October 30, 1914 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 937 short time is certain in the near future. They urge them most earnestly, therefore, not to miss a shift, and to put by a sum every week for use later on. In no way will it be possible for the trustees to make advances or subs, should the colliery be stopped or be on short time. They would further say that, owing to the wood cutters in Russia and other countries having been called up to the Colours, next year’s supply of timber will be almost unobtainable. It may appear that an ample supply is at present in stock, but it will have to last till 1916. Anyone who wastes timber is, therefore, depriving his fellow workmen and himself of their jobs in time to come.” Kent. The channel by which the water can be tapped from one to the other of the Nos. 2 and 3 shafts at the Shakespeare Colliery (Kent Colliery Limited) at Dover has now been successfully completed by the engineers, and at present an 8 ft. heading is being driven into the seam of household coal. As soon as this is completed the Board of Trade Regulations will be complied with, and the working of the seam by full shifts can be commenced. It is hoped to com- plete the heading within the next week or two. At the meeting of the debenture holders in the various Kent Coal Concessions companies, called for the purpose of considering resolutions suspending the payment of deben- ture interest until six months after the war, the feeling of those present was in favour of the proposal, but it is neces- sary to call a further meeting at an interval of a fortnight. The directorate of Snowdown Colliery, near Dover, are appealing to their debenture holders and shareholders in their company for an issue of £50,000 in 7 per cent, prior lien bonds. The object of this issue is to carry down the second shaft to the “ Snowdown Hard ” seam —- about 500 ft.—the No. 1 shaft being already in this seam. These prior lien bonds are to constitute a first charge upon the whole of the assets and undertakings of the company, and are to be redeemable in cash at par on November 1, 1919. or at an earlier date, at a premium of 5 per cent. Scotland. Composite Props at Newbattle Colliery—Important Prose- cution at Kilmarnock. On the invitation of the Lothian Coal Company, the mein- bers of the Scottish branch of the National Association of Colliery Managers, to the number of 150, visited on Saturday last Newbattle Collieries, Newtongrange, for the purpose of inspecting the system of composite pit propping which has been successfully inaugurated in the pits there. The com- posite type of support used is a steel tube containing a wooden prop and renewable end pieces. The renewable end pieces, 6 to 9 in. long, are made of seasoned larch. It is claimed that the props are easily set, and they occupy a minimum space at the face, that they can be easily with- drawn, and that when even buried under a fall of roof can be recovered if they are seen. The workmen have a feeling of security when working with these supports, as the roof is allowed to creep down steadily on the props, while the latter, instead of weakening under the load, are strengthened. Old tubes may be utilised, such as those from water tube boilers or disused compressed air steel piping. An advantage is that these composite props can be conveniently made at collieries. In the course of the afternoon the visitors were entertained to luncheon by the Lothian Coal Company. Mr. Mungo Mackay, agent, who presided, indicated that the system, which was begun about three years ago, was now proving successful in every way. It took time and supervision to make it successful, but he claimed for these composite props that they possessed infinite possibilities for underground work. At the opening meeting of the 81st session of the Edin- burgh Geological Society, held on the 21st inst., Mr. H. M. Cadell, B.Sc., gave an