618 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 18, 191L confidence in the real value of the goods delivered. It is a common practice to consign goods—say, a particular class of machinery—to an agent, but to draw on him in full against documents or at short sight, irrespective of the purpose to which the machinery is to be put. Any maker who values his reputation and that of his machinery will not consider any sale transaction closed until that machinery is in use and giving satisfaction. Further than this, an agent r elieved of responsibility for machinery which he did not make, and for delays and difficulties which are not of his seeking, will work on a finer margin to get business. Other Markets. For various reasons German competition in electrical goods in Canada is not nearly so keen as it is in other British dominions. The most important reason, which has also seriously affected British trade, is that the Canadian fire underwriters have drawn up their code of standards on the basis of the standards of the American fire underwriters. The German consul in Bombay reports that in the year 1912 electrical machines were imported into India to the value of 3,613,000 rupees. As far as power machinery is concerned, electrical machinery for use in connection with water-power plants has the best future. There are at present in the country two large works of this nature, the one on the Cauvery Falls, in the southern province of Mysore, from which transmissions have been carried to the Kolar goldfields and the towns of Mysore and Bangalore, and the Tata hydro-electric works in Lanauli, near Bombay, which is to supply power for 900,000 spindles and 7,500 looms in Bombay. The total number of electric plants in India is already large, and is increasing. The greater part of the trade —in fact, about 90 per cent.—is now supplied from the United Kingdom, whilst Germany and the United States follow a long way in the rear. According to a German consular report, although the demand for electrical apparatus of all kinds cannot grow so rapidly in China as in Japan, the market for such goods is capable of steady expansion. One or two . A Coal Crank at Woolooncabra Wharf, Brisbane. Shows the ram “ out ” with hopper held plumb over ship’s hatch ready to lower. European firms have their own establishments in Shanghai, while American and Japanese firms are also very active. Apart from the establishment of electricity supply stations in the largei' towns, the development of mines is worth the attention of electrical firms. Mine- owners who have hitherto used primitive Chinese appliances are beginning to realise the advantages of employing up-to-date machinery. In attempting to do business in Northern China, it should be borne in mind that, whether for import or export, direct connection with the native firms should be avoided in view of the existing unsatisfactory organi- sation of native trade. Business must be confined to the foreign firms established on the market, who interest themse’ves in the importation and exportation of all kinds of goods. A French consular report states that it is estimated that in the near future Japan will be as well provided with hydro-electrical installations as any country in the world. Turbines, which Japan does not yet manu- facture, are imported chiefly from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Belgium. Three European firms, Anglo-Swedish, Swiss, and German, respectively, practically control the market. In Japan there are four or five electrical machinery manufacturing companies, three of which are affiliated to and supported by similar important American concerns, which supply their material. Dynamos and electric motors of Japanese manufacture are even exported to neighbouring countries, such as China; the imports of such machinery are, however, considerable, and increasing at a rapid rate, low-priced German goods being mostly in demand; other countries participating in the trade are the United States and the United Kingdom. The utilisation of the vast avail ible water power for electrical purposes has recently given rise to a very considerable trade in electrical material0. In prac- tically all lines, German trade holds a commanding position, and this market < ffers a particularly favourable opportunity for British firms to secure some of the trade which has previously been in German hands. From the very'beginning of Spanish electrical business, German firms have laid themselves out to secure the trade, and companies like the Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellschaft, Siemens Sjhuckert, and Bergmanns have made a point of sending to Spain competent engineers with a thorough knowledge of Spanish. As the busi- ness has grown, moreover, they have started their own branches, which have worked up a rapidly increasing business. The bulletin, which runs to 47 pages, deals at greater or less length with the outlet for electrical goods in a large number of other countries, including Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador, Chile, Argentine Republic, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Roumania, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Manchuria, Corea, and Egypt. COAL SHIPPING AT BRISBANE. Coal is shipped at Brisbane from the Government railway wharf, which is situated on the south bank of the River Brisbane. The source of supply is about 25 or 30 miles to the west of Brisbane, at Ipswich, which coal field produces three-quarters of the total output and is the largest in Queensland—it has an area of over 11,000 square miles, and contains 15 seams of coal. The coal is conveyed by rail in special wagons which support movable hoppers, the wagon with the hopper weighing about 10 tons gross and having a net carrying capacity of 6A tons. The coal is of a soft and friable nature, and is, there- fore, not discharged at the wharf for storage in stacks oi' bins but is shipped direct, an electrically-operated gantry transporter crane of particular construction and American origin being used for the purpose. This coal-shipping equipment is capable of loading at an average speed of about 150 tons per hour, the cost of which works out at undei' Id. per ton. The gantry spans a line of rails and the plant can be travelled on a track extending along the wharf frontage for a distance of 260 ft.; a vessel can therefore be loaded without the necessity of changing its position and delivery effected through all the hatchways. It will be noticed from the illustration that the loading or jib end of this special coaling equipment is of horizontal type, as usual with a bridge transporter except that when not in use it is not raised from a hinge but is drawn back or telescoped. This telescopic jib can deliver at a distance of about 30 