January 15, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 141 SHIPMENTS OF COAL AND COKE COASTWISE AND FOREIGN DURING 1913 AND 1914.* Shipped from Total quantities of coal and coke sent to London and other ports in the United Kingdom from the undermentioned ports. [ Total quantities of coal and coke to I foreign poits from the under- | mentioned ports. 1913. 1914. 1913. 1914. Coals. Coke. Coals. Coke. Coals. Coke. Coals. Coke. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. 1 Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Newcastle 4,469,546 6,32 > 2,186,027 7,415 10,625,509 257,743 5,975,134 203,374 North Shields 214 — 53,475 — 950,672 7,994 702,204 9,835 South Shields 4,760 — 301,621 330 1,665,699 11,596 1,403,524 12,911 Bly th 319,393 30 235,067 3,664 3/ 59,552 488,888 12,540 2,195,016 7,608 Amble 73,883 — 43,048 — -— 271,064 104 Sunderland 1,451,227 — 881,071 — 2,955,311 41,390 1,747,449 17,636 Seaham 940,666 — 687,306 — 969,435 324 531,238 398 Hartlepool 717,877 5 451,687 8 1,182,728 11,846 728,933 6,726 Stockton — 390 — 120 — — — — Middlesbrough 167 1,050 303 290 16,160 24,695 12,834 18,586 Hull 1,012,764 3,005 527,892 2,395 4,697,702 77,428 1,955,255 47,993 Goole 1,466,896 — 895,502 — 1,306,462 24,961 612,381 12,742 Swansea 379,784 305 209,241 — 3,471,248 12,177 2.057,286 7,402 Cardiff 3,036,604 10,028 1,511,947 2,662 19,328,833 88,512 11,505,071 60,792 / Llanelly 61,795 •—- 46,293 237,999 2 149,048 — Newport 726,353 67 355,621 50 4,62 ,847 14,346 2,272,617 7,013 Troon 202,6^2 11 119,421 — 116,318 — 101,880 — Ardrossan k.... 66,503 — 48,199 — 51,423 — 23,246 — Ayr 713,681 60 497,455 — 80,315 — 49,277 — Irvine 74,180 40 52,970 — — — —• — Alloa 26,510 — 7,292 — 140,546 100 65,471 — Whitehaven 225,999 45 147,139 — — — — — Liverpool 1,592,080 1,193 945,947 7,2<'8 418,924 19,659 191,721 4,401 Grimsby 36,548 — 16,833 — 1,160,073 11,347 590,898 9,061 Granton 205,832 — 168,479 — 105,002 23,574 79,711 15,320 Borrowstoness 213,415 28 95,866 2 525,559 11,800 194,507 3,960 Kirkcaldy 41,976 — 19,336 — 103,905 — 57,466 162 Burntisland 263,477 — 191,195 — 1,864,038 11,291 952,018 6,606 Methil 416,639 — 183,070 — 2,579,295 8,683 1,464,536 8,731 Glasgow 372,377 7,824 233,603 4,236 1,941,685 47,199 1,267,115 23,288 Grangemouth 102,646 4,390 60,473 1,116 1,444,147 69,583 583,162 31,785 Greenock 12,619 537 14,499 410 5,646 — — — Port Talbot 142,686 3,140 67,638 2,649 1,88 ;,090 4,231 876,636 4,768 Neath 102,643 — 95,272 — 146,468 — 779,459 1,164 Leith 80,785 43 53,391 11 1,442,048 198 900,245 876 * From Browne’s Export List. Note.—Owing to the European War the above figures for 1914 do not include any figures relating to July, August, September and October for any port in the United Kingdom, nor Liverpool and Newport figures for November. Newport, Port Talbot, and Glasgow (coastwise only) for December. For all ports since June certain Admiralty and other shipments have been excluded. COAL, IROH AM EHGIHEERIHG COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Canadian Explosives Company Limited.—The directors have declared a dividend of 1| per cent, on the cumulative 7 per cent, preferred shares for the quarter ended December 31, 1914. Cynon Colliery Company Limited.