34

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

July 3, 1914.

an official version. Seven or eight of the tubbing plates
have, it appears, cracked, and it has been thought desirable
to take these out and replace them with new ones before
sinking down further. The delay thus occasioned will only
be of short duration. It is not anticipated that there will be
any trouble with the water, which has already been suc-
cessfully tubbed back above the level of the damaged plates.

The Doncaster Corporation are making another move to
deal with the local housing difficulty, and to remove the
reproach of the miners that when they come to Doncaster
there is nowhere for them or their families to live. The
Corporation have decided to lay out a portion of the Carr
House estate for municipal housing, and it is proposed to
proceed with the erection of 100 houses upon a site four
acres in extent. This site adjoins one now occupied by a
portion of the Corporation’s rehousing scheme. Competi-
tive plans for the lay out of the whole area are to be invited
from architects, also plans and designs for various types
of working class dwellings.

A social event, which aroused considerable interest in
mining circles in South Yorks last week, was the marriage
of Mr. Robert Clive, of Scawthorpe Hall, Doncaster, eldest
son of Colonel and Mrs. R. C. Clive, of Gravenhunger, Staff,
to Miss Joyce Mackay, eldest daughter of Dr. P. B. Mackay,
of Doncaster. Mr. Clive was formerly manager of the
Bentley Colliery, but some time ago was promoted agent
by Messrs. Barber, Walker and Company.

There was a somewhat serious mishap in the Yorkshire
Main Colliery at Edlington, last week. Three men were
drawing girders off in an old road with a “ Sylvester ” and
chain, when a prop on which the weight was to pull
the other prop down, gave out. Two girders and two tons
of roof came down, completely burying two of the men
with 2 ft. of debris. The third man was just clear of the
danger zone. One of those buried was rescued by him,
but the other poor fellow, named Yorke, was pinned by
the girders, and was suffocated to death before he could
be rescued. The moral of the inquest was emphasised by
the coroner, who pointed out that the manner in which the
men were working made it just as likely that the prop they
did not wish to draw would be drawn, as the other one.
He was afraid deceased had not taken sufficient precautions,
and he hoped the affair would be a warning to other miners.
The two men who escaped with their lives were congratu-
lated br the court.

A somewhat curious situation has arisen in the little
colliery town of Maltby, where strenuous opposition is
forthcoming to the proposal to apply for urban powers. At
a long and lively meeting of ratepayers, just held, Mr. N.
Gibbs, chairman of the parish council, voiced the local
dissatisfaction as to the increase of rates, and said it was
felt the only way out of the difficulty was to apply for
urban powers, and an extension of the parish boundaries,
so as to include the Maltby Main Colliery and the railway
station, which would then bear a fair share of the burdens
of the heavy rates. Maltby pit had been sunk in close
proximity to, but just outside the parish boundary, and
the whole of the cottages necessary for the pit had been
built outside the parish area. As the houses sewage scheme,
water scheme, and other expenditure had been rendered
necessary by the mining undertaking, he argued that the
colliery owners should be called upon to pay towards the
expenditure and charges. The result of the meeting was
that a proposal confirming the decision to apply for urban
powers, and a larger boundary, was defeated by a big
majority, an amendment being carried that the matter lie
on the table. A poll of the parish is to be taken to decide
the situation.

The visit of their Majesties, the King and Queen, to
Hull to inauguate the new joint dock (a full description of
which appeared in our last week’s issue), was attended
by remarkable demonstrations of loyalty, and the gather-
ing together of a distinguished company of commercial men
representative of large interests both in the United Kingdom
and on the continent. In reply to an address from the
Hull City Council, his Majesty signalised his pleasure at
the advance made in recent years by conferring upon the
city a lord mayoralty. At the joint dock, their Majesties
were received by Lord Knaresborough, chairman of the
North Eastern Railway Company, and Sir W. S. Wright,
chairman of the Hull and Barnsley Railway and Dock
Company, on behalf of the owners of the dock, and on board
the Trinity House yacht “ Irene,” they passed through
the entrance lock and steamed round the dock, ultimately
landing at a Royal Pavilion erected on the No. 3 quay.
Here was assembled the guests of the owners of the dock,
between 3,500 and 4,000 persons. Among those presented to
their Majesties were Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., chairman of the
Joint Dock Committee and Lord Cowdray (of Messrs.
Pearson and Son Limited, the contractors for the dock).
After prayer by the Archbishop of York, Sir Hugh Bell
presented an address in a silver casket to their Majesties.
The King, replying, said that the welfare of this country
had for long been bound up with the prosperity of its sea-
borne trade, and that he followed with close interest the
never-ceasing progress and development of our ports, and
the great merchant navy on which our commerce depends.
It was, therefore, a deep satisfaction to him to know that
the rapid progress in recent years of the trade of Hull with
all parts of the world, and the increasing number of vessels
that entered and left Hull had impelled them to increase
their shipping facilities. He congratulated them on the suc-
cessful accomplishment of their task by the addition of that
magnificent dock to the resources of the port. His Majesty
then declared the dock open and named it “ King George
Dock.”