address on “ The Mineral Resources of Canada,” with lantern illustrations. An explosion of gas occurred last week in the Kiltongue seam of the Millburn section, Skelly ton Colliery, Larkhall, three men being seriously burned about the face, neck, and arms. At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Friday, the 23rd inst., Sheriff J. A. T. Robertson gave judgment in a case in which William Houston Rodger, manager of Montgomeryfield Col- liery, Dreghorn, was charged with 10 contraventions of* the Coal Mines Act, 1911, and two breaches of the statutory regulations issued by the Home Office. The hearing of evidence had occupied the Court for two days. His lordship said the complaint bore that it was brought with the con- sent of the Right Hon. Reginald McKenna, one of his Majesty’s Secretaries of State. It was necessary under the statute, in his opinion, that the prosecutor, unless an inspec- tor, must prove that he had the consent in writing of the Secretary of State for the prosecution. In this case, how- ever, the only evidence of the consent of the Secretary of State which had been submitted was a letter upon Home Office official paper, obviously from a member of the Home Office staff, directed to the Lord Advocate, in which the signatory said he had the honour by direction of the Secre- tary of State to send copies of certain letters, and to request that he would be so good as to cause proceedings to be taken. Obviously this was not the writing of the Secretary of State, nor did it of itself show that any written consent of the Secretary of State ever existed. He should infer from its terms that the Secretary of State merely verbally told the signatory to send a letter in those terms to the Lord Advocate. That being so, one of the essential conditions of the charge was not complied with, part of the necessary proof was not included, and he must, therefore, find the case not proven. This judgment would apply to all the charges. The following shows the German output of coal, coke, &c., during August and the eight months ended therewith :— August. January—August. 1913. 1914.^ ^1913. 1914. Tons Tons. Tons. Tons. *1 Coal .......... 16,542,626 .8,477,214...127,318,635 .119,187,604 Lignite ....... 7,259,230 ..4,377,955 .. 53,658,980... 56,401,120 Coke........... 2,747.63' 1,522,250... 21,418,997... 20.127,970 Coal briquettes 507,693., 261,275 .. 3,910,817... 4,019,897 Lignite bri- quettes ....... 1,874,830...1,123,616... 11,031,566.. 14,529,090 The output of pig iron fell from 1,638,824 tons to 625,927 tons. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Anderson Foundry Company Limited. — The directors announce an interim dividend of 4s. 6d. per share, less income-tax. Babcock and Wilcox Limited.—The directors announce an interim dividend of 5 per cent., free of tax. British Electrical Engineering Company Limited.—In the Chancery Division on the 23rd inst., Mr. Justice Neville granted the petition of the British Electrical Engineering Company Limited for sanction to a reduction of capital. The company was incorporated in 1889, and there have been several reductions and reorganisations of capital. It is pro- posed to write off £235,732. Callender’s Cable and Construction Company Limited.— The directors have decided to pay the usual interim divi- dend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. Horden Collieries Limited.—The directors have resolved to recommend the payment of a dividend of 4 per cent., less income-tax, making 8 per cent, for the year. Lancashire Wagon Company Limited.—The report for the half-year ended September 30 last states that the revenue account shows a profit of £3,354, which, with the balance brought forward, <£954, makes £4,308. The directors recom- mend a dividend for the half-year at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, free of income-tax, on the ordinary shares, add- ing to the reserve fund £2,000, and carrying forward £755. Mather and Platt Limited.