February 19, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

401

so forfeited the confidence reposed .in him as was the case
of John Weddle, of Ashington, whom the Morpeth magis-
trates last week sent to prison for three months for
embezzlement. In 1911 Weddle went to Ruskin College
for a year, and in January 1914 he was appointed financial
secretary of the Ashington branch of the Miners’ Association.

It is gratifying to note that there seems 'to be a gradual
expansion of activity in the mining industry of the two
counties. Last week we mentioned that the old Adventure
Pit at West Rainton and the new pit at Blackhall Colliery
had been re-started. The Bebside Coal Company has now
re-opened the Old Pit at Choppington, consequent, it is said,
on a large contract for supplies for a British railway com-
pany having been received. Those pits which have suc-
ceeded in continuing working throughout a half-year full of
stress and anxiety are now working more regularly than
ever, and indications are, from the position of the market,
that there is a very busy time ahead.

Shortly before five o’clock on Monday evening an explo-
sion occurred about a mile from Leadgate, resulting in two
men being killed and three others injured. It appears that
the Consett Iron Company Limited are having constructed a
new drift between Leadgate and the Castle Drift for the
main coal seam. The place is known as Hall’s Drift, and
the work that was in progress was left to several miners,
as contractors, who were preparing the drift. The new
work had only progressed a short distance underground—
about 50 yds. Pour of the men were outside a cabin about
50 yds. from the mouth of the drift, and the fifth inside.
A canister of gelignite, which, when full, contained 5 lb.,
was in possession of the stonemen for blasting operations.
A portion of this explosive had been used, and it was sup-
posed that the canister had been placed too near an
improvised brick fire just outside the cabin. The result was
a terrific explosion, followed by a vivid flash of fire and
smoke. When the rescuers reached the spot, one man’s
clothes were on fire.

At last week’s meeting of the Sunderland Town Council,
it was reported that a satisfactory settlement had been
arrived at regarding the serious damage done to the asylum
buildings at Ryhope by the workings of the Ry hope Colliery.

In consequence of so many men enlisting from Murton
Colliery, the owners have found it necessary to shut down
the Shotton Low Main seam, and to draft the workers
therein into the Main Coal seam.

Mr. R. S. Tate, manager of St. Hilda Colliery, South
Shields, who is about to take up an important position at
Trimdon Colliery, has been made the recipient of a hand-
some presentation from the officials and workmen. Coun.
Jas. Batey made the presentation, which consisted of a
full-sized billiard table, and a watch and bracelet for Mrs.
Tate.

Good work was done—and more commenced—by the
River Wear Commission during last year in reference to the
coal shipping facilities of the port. At a meeting of the
Commissioners held last week, it was reported that, during
last year, the navigation channels of the harbour entrance
and river had been maintained, and the swinging basin
enlarged and deepened. The deepening of Hudson Dock
north over the site and approaches to new coal loading
berths was completed last August, and a depth of 34 ft. at
high water, ordinary spring tide, was obtained. A new coal
staith, suitable for the largest class of wagons, was com-
pleted and put to work last April, and has proved a service-
able addition to the coal loading appliances of the port. A
new coal conveyor, capable of dealing with 500 tons per hour,
is now nearly completed. The conveyor will be electrically
driven, and has several new and advantageous features in
its mode of working. As to Nos. 1 and 2 new staiths in
Hudson Dock North, the reinforced concrete piles of the new
quay have all been driven in place, and two reinforced con-
crete caissons have been built and launched for the founda-
tions of the conveyor towers.

The far-reaching effects of a miners’ strike were illus-
trated during the action in London recently, in which Mr.
Jean Gerassimi Matsoukis claimed £1,750 damages from
Messrs. John Priestman and Company, shipbuilders, Sunder-
land, because of the failure of the latter to deliver a ship in
contract time. The defendants pleaded force majeure and
the miners’ national strike as the reason for delay in
delivery. Regarding the strike, Mr. Roche, for the defence,
stated that, although it only lasted six weeks, the output of
materials, such as steel! plates, was enormously down for
weeks thereafter owing to the coal pits being full of water,
the men not coming back regularly and foreign export orders
having to be fulfilled, the works engaged in the manufacture
of materials for ships, therefore, having to decrease their
output. The plaintiff was awarded £1,000 damages and
costs.