—In their report for the year to September 30, 1914, the directors state that the trading profit for the year is £3,751 19s. 6d., to which has to be added rents and transfer fees, £17 6s., making a total credit of £3,769 5s. 6d. From this has to be deducted bank charges and interest, income-tax, debenture interest, directors’ fees, and reserve for bad and doubtful debts, £2,657 15s. 10d., leaving a net profit for the year of £1,111 9s. 8d. This, with the balance of £5,939 17s. 6d. brought forward from last year, leaves a total credit balance of £7,051 7s. 2d. The directors propose to write off the amount of £267 4s. 9d. paid to the Llynfi Rescue Station, and carry the balance of £6,784 2s. 5d. forward. The strike which commenced in April 1913, finished at the end of March 1914, a period of 12 months, six of which are included in this year’s accounts. East Indian Coal Company Limited.—The directors have declared a dividend of 7 per cent, for the half-year ended October 31, 1914. Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited.—The directors have declared an interim dividend for the half-year ended November 30 last at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. Oceana Consolidated Company Limited.—The report for the year ending June 30, 1914, says that after making further reserves against certain doubtful assets out of the revenue of the year under review, there remains a net balance of £19,163 to the credit of appropriation account, which is carried forward. Regarding the Russian Anthra- cite Collieries Limited, the report states that this company was formed on September 18, 1912, for the purpose of acquiring from the Vagliano Anthracite Collieries Limited (in liquidation), the property and assets of the latter as a going concern. The contract between the old and new companies has been the subject of litigation extending over a period of a year and nine months in England, and actions of a similar character had been commenced in Russia. All litigation in both countries has now been ended, and the liquidator of the old company—with the sanction of the court—has become a party to the terms of settlement, which have also been confirmed by an order of the Court of Chancery. The demand for anthracite in Russia is active at satisfactory prices, but transport difficulties militate at present seriously against delivery of the coal from the mines. The exigencies of war make it extremely difficult to obtain the necessary wagons to deliver the output, but strenuous efforts are being made to overcome this difficulty. Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company Limited. — The directors have declared an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, payable February 2. Wagon Finance Corporation Limited.—The report for the year ended December 31, states that the result of the com- pany’s operations, after providing for interest on debentures and loans, and the whole of the brokerage, and including the balance brought forward from last year, shows a profit of £15,436 5s. Id., which the directors recommend should be appropriated as follows :—In an interim dividend of 5 per cent, paid on June 30 last, £5,000; further dividend of 5 per cent., making a total dividend of 10 per cent, for the year, free of tax, £5,000; reserve fund (making it £14,000), £4,000; balance to be carried to next account, £1,436 5s. Id. Wear dale Steel, Coal and Coke Company Limited. — A dividend of 6 per cent, (actual) is declared on the deferred shares. NEW COMPANIES. D. and M. Syndicate (Hollisters Patents) Limited.