—The directors announce that the interim dividend of 5 per cent, on the ordinary shares, which had been postponed, will be paid on October 31. United States Seeel Corporation Limited.—The directors have declared quarterly dividends of J per cent, on the common stock and If per cent, on the preferred stock, this being a reduction in the former by f per cent., while the preferred dividend remains unchanged. Chairman Gary stated to the meeting that the reduction had been made reluctantly, but was deemed necessary owing to the present business conditions and the outlook for earnings in the near future. The statements submitted to the meeting show earn- ings for July $7,476,000, for August $7,585,000, and for September $7,215,000, making a total for the three months of $22,276,000, which compares with $20,458,000 in the June quarter, and $17,994,000 in the March quarter. The deduc- tions for depreciation, sinking funds on bonds of subsidiary companies,, and depreciation and reserve funds amount to $6,018,000, against $5,613,000 and $4,286,000 respectively in the two previous quarters; for sinking funds on the U.S. Steel Corporation bonds $1,576,000, against $1,547,000 and $1,512,000 respectively, leaving a net income of $14,682,000, against $13,298,000 and $12,196,0bu respectively. The interest on Steel Corporation bonds for the quarter amounts to $5,746,000, against $5,799,000 and $5,827,000, leaving a balance for dividends of $8,936,000, against $7,489,000 and $6,369,000. The common and preferred dividends for the quarter absorb $8,846,000, against $12,659,000 for the •June quarter, and after their reduction a surplus is left of $89,000, against a deficit for the June quarter of $5,160,000, and for the March quarter of $6,290,000. NEW COMPANIES. Metal Scrap Limited. — Private company. Registered office, 1 and 2, Old Pye-street, Westminster, S.W. Regis- tered October 19. To acquire from S. O. Cowper-Coles, and work certain precesses for (1) the detinning of tin scrap, (2) recovery of zinc from galvanised iron, (3) removal of enamel from enamelled iron, and to carry on business of smelters, refiners, rollers, assayers, and manufacturers of and dealers in minerals, metals, ores, etc. Nominal capital, £12,000 in £1 shares. Directors :—S. O. Cowper- Coles and J. J. G. Gordon. Sanders (W.) and Company Limited.—Private company. Registered office, 7, Oxford-street, Birmingham. Regis- tered October 17. Electricians, mechanical engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £1,000 in £1 shares. Directors :—W. Sanders, 63, Fernley-road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, manu- facturer; H. Butcher, Ashhurst, Rosemary Hill-road, Streetley, near Birmingham, merchant. Qualification of directors, 50 shares. Wiring Limited.—Private company. Registered office, 90, Charing Cross-road, S.W. Registered October 22. Electrical engineers, electricians, manufacturers of elec- trical appliances, etc. Nominal capital, £2,500 in £1 shares. Directors : I. Davies, 12, Hyde Park-place, Hyde Park, W., builder; B. Davis, 12, Hyde Park-place, Hyde Park, W., electrical engineer. Qualification of directors, £20. This list of new companies is taken from the Daily Register specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons Limited, company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C. Notice is given in the London Gazette that the following companies, unless cause be shown to the contrary, will be struck off the register, and tlw companies dissolved :— Anthracite Supply Association Limited; Bettws Colliery Company Limited; Bulgarian Coal Syndicate Limited; Gwvs Anthracite Collieries Company Limited; Isleworth Coal Companv Limited; London Steel and Oil Furnace Com- pany Limited: Pantmawr Anthracite Collieries Limited; Pensher Foundry Company Limited: Railway and Colliery Accessories Companv Limited; Solidified Petroleum Com- pany Limited; Solidol Limited: Stanllyd Syndicate Limited; Wardle Colliery Company Limited. Coal in Iceland.