munificent sum of 10,000 guineas; and she gave also to Swansea Convalescent Home on one occa- sion a sum of £10,000; whilst in Pontypridd district, where much of the family property is situated—a considerable part of the town being erected upon her land—she has been most generous in church building, gifts to hospitals, and in other ways. The South Wales University College at Cardiff was also materially aided by her benevolence; and the Llanbradach colliery village. One estimate places the total of her gifts at £200,000. The death is announced of Mr. Morgan Bransby Williams, D.L., for many years chairman of the Bhondda and Swansea Bay Bailway Company. Deceased was well known as a civil and mining engineer. Between the years 1842 and 1845 he was engaged as a mining engineer at the Dinas Colliery, the property of his late uncle, Mr. Walter Coffin. The colliery at that time was the only one in the now famous Bhondda Valley coalfield. During the time he was there a serious explosion of gas occurred, at which 12 colliers were killed. Mr. Williams nearly lost his wife in an attempt to rescue some of the men entombed in the under- ground workings. In 1845 he was engaged as a civil engineer for three years in the construction of the London and North-Western Bailway, the Caledonian Bailway, .and the North British Bailway.