Cumberland.

On Friday-last a notice was posted at Thirlwall Colliery,
near Greenhead, that there would be no more work until
further notice. Various rumours are reported as to the
cause, but one dealer with the colliery has received notice
that they cannot supply any more coal, the colliery having
stopped ‘ ‘ owing to the war. ’ ’ Between 100 and 200 men and
lads are affected.

Yorkshire.

The Earth Tremor at Cadeby—Railway Developments near
Doncaster.

Up to last week, the total amount raised by the employees
of Brodsworth, in support of the dependants of those who
have enlisted or been called up, was £1,060 18s. 2d., whilst
the colliery company’s contribution, including wTeekly
allowances and free coal for dependants of Brodsworth men
in the Forces, together with a subscription of £1,000 to the
Allies’Wounded Relief Fund, amounts to £3,175 2s. fid. The
duties of treasurer to the Brodsworth fund are being capably
discharged by Mr. C. C. Gatley, secretary to the Brodsworth
Colliery Company.

At Conisboro’, on Tuesday, the 10th inst., Mr. F.
Allen, county coroner, held an inquest touching the death
of Emanuel Jordan, miner, who was killed by the falls,
other men having narrow escapes. Some peculiarly interest-
ing evidence was given, showing a diversity of opinion as
to whether the falls were due to earthquake shock or to top
weight.—The Coroner explained that the death of Jordan
arose from very extensive falls from the roof of the workings
in the No. 1 north district of Cadeby Colliery on the night
of February 1. Although not really material to the circum-
stances of that enquiry, it was a matter of public interest
to ascertain, if they could, whether the fall was caused m the
ordinary course of coal working by a bump, or whether it

was caused by something in the nature of a local earthquake.
He understood that the shock, or whatever it was, was felt
as far off as Mexboro’, two miles away; again at Harlington,
2| miles away; and also at other places in the village.—
Evidence was given by miners to the effect that the first fall
came away suddenly from the side, and was followed by
another. There was no severe bump or rumbling in the
roof, and only a slight interval between the two falls'.—
Thomas Morgan, of Tickhill-square, Denaby, overman-
deputy at Cadeby on the afternoon shift, gave evidence as
to the extent of the fall. It extended, he said, about
100 yds., but was not of continuous thickness. There were
about 2 ft. of flirt on the top of deceased. Witness had
worked at Cadeby Colliery for about 15 months, but had
never experienced anything like this before. There were
small falls all over the district as a result of the bump. He
was aware there was a big fault on the south-east side of
the district. There was a sudden break, just one bump,
and nothing before or afterwards. The biggest fall of all
was where four girders were down. Answering the colliery
agent, the witness said he felt a slight rocking motion as
he was walking along, which movement appeared to come
from the floor as well as the sides of the pit, and which
disturbed the district considerably. There was nothing to
be seen in the floor.—Interesting evidence was next given
by the manager of the mine, Mr. John Cocks, who stated he
was at home at the time of the occurrence. His house was
just behind the colliery offices, facing Conisboro’ Station
and the pit itself. At 9.45 he was sitting down in his
chair when he felt a sort of rocking motion, as though some-
body had tilted his chair backwards, and then let it go
smartly. He went outside and looked across at the colliery,
to see if things appeared to be in order at the pit. . He
concluded that what he had felt was an earthquake shock.
He received a report of the accident at 12.20 midnight, and
went across to the pit. He thought subsidence would cause
a kind of earthquake, since earthquake is a vibration of the
earth’s crust. The effect was substantially the same. But
he was convinced that the constitution of the mine was such
that no bumps could occur which would have such a wide-
spread influence as this. He knew that the west district
was practically one mass of faults. The coal under Conis-
boro’ was not worked to any extent, and there were various
supporting pillars left in, including those under the viaduct
and 'the ferry. Considering the number of pillars left in
for support, the area worked was not large enough to cause
a top weight, in his opinion. He discounted the theory of
subsidence by the fact that pillars and faults were so
numerous in the mine as to give to the rock strata plenty
of loose ends to prevent it from breaking, and allow it to
settle gradually. His experience was that subsidence
followed the workings regularly and gradually as the coal
face advanced. In top weight there was usually prelimi-
nary settling, sometimes extending over four or five days
before the final settlement came. Since the accident he had
examined every district of the pit. There was no previous
warning and no squeeze in the roads, and he had found
nothing out of the ordinary course in the workings. Taking
the distance at which the shock was felt, and taking all
other matters into consideration, he was still of opinion that
it was a slight earthquake shock. This opinion was
strengthened by the fact that there was no extraordinary
squeeze in the roads. In an earthquake shock there Would
not be squeeze, but in top weight there would. The atmo-
sphere was just as usual, and had nothing to do with the
matter. He had heard that at Brodsworth about 18 months
ago there had been a settlement.—The jury, after a brief
deliberation, returned a verdict of “Accidental death.’’