— Private company. Registered Jan. 6. Electricians, elec- trical and mechanical engineers and manufacturers, workers and dealers in electricity, motive power, and light. Nominal capital, £2,500 in £1 shares. Qualification of directors, £25. Subscribers :—Frederick Louis Hollister, 8, Upper John- street, Golden-square, engineer (25 shares); Gordon R. Taylor, 6, South-square, Gray’s Inn, solicitor’s clerk (one share). Midhurst and District Electric Supply Company Limited. —Registered Jan. 5. To carry on business of an electric light and power company in all branches, to establish stations and works, and carry on business as electrical and mechanical engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £7,500 in £1 shares. Minimum subscription, 20 per cent, of shares offered. First directors shall be appointed by subscribers. Subscribers :—Bernard E. Granville Bailey, The Old House, Midhurst, M.D. (50 shares); Arthur Farley, Beachey House, Midhurst, merchant (50 shares); John Guillin, North-road, Midhurst (50 shares); Sir Stephen George Sale, Heather Wood, Midhurst, K.C.I.E. (200 shares); Robert Percy Brousson, 47, Parliament-street, S.W., electrical engineer (50 shares); Hon. W. H. M. Pearson, 6, Richmond-terrace, Whitehall, M.P. (50 shares); Thomas Stallibrass, Runibold-hill, Midhurst, railway agent (50 shares). Warner (George) Limited.—Private company. Registered Jan. 4. To carry on business of coal merchants, dairymen, etc. Also to enter into agreement with Bernard Warner, of 14, Westbourne-road, Walsall, coal merchant and dairyman. Nominal capital, £6,000 in £1 shares. Directors and sub- scribers (one share each) :—Bernard Warner, 14, West- bourne-road, Walsall, coal merchant and dairyman; Roland Egbert Ledbury, Rochefort, Lichfield-road, Rushall, near Walsall, railway canvasser. Williams (Wm. Edgar) Limited. — Private company. Registered January 9. Colliery proprietors, coke manufac- turers, miners, smelters, ironmasters, tin-plate makers, brickmakers, distillers, chemists, fuel manufacturers, coal merchants, engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £5,000 in £10 shares. Subscribers (one share each) :—E. H. Thomas, The Hollies, Trecynon, Aberdare, mining engineer; A. M. Ingledew, 4, Mount Stuart-square, Cardiff, solicitor. 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. The London Gazette announces that the names of the undermentioned companies have been struck off the Register, and the companies are hereby dissolved :—Bettws-y-coed Slate Quarry Company Limited; Brookes’ Anthracite Syndi- cate Limited; Central Foundry Company Limited; Cumber- land Power Syndicate Limited; Cwmdu Quarries Limited; Derry and Antrim Ore Company Limited; Economic Fur- naces Limited; Glanamman Anthracite Collieries Limited; Graham Robinson Steel Company Limited; Henllys Collieries Company Limited; Hesleyside Coal Company Limited; Heworth High Burn Quarry Company Limited; New Agglomerates Limited; Northern Natal Mining Syndi- cate Limited; Parker Machine Tool Company Limited; Positive Rotary Pumps Limited; South Wales Anthracite Amalgamation Syndicate Limited; Spring Bank Brick Com- pany Limited; Stockport Engineering Company Limited; Stradey Galvanising Company Limited; Warsop Petrol Rock Drill Syndicate Limited; Whitworth Collieries Limited; Wolfram (Tungsten) Syndicate Limited. The statement attributed to Colonel Goethals that the Panama Canal would be closed possibly until next spring to all vessels is now contradicted. THE FREIGHT MARKET. Further sensational advances in outward freights consti- tuted the chief feature