ft. overside, measured from the centre of the hopper wagon on the rail track; of this length about 3ft. is occupied by a fender pile and hanging fender against the face of the wharf. The method of shipment is as follows :—The wagon is moved under the gantry, the transporter crane then hoists the hopper from the wagon frame, the jib trolley travelling it out over the hold of the vessel, the hopper is then lowered and its bottom doors are opened by r eleasing a discharging catch. The highest position of delivery above high-water level with this equipment is about 36 ft. measured to the bottom of the discharge doors of the hopper when opened, the height of the deck of the wharf above high-water level being about 6 ft. The hoppers measure 12 ft. 6 in. by 7 ft. at the top, 6 ft. by 3 ft. 3 in. at the bottom, and have a depth of 6 ft. 10in., the doors when open extending 2 ft. 6in. below the bottom. It may be added that the wharf is of timber construc- tion, supported on a rock foundation which shelves deeply towards the river, the low-water depth being 24 ft., whilst a short distance out from the wharf it increases to 70 ft. About 170,000 tons of coal are shipped per annum from this wharf at Brisbane, there being, in addition to the special coaling equipment referred to, four 10-ton steam cranes which are used for loading smaller craft. The illustrations show different views of the wharf and the coaling equipment. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, September 17. The London coal trade during the past week has been very disappointing, and the attendance much below the usual average. As a rule the demand for house coal in September is good, but this year the trade is exceptionally slow. The railway companies are better able to deal with the daily quantities, although there are still some heavy delays both in loaded wagons and empties. The quantities coming forward are more than sufficient to meet all current requirements, and meanwhile colliery representatives are continuing a very firm attitude in relation to prices, and are confidently looking forward to an early prospect of colder weather, and certainly to the advance on October 1 of the winter contract prices. The South Yorkshire quali- ties have not been so plentiful lately on account of the Doncaster races, but the London market has been over-supplied. Best steams are a strong feature, but slacks have been selling at much reduced rates. South Yorkshire Hards are still quoted at 10s. 6d. to Ils., and Derbyshire steam at 10s. to 10s. 6d. The house coal trade is very quiet, but no change has yet been reported in the price. Coke also seems to be in better demand, and in some cases also gas coals are improving in volume of trade, if not in prices. It is reported that considerable pressure is felt in the South Wales collieries for steam coal for Government use, and the trade is brisk; more men could be empl >yed if they were available. So many men, however, are called up for service, or have enlisted both from this district and all the other districts, that the daily output must be considerably curtailed in every direction during the coming winter. Some of the Midland collieries have already given notice of a diminution in the monthly contract quantities of from 20 per cent, to 25 per cent, on account of the decreased output, thus bringing the accident or stoppage clause of the contract into operation. In the north, however, the lessened export trade is having a telling effect, and flooding the home markets with an overwhelming quantity of house and small coal. The shipping trade from the Mersey side is better than the Humber and Tyne side. The Stock Exchange is still closed, but there is a growing attendance of members in Throgmorton-street, and the suggestion of the proposed clearing house arrangement for German and English debts is gaining ground. The railway companies were better able to deal with the traffic during the past week, and colliery companies have been able to work better time, so that the tonnage for London has materially increased. The market, however, is steady, for although the actual consumption is small, yet the near approach of the winter months, and the recognition of the restriction in the output from the loss of so many men, is keeping the market fairly firm. The small nuts and slack market continues weak, and this may be accounted for largely by the irregular working of the cotton mills and other factories. Most of the coal reaching London during the week has gone to replenish stocks, as very few householders have yet started the ordinary sitting-room fires. There are many of the merchants who advocate an early rise in public prices, as they maintain that every opportunity has been given to the ordinary general public to lay in a winter stock at summer prices, and it has meant the depletion of many of the stocks at the wharves and depots, and now that it is necessary to put coal on the ground again, the double expense of putting it down and picking it up, with the consequent loss in breakage, Ac., will be an expensive item for the winter trade. Odd lots of Yorkshire coal, both house coal and hard steam, are finding their way into the London market, and whilst the restriction in navigation is still in force by the War Office, the export trade is moving very slowly, so that increasing quantities of north country stuffs are likely to come into the River Thames. On Monday’s market 32 contract boats were returned as arriving in the Pool, but only two on Wednesday. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.'s Report. Friday, September 11.—The seaborne house coal market was again without alteration to-day, no Durham or York- shire cargoes being on offer Cargoes 22. Monday, September 14. — The seaborne house coal market was very quiet to-day, with no enquiry for either Durham or Yorkshire cargoes at present. Cargoes 32. Wednesday, September 16.—The seaborne house coal market was quiet again to-day, with no business reported. Cargoes 2. We have received a copy of Report No. 66, British standard specification for copper alloy three-piece unions, for low and medium pressure British standard screwed copper tubes (primarily for domestic and similar work). This report has been issued by the Engineering Standards Committee, and the unions dealt with are intended for use with Tables I. and II. of the British standard specification for copper tubes (primarily for domestic and similar work) Report No. 61, which was issued in 1913. The price of the report is 5s. 2d. post free, and it may be obtained from any bookseller, or direct from the offices of the committee, 28, Victoria-street, Westminster. It is published for the committee by Messrs. Crosby Lockwood and Son, 7, Stationers’ Hall-court, E.C., and 5, Broadway, Westminster.