After their Majesties had left, the Joint Dock Committee
entertained 3,500 guests to luncheon. The toast of “ Success
to the dock ” was proposed by the Lord Mayor of Hull
(Mr. J. H. Hargreaves, J.P.), a prominent member of the
coal trade, who said that if with limited facilities Hull could
hold its own as ninth port of the Kingdom, the additional
accommodation and equipment provided at King George Dock
would materially strengthen their position. Sir Hugh Bell
said the South Yorkshire coalfield presented oppor-
tunities to Hull rivalled only by some northern ports or
perhaps by South Wales; and he looked forward to the day
when Hull might run a close race with the Tyne in the
number of millions of tons of coal which passed through
the docks for shipment to countries abroad. If this prophecy
had any foundation for it, then the extension of the dock
would not be long delayed. Lord Nunburnholme spoke of
the fast growing trade of Hull, and said that the coalfields
were creeping nearer and nearer to Hull and that he was
confident that great as had been the increase in the export
of coal, it would continue to grow. Sir W. S. Wright spoke
of the large and growing export of coal from Hull for which

he said the new dock was eminently adapted. Connected
by railway with Hull were nearly 400 collieries and it was
obvious that the port would soon need the additional
facilities.

It is stated that the fire which occurred at the Houghton
Main Colliery last week was caused by one of the workmen
lighting gasolene oil lamps with a piece of paper which he
dropped on to the floor. The latter, being saturated with
gasolene readily caught fire and the whole building was
soon involved. The roof of the lamp cabin was completely
destroyed and damage to the lamps was caused by the
falling timbers.

The Maltby Main Colliery Company held their annual
meeting at Sheffield on Monday, Mr. Maurice Deacon pre-
siding. The chairman, dealing in detail with the balance-
sheet, explained that the increase in the item loans and
interest (£131,360, as compared with 1-85,903) was due to
the additional expenditure in the equipment of the colliery,
and in the part-purchase of land and minerals. They had
erected and completed the main winding engine at No. 1
pit, a 42 in. cylinder engine. They had also erected an addi-
tional electrical plant for haulage, to use the exhaust steam
from the engine, so that the power would be obtained abso-
lutely free. They had completed the erection of 60 coke
ovens, with the by-product plant; 30 of them were at present
being lighted up, and would be producing coke shortly. The
plant was capable of producing from 60,000 to 70,000 tons
of coke a year, in addition to which there would be obtain-
able sulphate of ammonia, tar, and benzol. They were also
increasing the screens and sidings owing to the fact that
those already put down were not more than just equal to
the output already being obtained.

Underground development of the colliery had proceeded as
rapidly as circumstances would permit, and having regard to
all the facts, he thought the development might be regarded
as satisfactory. The depth of the shaft was very consider-
able—820 yds.—necessitating a very large, shaft pillar, about
half-a-mile in width, and before they could commence open-
ing out the working to get coal they had to head right
through the shaft pillar, which consumed very considerable
time. They had altogether, in leases taken, an area of
7,937 acres, and more or less interlocked with these leases
there was a further 1,590, making a total of 9,500 acres.
The company were the owners of 399 acres of freehold
minerals, which had been paid for, and 332 acres of free-
hold land which had also been paid for, and had also taken
on lease and negotiated for the building of 647 houses and
arranged for the immediate erection of a further 131 houses.

The output in 1913 was 415,000 tons, as against 294,184 in
1912. That, he thought, was a fairly rapid increase, in spite
of the difficulties that had had to be contended with—first,
the existence of the large shaft pillar, and secondly a trouble-
some roof, due to the great pressure to which it was sub-
jected, consequent upon its depth. At the same time the
coal, which was a beautiful seam, had been affected by the
pressure of the strata during the process of opening out, with
the result that the percentage of small coal was abnormally
high. These difficulties, he thought, were only temporary,
and that as they got further from the shaft pillar the pres-
sure of the strata would have a less serious effect, and that
the percentage of small coal would come within reasonable
limits. They had suffered from the usual shortage of labour
experience^ in a time of booming trade, aggravated by the
sinking of new pits all over the country, and the compara-
tively isolated position of their colliery—somewhat remote
from the attractions of the large towns. However, they
were now getting men as fast as they could build houses for
them. At present they were employing about 1,500 men.