in the market this week. On the north-east coast coasting business has been done at up to 13s. 6d. Tyne to London, an advance of 5s. on last week’s figures. North France has Rouen at 18s., a very marked increase. The Bay is stated to have been done at 22s. to St. Nazaire, as against 16s. 3d. a week ago. Mediterranean rates, however, are tfie most alarmingly high, Genoa being quoted at 35s., a rise of 12s. 6d. on the week, whilst Mar- seilles is said to have been actually done at 35s. for a 4,800- ton Steamer. A similarly appalling state of things is to be seen with reference to South Wales rates. Alexandria, for example, has been done at 30s. from Cardiff, a rise of 10s. on the week, whilst Genoa is reported at 25s., and Marseilles at 30 fr. The River Plate has been numerously fixed for at up to 26s., and rates in all other directions show a similar hardening in figures. The net result of these colossal and exorbitant charges for ocean carriage is to make prompt coal business practically impossible of transaction, and to evoke a very strong demand for such Government intervention as will make the exploita- tion of one of our greatest national industries much more difficult at the hands of ship owners. Ship owners can render no greater disservice to the business community of this country than by their present practice of extortion, for they are playing directly into the hands of our competitors, Germany amongst the number, who are anxiously waiting opportunities of driving a wedge into those markets abroad which had hitherto favoured British coal. It is a matter for congratulation, therefore, that pressure is again being put on the Admiralty to liberate a sufficient portion of the interned enemy tonnage to meet the clamant needs of the coal trade. The present situation cannot be described as anything short of desperate, and, unless ship owners make a very radical reduction—either voluntary or under compul- sion—of their rates of freight, the seaborne coal trade of the country will be as effectively suspended as though the high seas were in possession of the enemy’s navy. We need only emphasise the fact that there is nothing in the present shortage of tonnage, congestion of shipping abroad, rates of war risks insurance, or labour costs to justify the present prices of cargo space. Generally speaking, homeward rates are very firmly main- tained. The River Plate market is most in evidence, a considerable business being done from the up-river ports for all positions. For January loading, with February 12 can- celling, 67s. 6d. is quoted, for up-river or Bahia Blanca, heavy basis; whilst for February 20 cancelling, 65s. has been paid from Bahia Blanca, with 57s. 6d. for March 20- April 20. Tonnage at the Plate is scarce for February leading, and rates may advance still further. There is a fairly good enquiry from the United States, but owners seem inclined to “ hold up ” their tonnage. The Eastern market is firm. In other directions rates are well maintained. Tyne to Algiers, 3,100, 22s., 1,000; Barcelona, 4,200, 22s.; Caen, 1,200, 17s. 6d. ; Cherbourg, 1,200, 18s.; Genoa, 1,300, 24s. 6d.; Gibraltar, 2,900, 19s. 6d. ; Havre, 2,500, 16s.; 700, 17s. 6d. ; 1,200, 17s. 6d. ; La Pallice, 5,000, 16s. 6d.; London, 1.700, 10s. 6d.; 3,100, Ils.; 2,600, 11s. 6d.; 3,100, 11s. 6d.; 3.900, 11s. 6d. ; 4,000, 13s. 6d.; Marseilles, 1,800, 22s. 6d.; 5,800, 30s., special demurrage; Port Said, 4,000, 23s. 6d.; 23s., reported; 