August 7, 1914.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

325

jetties‘and approach gantries have already been provided.
This indicates a change of practice on their part, present
conditions being that the railway companies hold the tips in
order that the greatest expedition in loading may be ensured
by having the coal under one control from pit to port.

The Little Vein Red Ash Colliery, Rudry, was to have
been sold by auction last week, but no open offer was made,
it being stated that private negotiations are in progress.

The United National Company took over on Saturday the
Standard Collieries, Ynyshir, in pursuance of the agreement
which has previously been reported in this column. About
1,400 men are employed in the Standard undertakings,
which has an output of 400,000 tons per annum.

On Wednesday the magisterial decision was given in the
cases heard at Abertillery. Saturday was the fourth day’s
proceedings in connection with the Home Office prosecution
against the owners, the agent, the manager, and a fireman
at a Blaina colliery. The fireman was summoned for not
making thorough inspection on May 25 of his district in
No. 3 Griffin Colliery; the manager for not securing an
adequate amount of ventilation in a particular place where
gas was found; and the agent and owners (J. Lancaster and
Company) for breach of statutory regulations. Among the
witnesses have been H.M. inspectors, as well as colliery
managers and others, technical testimony being abundant.
The main facts—as to appearance of gas in a cavity—have
already been stated in this column. At the close of the
proceedings on Saturday, the magistrates announced that
they would take time to consider their decision. This they
gave on Wednesday, fining the fireman 50s., and dismissing
the charge against all the others.

Northumberland and Durham.

Collieries as Tenant Farmers—The Teams Cokeworks.

On Saturday the foundation stones of 12 aged miners’
homes were laid in the picturesque little village of
Ebchester. The cost of the group of buildings is estimated
at 42,200, and towards this amount the six collieries taking
part in the scheme have .£1,456 in hand. The Consett Iron
Company has promised a donation of 4200.

The Council of the Northumberland Agricultural Society
has decided that the Scremerston Coal Company is not a
tenant farmer. This somewhat obvious fact was decided
at a meeting of the council, when the coal company was
disqualified from taking prizes in the competition for
Border-Leicester sheep. This breed of sheep is owned in
large numbers by the coal company.

Messrs. T. Horton and Son, mining contractors, took
possession of Tranwell Colliery on Monday, and it is to
be re-opened shortly. The colliery has been closed for some
years, but the new management hope to have it available
for landsale purposes in the course of a few weeks.

Mr. Peter Kay, who has been acting as surveyor for the
Tanfield group of collieries, will this week take up the
position of assistant surveyor to the Ashington Coal Com-
pany. Mr. Kay is a son of Mr. Robert Kay, J.P., the
late manager of the South Tanfield. Colliery.

It has been stated upon reliable authority that the
London and North-Western Railway Company have
intimated to the N.E.R. that they are unable to convey
mineral traffic from the latter company west of Tebay. It
is at the latter station that the two companies’ lines
converge.

On the 30th ult., at Newcastle Bankruptcy Court, before
Mr. Registrar Dendy, Mr. Victor Amedeo Montaldi,
carrying on business as a coal exporter, at 33, Sandhill,
Newcastle, appeared for his first public examination. It
was stated that the gross liabilities amounted to
4422 10s. lid., and that the amount expected to rank for
dividend was 4253 13s. 9d. The assets were 4251 2s. 10d.,
leaving a deficiency of 42 10s. lid. In 1912, debtor said,
he was appointed Consular Agent for Italy, and he held that
position until June 25 last. He resigned his position as
Consular Agent. The examination was adjourned to
August 13.

The Team By-Product Coke Company Limited, announce
that their patent by-product ovens with coal washery and
by-product recovery plant complete, situate at Dunston, in
nearest proximity to the shipping staiths, are expected to
be started up in September. Messrs. August Reichwald
Limited, London and Newcastle, are the sole agents for
the sale of the firm’s coke for export.

Cumberland.

The Iron Trade—Explosion at Allerdale Colliery.