—According to a Reykjavik message, the war has caused such a scarcity of coal in Iceland that the islanders have themselves commenced mining. The result is the discovery of good coalfields on the west coast and in proximity to a navigable bay. It is believed that as the torings are advanced further into the mountains the seams will prove still more remunerative. Hull Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of coal from Hull for the week ending Tuesday, October 20, is as follows :—Amsterdam, 982 tons: Ahns, 2,140: Barce- lona, 1,837: Buenos Ayres. 3.002: Bombay. 1,100: Chris- tiania, 1,941: Christiansund, 52; Copenhagen. 2.268; Dun- kirk, 1.240: Drontheim, 251: Genoa, 1,996; Gefle, 7.833: Guernsey. 1.360: Gothenburg. 2,616; Harlingen. 838: Hernosund. 2.956; Halmstad, 950: Leghorn. 3,981: Oxelo- sund, 4,247: Rouen. 15,173; Rotterdam, 751: Terneuzen, 3,666—total, 61,180 tons. Corresponding period last year, 126,420 tons. THE FREIGHT MARKET. Chartering continues to be done on very attenuated lines in the outward freight market just now. The latest Admir- alty notices are not likely to stimulate business, for they report the restriction of Thames navigation to certain chan- nels, and the existence of a German minefield in the region of Tory Island, off the north coast of Ireland. Unless some drastic method of dealing with these mines and their layers can be adopted, it seems not improbable that shipping will be scared out of the market to an even greater extent than is at present the case. Shippers on the East Coast are feel- ing the strain most. Owners continue to be very reluctant to send their vessels into the North Sea, if freight offer else- where, and, for such tonnage as is available from East Coast ports, very high rates of freight are being charged to cover the risks. In the opinion of most shippers, these rates are much too high, but, unfortunately, owners have the whip hand in this matter, for there is, as yet, no other way of getting coal from, say, the Tyne to the Continent save by making use of shipping. On the North-East Coast, rates for the Mediterranean and French ports have literally bounded up. At the time of writing, Genoa has been done at 12s. from the Tyne, whilst Port Said is up to from 12s. 6d. to 13s. Other Mediterranean ports are correspond- ingly dear. Nothing is being done Adriatic-wise. For Northern French ports, 8s. to Havre and up to 8s. 9d. to Rouen are representative rates. The Bay has Bayonne at 10s. The Baltic is neglected. Coasting business is being done at the moderate rate of 4s. 3d. to London, but, in view of the latest Admiralty notice, an advance on this figure is sure to be sought. All East Coast ports are feeling very acutely the tonnage shortage. In addition to war risks, owners say the shortage is intensified by the fact that the Admiralty has requisitioned a large number of collier vessels, whilst a further excuse for the high freights is made from the fact that homeward rates are so bad that, in order to make the journey out and home at all remunerative, high outward rates must be charged. Another factor is the detention of vessels at foreign ports; 30 steamers are at present laid up at Havre, for example. The West Coast is, of course, largely exempt from the disturbances due to mines and so forth. At South Wales, rates, although high, are not nearly so excessive as those at the Tyne. There is, too, a better supply of tonnage on offer. Consequently, chartering is a good deal brisker. Rates in all directions are well sustained, and, in several instances, advances are being sought. Generally speaking, homeward rates are well maintained. The North Pacific continues firm at 38s. 9d. for prompt, and 36s. 3d. for January. Australia still holds off for wheat