Mr. Deacon, presiding on Monday over the annual meet-
ing of the Dinnington Main Coal Company Limited, said
the directors having had the opportunity of taking an interest
in an adjoining coalfield to the east of the Dinnington pro-
perty on very favourable terms, came to the conclusion that
it would be a very wise policy to accept the proposals which
were made. This carried with it the allotment to the Din-
nington Company of about 2,000 acres of Barnsley coal on a
very low royalty, at a very low cost—£2,500, or with costs,
£2,750—with the further consideration that they should take
£50,000 worth of ordinary shares in a new company, to be
promoted for the purpose of working an adjoining area of
about 9,000 acres. This they undertook to do as part of the
bargain by which they secured this very valuable concession
of 2,000 extra acres of coal. In addition to those 2,000 acres
they had also taken other leases lying between the existing
original area of the Dinnington Company and this new
2,000 acres. They had taken about 1,300 or 1,400 acres,
so that whereas the original area upon which the company
was promoted was about 5,100 acres, it had now assumed
the very large proportions of about 9,500, without any addi-
tional capital expenditure beyond the £2,750, and the obliga-
tion to subscribe £50,000 to the new company.

The output during the year ending December 31, 1913,
was 762,000 tons, which was the largest ever procured, and
he reminded them that all that came out of one shaft. The
men had been working very well for the most part, and
making very high wages—wages which would bring many
of them within the clutches of the income-tax. But these
high wages had caused a certain section of the men to absent
themselves from work a good deal—there had been about 22
per cent, absentees during the whole year.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

A trade correspondent says certain municipal authorities
in southern Lancashire have decided to obtain samples of
coal with a view to testing the same before entering into
contracts. Captain H .V. Hart-Davis, who is retiring
at the end of this month as agent for the Earl of Ellesmere’s
estates and colliery properties in south-east Lancashire,
entertained the whole of the members of the managing and
clerical staffs to a garden party at his residence, Wardley
Hall, Worsley, on Saturday afternoon, June 27. During
the afternoon, Captain Hart-Davis, who has acted as
agent for Lord Ellesmere for nearly 12 years, was presented
with a quantity of valuable silver plate, subscribed to by
members of the staffs.

Notts and Derbyshire.

The Royal Visit.

The coalmining industry figured prominently in the pre-
sentations which were made to their Majesties, the King
and Queen, during their tour of Nottinghamshire and Derby-
shire last week. At Mansfield, the Duke of Portland
presented Sir Arthur Markham, M.P. for the division; at
Forest Town, his Grace presented Mr. R. M. Knowles

(chairman of the Bolsover Colliery Company), Mr. J. P.
Houfton (managing director of the company), Mr. J.
Bingley, agent, and Mr. W. H. Carter, manager of Crown
Farm Colliery, while the following officials of the Notts
Miners’ Association were also introduced to their Majesties :
—Mr. J. G. Hancock, M.P., agent, Mr. C. Bunfield,
secretary, Mr. W. Carter, assistant secretary, and Mr. L.
Spencer, treasurer; with the last named, her Majesty
chatted for some moments. At Clown, Mr. S. Evans, a
colliery manager, in the employ of the Bolsover Colliery
Company, who is also chairman of the local rural district
council, was presented by the Duke of Portland, and also
the following officials of the Derbyshire Miners’ Associa-
tion :—Mr. Barnet Kenyon, M.P. (general agent), Mr. Frank
Hall (corresponding secretary), Mr. James Martin (presi-
dent), and Mr. W. Sewell (vice-president). Amongst those
presented at Ilkeston was Col. the Right Hon. J. E. B. Seely,
D.S.O., son of Sir Charles Seely, Bart., of the Babbington
Coal Company, and also Aid. A. Henshaw, the local repre-
sentative of the Derbyshire Miners’ Association ;whilst at
Heanor, this honour was conferred on Mr. H. R. Watson,
ex-President of the Midland branch of the National Associa-
tion of Colliery Managers, who is chairman of the local
district council.