The Cumberland iron trade is only in a quiet state. In
fact, things are exceedingly dull. As far as the haematite
iron trade on the West Coast goes, buying and selling are
still very restricted, and the international situation has not
been without its adverse influences. Makers were not
without hope, nevertheless, a week ago that the autumn
might witness some revival of activity, but that, for the
time being, at any rate, has been dashed by what has
occurred in the Near East. Under the circumstances,
therefore, the utmost that can be hoped for is that the
output and prices will be maintained. Bessemer mixed
numbers are quoted at from 64s. to 65s. per ton f.o.b. at
the usual ports, with warranty at cash at 61s. per ton, and
special iron at about 70s. There are 22 furnaces in blast;
14 in Cumberland and eight in North Lancashire. In West
Cumberland the Workington Iron and Steel Company have
three furnaces blowing at Moss Bay, three at Derwent and
two at Old Side—a total of eight; and Millom, Distington
and Cleator Moor have each two in draught. In the
Furness district, Barrow have five furnaces in blast, North
Lonsdale two and Carnforth one. The rail market is not
very active at the moment, but there are at least prospects
of business. Contracts for 28,000 and 30,000 tons are to
be placed by Australia, and it is hoped that these will be
booked in this country.

The forty by-product coke ovens at Risehow, near
Maryport, belonging to the Flimby and Broughton Moor
Colliery Company, have been damped down, owing to
the closing of the company’s pit at Watergate a fortnight
ago. Coal could be procured from other collieries for carry-
ing on the ovens, but the men refused to unload it. Over
100 men will be thrown, idle, in addition to the 300 employed
at Watergate. The stoppage of the coke ovens will
seriously affect the West Cumberland By-product Works,
which are adjoining, and which are largely dependent on
the coke ovens for tar, etc.

Three men were killed and one injured by an explosion at
the Allerdale Colliery Company’s William Pit, Great Clifton,
near Workington, on Tuesday morning. On account of the

miners’ holiday in Cumberland, the pit was not drawing
coal, and the men had descended at half-past five to lay
rails in the workings at a spot which is the lowest seam
in the colliery, 55 fathoms deep. Sanderson, the fireman,
who had charge of the shift, had, it appears, been some-
where near the back drift or return air course at the time
of the explosion, and had crawled up the drift, and was
found there by a man named John Barnes, who had been
sent to look at the pumps, which are driven by electricity.
It was about nine o’clock when Barnes descended the pit,
and on nearing the pumps, which are situated about a mile
in from the bottom of the shaft, he missed the light which
should have been there, and started shouting to the men.
He received no reply, and on going a little further in he was
alarmed to hear moaning. After wading through* water up
to the waist he came to the return airway, the door of which
was down, and on going in he found Sanderson lying in a
semi-conscious state. With considerable difficulty he carried
the injured man to a tub, into which he placed him, and
conveyed him to the top dip. He immediately telephoned
from the drift top to the manager’s office. Help was sent
immediately, and Sanderson, who was very seriously injured,
was taken up the shaft. Willing hands, under the leader-
ship of Mr. George McDonald, the manager, Mr. R.
McFarland, the under-manager, Mr. James Wilson, the
former under-man’ager, and Mr. John Wilson, manager of
Buckhill Pit (who had volunteered to help), descended the
mine to make a search for the missing ones, and soon suc-
ceeded in finding their bodies. In the meantime two rescue
teams who had been sent for from the Whitehaven collieries
had arrived with their rescue appliances, but their aid was
not required. When found the bodies were so mutilated
that they were hardly recognisable. The “Lick Bank’’
seam, where the accident happened, was started at this
colliery quite recently, and the place where the explosion
occurred was the pump house in the main dip and intake
air course. The motor which drives the pump was blown
to pieces, and the engine house as well, and much damage
has been done to the roof, on the sidings, etc., though the
damage in the workings is not extensive. The work of the
search party was attended with considerable risk, owing to
the presence of gas, and the manager and others of the
party were affected by the fumes and had to return some
distance outbye to breathe fresh air before proceeding.
Sanderson’s condition prevented him giving any coherent
account of what actually occurred, and he could only say
that when Wilkinson, the pumpman, started the motor an
explosion took place. The “ Lick Bank ’’ is naturally a wet
seam. Mr. L. H. Fletcher, managing director of the Aller-
dale Coal Company, the owners of the pit, Messrs. Cochran,
Blair and Steel, Whitehaven, descended the pit after the
bodies had been removed, and inspected the scene of the
explosion.

Sinking operations are proceeding satisfactorily at the
Flimby and Broughton Moor Colliery Company’s new pit
at Risehow. The first shaft has reached a good depth, and
there is every indication that the Little Main will be the
first seam to be struck. A start has also been made with
the sinking of the second shaft.

Yorkshire.

Wheatley Rescue Station—Dr. Haldane's Investigation-
Effect of the War on the New Sinkings—Labour
Shortage at Maltby.