tonnage, but prospects are improving. The nitrate ports are quoted up to 36s. 3d. for Mediterranean ports. The rice ports have a fair enquiry for tonnage. The East Indies are slow. The Mediterranean and ore trades are dull. America is firm, and fairly busy both for grain and cotton, but lumber and deals are quite neglected. The River Plate is firm, and tonnage supplies are short; shippers, however, hesitate to comply with owners’ notions for December and later positions. Tyne to Bordeaux, 3,200, 9s. 9d.; Bagnoli, 4,900, 12s. 3d.; Bayonne, 2,500, 10s.; Dieppe, 1,900, 7s. 9d.; Genoa, 5,000, 10s. 6d. ; 4,000, 10s. 8|d.; 5,500, 10s. 6d.; 5,500, Ils.; 4,000, 11s. 3d.; 4,200, Ils.; 4,900, 12s.; Havre, l,7C0, 7s. 9d., 750, 8s. 9d., two loading places; 1,400, 8s.; London, 3,800, 4s.; 3,400, 4s. 3d.; 2,600, 4s. 3d.; 1,900, 4s. 3d.; Lisbon, 2,400, 10s.; Leghorn, 4,900, 12s.; Oporto, 2,000, Ils.; Porto Ferrajo, 5,500, 10s. 3d.; Port Said, 5,000, Ils.; 4.700, 12s. 6d.; 5,000, Ils., Admiralty terms; 4,800, 13s.; 2.200, 12s. 9d.; Porto Vecchio, 5,000, 12s., 700, 9d.; 4,900, 13s.; Porto Ferrajo, 4,900, 12s. 3d.; Rouen, 1,850, 8s. l|d.; 2.300, 8s. 3d.; 3,400, 8s. 6d., from Dunston; 4,800, 8s.; 1.300, 8s. 9d.; Savona, 4,900, 12s.; St. Brieux, 600 , 9s. 6d.; Spezzia, 4,900, 12s. Cardiff to Algiers, 4,500, 9fr., early November; Alex- andria, 3,500, 10s.; Ancona, 4,900, 12s. 3d. ; Bordeaux, 6,000, 6 fr.; 3,200, 6> fr.; 3,000, 6'37| fr.; Bahia Blanca, 4,000, 12s. 7|d.; Bizerta, 4,800, 10 fr., 800, end Oct.; 7s., Nov. 2; Cherbourg, 600, 6s. 9d.; 600, 7s. 6d.; Caen, 1,500, 7s.; Civita Vecchia, 4,600, 8s. 6d.; 4,000, 8s. 6d., 500; Dieppe, 750, 7s. 3d.; Genoa, 5,000, 7s. 6d.; 4,000, 8s.; 5.200, 8s.: Havre, 3,300, 5s. 9d.; 1,900, 6s. 6d.; 1,900, 6s. 9d.; Honfleur, 2,300, 6s. 9d.; Lisbon, 3.100, 6s. 6d., 350: 1,600, 7s. l|d., 350; Leghorn, 4,000, 7s. 9d., 600; Malaga, 8s., reported; Marseilles, 5,000, 9£fr., end Oct.; Nantes, 1,900, 7$ fr. ; Port Said, 5,000, 9s. 9d., Nov. 2; Rouen, 700, 8s.; 1,300, 7s. 9d.; 2,000, 7s. 3d.; 3,000, 7s.; 3.200, 7s.; 2,000, 7s. 3d.; Rosario, 4,000, 12s., Nov. 2; River Plate, 4,500, Ils. 6d.; St. Nazaire, 3,200, 6| fr.; 4,600, 6 fr.; St. Servan, 1,700, 6s.; 1,500, 6s. 7|d.; St. Malo, 700, 7s. 6d.: Sables, 1,500, 8 fr.; Venice, 4,900, 12s. 6d., Nov. 5; 3,700, 12s. 6d. Swansea to Sundswall, 1,700, 8s. 6d., 450: Havre, 1,200, 6s. 9d.; 7s. 3d.; Venice, 3,500, 13s. ; 4,200, 13s.: Palma, 1.700, 9s. 3d., f.t.; Rouen, 1,200, 7s. 9d.; Gandia, 1,250, 9s., fuel 9s. 6d.: Honfleur, 700, 7s. 6d.; London, 750, 4s. 9d. ; St. Malo, 1,000, 6s. 9d.; Waterford, 200, 5s.; Genoa, 1,300, coal 9s., fuel 9s. 9d.: Savona, 1,300, coal 9s. 3d., fuel 10s.: St. Servan, 1,000, 6s. 9d.: San Feliu, 1,000, 10s. 9d.; Valencia, 1,800, 8s. 6d., Nov. 2; St. Nazaire, 2,600, 7 fr. ; Bizerta, 1,600, 12$ fr.. Nov. 2. Methil to Soraker, 7s. 9d.: Cherbourg, 800, 9s. 3d. Newport to Aguilas, 1,200, 10s. 6d., reported: Havre, 2,500, 6s.; Ibicuv, 12s. 3d., earlv Nov.: Rouen. 2,000, 7s. 3d.; Alexandria, 4,800, 9s. 6d.,700: 3.300, 9s. 6d.. 70J. Forth to Denmark, 2,100. 7s., 400. Port Talbot to Messina, 2,500, 9s. 4|d.; Rouen, 2,500, 7s.; 4,000, 7s.; Cherbourg, 750. 7s. Humber to Denmark, 1.300. 7s. 9d. Glasgow to Buenos Ayres, 12s. 6d.; Rouen, 8s., guaran- teed discharge. Hull to Rouen. 2,300, 8s. 3d.: 2,500. 7s. 6d.: 1.800, 8s. 3d.: Dieppe, 850, 8s.: Gefle, 2.700, 7s. 9d. ; Malmo. 3,000. 7s. 9d. Immingham to Rouen, 1,500, 8s. 6d. Scaham Harbour to Rouen, 700, 9s. Goole to Rouen, 1.050, 9s. Blyth to Honfleur, 1,300, 8s. 6d.: Cherbourg. 1,100. 8s.; Caen. 700. 8s. 9d. Hartlepool to Alexandria. 5,000. Ils., 500, option, Ils. 4|d., 400: Rouen, 1.700. 8s. 6d.: Bordeaux. 3.400, 8s. 6d.: Cannes, 1.800. 12s. Burntisland to Soraker. 7s. 9d. Wear to Bordeaux, 2,900, 8s. 9d. London to Savona, 2,200. coke, 14s.. charter terms. Partington to Rouen. 4.000, 7s. 9d.. Nov. Thames to New York, 3,000, 9s., chalk.