The report of the Great Central Railway Company con-
tains some interesting references to the South Yorkshire
coalfield, with which the line of this company is so closely
identified. Allusion is made to the light railway to the
Firbeck Colliery, which the South Yorkshire Joint Line
Committee (in which the Great Central Railway Company
is interested) are promoting. It is reported that the widen-
ing of the line between Doncaster and Thorne is proceeding
satisfactorily, a considerable portion of the permanent way
having been laid, and a contract let for the rebuilding of
the stations at Barnby Dun and Stainforth. This widen-
ing will be of immense advantage in facilitating the rapid
transfer of mineral traffic from South Yorkshire to the sea-
board. Another new section of line which Doncaster is
interested in is that betw’een Gowdall and Braithwell, for
the Hull and Barnsley and Great Central companies. Pro-
gress here has been retarded owing to the war and unfavour-
able weather. Good progress is, however, reported with the
railway deviation at Keadby.

For several hours on Monday the magistrates at the
Rotherham West Riding Court were occupied hearing an
Employer and Workmen Act case, which involved a point
of considerable interest to the mining community. John
Hewitt, of Pitsmoor, Sheffield, and Henry Bretnall, of
Tinsley, miners in the service of the Tinsley Park Colliery
Company Limited, were the defendants, their employers
claiming 15s. damages from each. For the colliery company
Mr. Gichard said the claim arose in respect of neglect of
work. The two defendants’ regular working place was
stall No. 19. On January 12 the discovery was made that
it was in such a condition, owing to there having been weight
on the roof which had come partly down in front of the gate,
that the men could not work. They were ordered by the
deputy to go to another stall, but they each declined. Their
reason was “ that they were not going to work in another
working place unless it was arranged that the other working
place should be their regular place.’’ Exactly the same
state of things took place on January 13 and 18. Defendants
refused on each occasion to obey orders.—Mr. Neal, who was
instructed for the defence, said the whole dispute was
whether or not men in a stall could be turned out and put
on the market in order to let other men work in their stall.
The contention by Mr. Gichard, and supported by evidence,
was that the request which was made was a perfectly reason-
able one. Eventually the Bench made an order for the
amount claimed.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

The Hulton Pollution Case : Further Hearings.