25s., reported; Palermo, 3,500, 30s.; Roche- fort, 1,600, 16s. 3d.; Rouen, 1,700, 18s.; 800, 18s.; 2,000, 16s. 3d. ; 1,700, 17s. 6d. ; 1,700, 17s.; 2,500, 17s. 6d.; 1,600, 17s. 6d., £35 per day demurrage (backwards); Teneriffe, 1,750, 17s.; Torre Annunziata, 33s., reported; Valencia, 2,000, 20s. Cardiff to Algiers, 3,000, 20J fr.; 3,000, 20 fr.; 3,000, 21 fr., 800; 3,500, 21 fr. 800, 21£ fr. 600; Alexandria, 2,300, 27s. 6d., 500; 3,000, 30s., 700; 5,600, 30s., 700, Jan. 20; 3.700, 22s.; 5,400, 25s.; Augusta, 5,000, 30s.; 500, 29s. 6d. 600; Barcelona, 3,300, 18s. 6d.; 3,000, 19s., Jan. 18; Bizerta, 3,000, 21 fr. ; 4,000, 21 fr. ; Bordeaux, 3,000, 15 fr. ; 3.300, 15i fr., 4oo; 2,000, 16 fr., 500; Caen, 1,000, 12s. 6d.; 1,000, 12s.; Campana, 18s. 3d., Jan.; Chantenay, 2,000, 14J fr.: Dieppe, 650, 13s. 6d. ; Fecamp, 900, 13s. 3d.; Genoa, 3,000, 25s., reported; Gibraltar, 2,100, 15s. 6d. ; 2,500, 16s., 500; 1,350, 16s.; Honfleur, 700, 13s.; Havre, 1,300, 12s.; Lisbon, 1,800, 15s.; La Pallice, 2,200, 14| fr. coal, 14| fr. fuel; Malta, 4,500, 28s.; 3,500, 18s.; Malago, 1,700, 16s.; Marseilles, 4,000, 28 fr.; 3,500, 28 fr.; 5,100, 29 fr.; 5,000, 30 fr.; 4,600, 30 fr. ; Nantes, 1,300, 15 fr.; 1,900, 16 fr.; Naples, 22s. 6d., 800; Penzance, 300, 8s.; Pirseus, 3,500, 30s. ; Plymouth, 600, 8s.; Port Said, 5,000, 25s.; 3,100, 27s.; 2,600, 27s. ; 3,500, 30s.; 5,000, 30s.; 6,800, 30s.; Palma, 1.900, 20s.; River Plate, 5,400, 19s.; 3,600, 19s. fid.; 5,000, 20s.; 3,500, 22s. 6d. ; 5,000, 26s.; 5,600, 24s.; 4,400, 25s., Jan. 23; 3,800, 20s.; 5,000, 19s. 6d.; Rosario, 18s. 9d., Jan.; 4,000, 20s. 6d. ; Rio de Janeiro, 4,300, 25s., 300; Rouen, 3,300, 12s.; 1,350, 13s. 3d.; 1,500, 12s. 9d.; 1,300, 13s. 6d. ; 3,700, 12s. 9d.; 2,500, 14s.; 750, 13s. 9d. ; 1,600, 14s. 6d.; St. Malo, 700, 11s.; St. Michael’s, 3,000, 15s., Jan. 18; Sables, 1,050, 151 fr.; 1,700, 15 fr.; St. Nazaire, 2.300, 141 fr.; Treport, 580, 14s.; Taranto, 5,100, 30s., 500, 29s. 6d., 600; Trouville, 580, 14s.; Villa Constitucion, 18s. 3d., Jan.; Zarate, 4,000, 25s. Swansea to Rochefort, 1,500, 14 fr. ; Belfast, 700, 5s. 3d.; Caen, 520, 13s. ; 950, 12s. 9d.; St. Servan, 900, Ils.; Tre- port, 750, 12s., free in and out; Rouen, 1,300, 13s. 3d.; 1.300, 13s. 6d. ; 750, 13s. 9d.; 1,600, 14s.; 2,400, 14s. fid.; London, 1,250, 8s.; La Pallice, 1,450, 14£ fr.; Havre, 600, 12s.; Brest, 470, 11s. 9d. coal, 12s. 3d. fuel; St. Nazaire, 2.300, 14i fr.; Nantes, 1,600, 16 fr. ; St. Malo, 800, 11s. 9d. Newport to Alexandria, 4,500, 22s. ; Bordeaux, 1,800, 14J fr.; Gibraltar, 2,100, 15s. 6d. ; 2,500, 16s.; Rouen, 3,700, 12s. 9d.; 2,500, 14s. Port Talbot to Nantes, 2,200, 14 fr.; Rouen, 1,500, 13s. 3d.; St. Servan, 800, 11s. Llanelly to Havre, 900, 13s.; St. Servan, 1,500, Ils. Hull to Rouen, 2,300, 16s. 3d.; 2,300, 16s.; St. Nazaire, 3,200, 14s. 6d. ; Bagnoli, 5,000, 23s.; Brixham, 1,050, 8s. 6d. Glasgow to Bordeaux, 17 fr.; Rouen, 1,750, 13s. 6d. Hartlepool to Rouen, 5,400, 16s. 6d. Wales to Port Said, 25s., Jan.; Rouen, 900, 11s. 6d., 12 consecutive voyages, option any accessible port between Dieppe and Boulogne. Bly th to London, 3,600, 10s. ; Havre, l,2C0, 17s. 6d. Institution of Mechanical Engineers. — An ordinary general meeting will be held on Friday, January 22, 1915, at 8 p.m., at the Institution, Storey’s-gate, St. James s Park, Westminster, when a paper on the “ Standardisation of Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings ” will be mad by Mr. John Dewrance.