It is understood that the fine new rescue station at
Wheatley, Doncaster, which is to serve the new collieries
around this large and increasingly important colliery centre,
will shortly be fully equipped and fitted out. The station
has been completed for several months now, and forms quite
an imposing building, from which some of the collieries,
Bentley and Brods worth, for instance, although a few miles
away, are visible. It will be recalled that several months
ago experiments were carried out upon an extensive scale
by Dr. J. S. Haldane, M.D., F.R.S., the eminent scientist,
with self-contained rescue apparatus for use in irrespirable
atmospheres. These were made at Bentley Colliery in part,
and were the subject of a most interesting and exhaustive
report by Prof. Haldane to the Doncaster Coal Owners’
Committee (Gob Fire Research). As a result of this report
it was hoped to decide upon the particular make of rescue
apparatus with which to equip the Doncaster station. But
the report showed that many serious defects existed in the
present form of apparatus. It was, therefore, resolved to
allow a certain time to elapse to enable the makers to
remedy these defects, and the professor was asked to make
a further test three months hence, in order to see if the
rescue apparatus upon the market at the time had been
improved, and could be used without the serious risks here-
tofore obtaining.

In the meantime the various makes of apparatus have
been overhauled and improved, and it is understood that
Dr. Haldane’s second test has just been brought to a
conclusion at Bentley Colliery. Our correspondent gathers
that these tests have been of a most searching, thorough
and rigorous character. Prof. Haldane has had the valuable
assistance of officials and others interested in the matter,
also of Mr. McGaskell, late of the London Fire Brigade,
who several months ago was appointed instructor to t)ie
men to be trained at the Doncaster Rescue Station. The
issue of Dr. Haldane’s second report upon this interesting
and absorbing subject may, therefore, be looked for in the
near future, and upon its conclusions wTill doubtless depend
the form of apparatus selected. It is understood that the
rescue station will be manned by a permanent brigade of
10 or 12 men, available to a call at a moment’s notice, and
that half-a-dozen men or so from each colliery will be
trained. With the fitting up of the station the Doncaster
district will be equipped and ready for all emergency.

The European crisis early had its effect on the Doncaster
district in regard to those pits where Continental labour
is employed. The German Colliery, to sink which arrange-
ments are now being rapidly made at Harworth, was the
chief sufferer, but there are other prospective pits in the
neighbourhood w’here Germans are also employed. Harworth
has been in the somewhat peculiar position of having
Austrians, Italians, Germans and French among those
engaged in the boring and freezing processes—the German
element largely preponderating. As soon as war was
declared between Austria and Servia the Austrian employees
immediately left to respond to the call of their country,
and at the time these lines were being written the Germans
w’ere preparing to go, and the Italians were expecting their
call. The latest report from Harworth is that it is
deserted, and unless the foreign labour is replaced by
British, work looks like coming to a pause until the crisis
is over, especially as it is reported the undertaking is being
financed from Germany. Meanwhile, the boring and

freezing operations are proceeding satisfactorily. One bore-
hole has reached a depth of 276 yds., and the others, of
which 11 have so far been put down, are about 260 yds.
deep.

Men are still wanted at the Maltby Main Colliery, where
work is somewhat seriously handicapped by the lack of the
human element. This is partly due to the situation of the
pit, and also to the fact that the housing accommodation
is not nearly large enough. Meanwhile the colliery
company are doing all in their power to remove the draw-
backs. Motor conveyances are being run from places near
at hand to bring the men out to their wonk, and houses
are being erected and leased with all the rapidity possible.
The prospect of earning good money at Maltby are as rosy
as at any of the pits in the district, and it must therefore
be the lack of attractions in the place itself, or the dislike
of travelling, which has led to the shortage of men.

The Parkgate Iron and Steel Company Limited have
attained their jubilee during the present year, and the event
has been celebrated by the opening of palatial new
offices, erected on a site forming part of the old Parkgate
House. Mr. J. E. Knight, of Rotherham, has been the
architect, and Mr. Walter Beeden, of Thrybergh, the
contractor.