During their visit to Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
last week, their Majesties stayed at Forest Town, a colliery
village two miles from Mansfield, and paid a visit of inspec-
tion to one of the miners’ cottages.

Kent.

It is stated that the formal transfer of the Guilford
Colliery—one of the Concessions group of companies which
has been purchased by a French firm for £150,000—will
take place as from July 15. They have also taken over the
manager, Mr. O. H. Taylor, and the work of sinking to the
coal measures will be pushed on immediately.

It is reported that the Soc. Metallurgique du Hainaut
have taken a large interest in the Kentish Coalfield and that
other steel and iron companies are investigating the field
with the object of following this example.

Somersetshire.

Consternation in Kingswood and Hanham was caused dur-
ing last week by the news that all the local collieries were
to be closed. Mr. William Whitefield, the Bristol miners’
agent, has been informed by the colliery owners that they
would not be able to continue the pits after this week. The
pits affected are the two Kingswood pits, known as Speed-
well and Deep Pit, and the Parkfield and Hanham collieries.
The numbers of union men who will be affected at the
different pits named are :—Deep Pit, 395; Speedwell, 366 ;
Kingswood and Parkfield, 395; Hanham, 340—a total of
workmen belonging to the union of 1,498. In addition to
these numbers, there are non-unionists, officials, and top
ground men employed at the collieries, from 400 to 500,
making in all about 2,000 employees. Meetings of the
miners of the district and of the principal citizens have been
held to consider the matter. The miners have decided to
obtain advice on the point of whether there is ground for
action against the company to recover one week’s money in
lieu of notice. It is also intended to bring the matter before
the Government by getting the question raised in the House
of Commons.

Scotland.

Carron Company and Gadder Compensation Claims.

On the occasion of his leaving the district, Mr. John Duff,
manager of Blairknowe and Glengarnock pits of the Glen-
garnock Iron and Steel Company Limited, has been pre-
sented by the workmen and officials with an inlaid Sheraton
bookcase. His sister, Miss Duff, was made the recipient of
an olivine and pearl pendant.

At Glasgow on the 24th ult., Sheriff Mackenzie heard
various applications under the Workmen’s Compensation Act
arising out of claims of the widows and children of the
various workmen who lost their lives in the disaster in the
Cadder Pit on August 3 last year. Twenty workmen were
involved in the disaster. Mr. J. C. Allan stated that the
claims of the various widows had been adjusted, and various
sums had been paid into court under the Workmen’s Com-
pensation Act. Following the promise of Mr. Pate, the
general manager of the Carron Company, owners of the pit,
made at the Board of Trade enquiry, when he stated that
the Carron Company would provide adequately for the
dependants, especially for the widows and children, a scheme
had been proposed whereby for a period of 16 years and
during their widowhood the Carron Company would pay to
the widows the sum of 8s. per week, and for each child until
it was 16 years of age, or had commenced to earn its live-
lihood earlier, the sum of 3s. per week, said sums not to
exceed 26s. a week. It was proposed that the sums under
the Workmen’s Compensation Act, amounting to £2,539,
should be paid into the scheme. The Carron Company were
making a first payment of £4,000 to amplify the funds of
the trust. Incidentally Mr. Allan stated that this was the
first trust which had been formed in Great Britain of such a
nature. In the circumstances, Mr. Allan moved the court
to allow an immediate payment to widows of the various
sums of compensation, in order that the trust might be
carried out. Sheiiff Mackenzie made an order accordingly.

Dr. Robert Thomas Moore presided last week at the ordi-
nary general meeting of the Niddrie and Benhar Coal Com-
pany Limited, at Edinburgh. In moving the adoption of
the report, Dr. Bruce said that during the year the working
of the pits had been seriously hampered by the Leith Dock
strike, which practically stopped the pits for six weeks, and
had had the effect of reducing their profit by £6,000 to
£7,000. Notwithstanding this stoppage, the total output
for the year was only 19,000 tons less than that of 1912-13.
The mines which they were driving to the sea coal were
progressing steadily, and they hoped soon to get some addi-
tional output from them for the Newcraighall Colliery. The
outstanding feature of the year’s trading had been the
increasing cost of working coal, and this had been caused by
the high rate of wages, the decreasing amount of work done
by the men, the additional costs due to mining legislation,
and to increased taxation. They heard a great deal nowa-
days from Labour leaders about the necessity for shorter
hours and for higher wages, and politicians, who knew little
about mining, backed them up, and passed legislation which
made mining difficult and increased costs, saying lightly that
the industry could easily afford it. He could assure them