The Court of Appeal, consisting of the Masters of the
Rolls and Lords Justices Swinfen Eady and Pickford, have
delivered their reserved judgment in the appeal by Mr.
Arthur Francis Hastings Medhurst, as Lord of the Manor
of Kippax from a judgment of Mr. Justice Warrington in
an action brought against him by the Rev. Emill Broughton
Smith (vicar of Kippax) and the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sioners. Mr. Justice Warrington had made a declaration
that the minerals under a portion of the glebe allotted to
the vicar, under the Enclosure Act of 1871, had passed from
the Lord of the Manor, and was the property of the vicar
for the time being. The Master of the Rolls reviewed the
provisions of the Enclosure Act of 1871, and said he had
come to the conclusion that the appeal should be dismissed.
On the other hand, Lord Swinfen Eady and Lord Justice
Pickford considered that the appeal should be allowed, and
a declaration made that the minerals in dispute remained
vested in the Lord of the Manor. By a majority of the
Court, therefore, the appeal, was allowed.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

The employees of the Bispham Hall Colliery Company,
last week, presented an illuminated address to Mr. and Mrs.
James Marsden, who recently celebrated their golden
wedding. The address expressed congratulations and
thanked Mr. and Mrs. Marsden for their enterprise in
developing the colliery and works. Mr. and Mrs. Marsden
made suitable acknowledgments.

Notts and Derbyshire.

Progress of the Mansfield Railway—Colliery Ambulance
Brigade Requisitioned—Accident Relief.

Mr. J. P. Houfton (chairman), in moving the adoption
of the report and accounts at the half-yearly meeting of the
Mansfield Railway Company, which was held at the Victoria
Hotel, Nottingham, on Friday, July 31, stated that the
total sum expended on the line to June 30 had been
4312,675 14s. lid. They had now open for traffic five miles
74 chains, from Clipstone Junction on the Great Central
to the Mansfield goods station, and since the last meeting
the portion of the line from Mansfield Colliery to the
Mansfield goods yard had been opened. In the absence of
unforeseen troubles the line would be completed by the end
of March for mineral and goods traffic, and about six months
later for passenger traffic. They had obtained powers to
construct a line to connect with the Rufford Colliery, which
was being developed, and where it was hoped that 1,000 tons
a day would soon be raised, whilst in time 1,500 tons
or 2,000 tons a day would be raised. They had also powers
to construct a line to the new Clipstone Colliery, which the
Bolsover Colliery Company propose to sink in the near
future. That colliery would be entirely on their line, and
it was expected that it would have an output of about
1,000,000 tons a year. The Welbeck Colliery was rapidly
approaching the seam of coal to which it was being sunk.
Owing to the development of minerals which had taken place
since the line was projected, they had had to make exten-
sions and to build large concentration sidings near
Clipstone, and they had obtained power to raise further
capital to the amount of 4150,000, which the directors
proposed to issue, as to 475,000 in 5 per cent, preference
shares and the balance in ordinary shares. He was glad
to say that the Bolsover Company board and friends had
applied for the whole of the ordinary share capital, and
arrangements had been made for underwriting the whole of
the preference shares. The issue of the new capital and
debentures would be made shortly. The prospects of the
earnings of the line were, so far as their advisers were
able to judge, exceedingly satisfactory. The report was
adopted, and the meeting authorised the creation of new
capital and the issue of debentures.

The War Office, on Monday, communicated with Mr. S.
C. Wardell, of Doe Hill House, Alfreton, asking him if
he could furnish a division of ambulance men by Wednesday
from his district to accompany an expeditionary force. Mr.
.Wardell, who is general manager of Birchwood Colliery, of
the Babbington Coal Company, has for years taken a
prominent part in ambulance work connected "with collieries.

Presiding at the 125th quarterly meeting of the Midland
District Miners’ Fatal Accident Relief Society, at Derby,
Mr. R. E. Martin pointed out that the expenditure was
increasing at a faster rate than the contributions. The
society’s family continued to grow at a tremendous pace,
and there were now 302 widows and 414 children in receipt
of benefit. Compared with the numbers a year ago, these
figures showed increases of 22 and 61 respectively. In the
case of the children the advance was largely due to the
fact that the age at which benefit ceased had been altered
from 13 to 14. Since the society started it had paid benefits
in over 1,000 cases, a wonderful record of beneficent work.
The quarterly report showed a membership of 45,717, an
increase of 4,528 on the corresponding quarter of last year.
Twenty-three members had died, an increase of six/ and
12 widows and 28 children had come on the funds, increases
of four and ten respectively. Members’ contributions
amounted to 42,478, an advance of 4222, funeral allowances
to 4357, an increase of 4177, and annuities to 41.635, an
increase of 4153. The balance carried to the credit of the
benefit fund was 4462, as compared with 4617 for the same
three months of last year. With a view to the avoidance
of the long-continued depreciation of the value of the