The trial of the action in which the Laburnum Spinning
Company Limited and five other firms ask for an injunction
and damages against the Hulton Colliery Company Limited,
was continued in the Chancery Court at Manchester on
Thursday, Saturday, and Monday last. — Mr. William
Thomson, analytical chemist, of the firm of Grace, Calvert,
and Thomson, Manchester, continuing his evidence on
behalf of the defendants, said the ochry deposit was
innocuous as far as boilers were concerned, and had nothing
to do with the blocking up of the pipes, which he attributed
to calcium carbonate. The purification process removed
from the Pretoria pit water its objectionable ingredients,

and the effect of turning it, alone or mixed with the School
pit water, into the brook was to make the latter somewhat
softer. He did not think the increased quantity of sodium
sulphate was a serious feature. It was possible to go up
to 5,000 grains per gallon without producing harmful effects,
or more, and taking the effluent as containing 500 grains
(which was about the average of a number of samples) it
was clear that there must be considerable evaporation in the
boiler before the density got to the point which boiler
insurance companies said should not be passed. Moreover,
the effluent being mixed with other waters, the proportion
of sodium sulphate was correspondingly diluted. In his
opinion, the School pit water was worse in 1901 than now,
but the difference was not great.—Robert Thomas Hutch-
field, an inspecting engineer for the National Boiler
Insurance Company Limited, said he examined certain
boilers on the premises of the Atherton Spinning Company
(one of the plaintiffs) in 1902, and his notes showed that
there was corrosion of the furnace flange and end plate.—
Two other witnesses deposed to taking samples; and they
were followed by Joseph Cauthery, chief engineer of the
National Boiler and General Insurance Company. He said
the analyses showed that the amount of ochry matter in
the School pit water ranged from 2 to 5 grains per gallon.
The effect of that was negligible, even if it were taken direct
into the boiler. Mud was the least objectionable of things
that could get into a boiler, unless the quantity was extra-
ordinary ; it did not form a hard scale, and was easily
removed. Sodium sulphate would not cause trouble in the
boilers unless there was gross neglect in allowing it to con-
centrate to an excessive degree, when overheating of plates
would occur. If there were corrosive elements in the feed
water, the increase of pressure and temperature vnuld
accelerate the corrosive action. At the Newstead Colliery,
near Nottingham, some old iron boilers were in use 30 to 40
years, and corroded to some degree. Two or three years
ago they were replaced by two high-pressure steel boilers,
working up to 1601b. Corrosion developed at a rapid rate,
and after examination he came to the conclusion that the
higher temperature and higher pressure had made the cor-
rosive elements more active. There was a further point that
steel boilers would corrode more rapidly than iron boilers
with the same water. This witness was cross-examined on
Saturday by Mr. Cunliffe, K.C. He said the old Pretoria
water was exceedingly bad, but the effluent after treatment
was non-corrosive and softer than the natural water. His
view was that the plaintiffs ought to be very thankful to
get hold of it.—Percy George Jackson, a chemist in the
service of the National Boiler Insurance Company, described
the treated effluent as clear and sparkling. He could think
of no use to which the water could be put in which the
sodium sulphate would be deleterious. Ochre might produce
a slight staining, but such staining might occur from the
natural suspended matter, and he did not think dyers would
use water without filtering it.—Joshua Bateson, engineer at
the Hulton Collieries, was re-called, and said the Trencher-
bone water was the best they had, and wTas used for their
own boilers after being put through a softening process.
The Yard mine water was much the worst; more soda was
used in purification, and the amount of sodium sulphate was
greater in the effluent, which was never used for their
boilers.—Mr. Atkinson proceeded to sum up the case on
behalf of the defendants, his speech occupying over five
hours. He said it was not enough for the plaintiffs to show
on paper that there was an increase in the amount of pollu-
tion ; they must prove that the polluting effect had become
substantially greater since 1891. The Court must consider
all the circumstances, and grant no relief unless satisfied
that there was a. real wrong being done. — The Vice-
Chancellor said he had to look at the agreement embodied
in the order made at the trial on July 1, 1913. There were,
to his mind, two questions of fact : (1) In what condition of
purity did the water reach the plaintiffs’ land in 1891; and
(2) whether that condition of purity had been appreciably
lessened.—Mr. Atkinson said he did not. quarrel with the
proposition which his Honour had laid down, but he would
point out that the notice of motion asked the Court to deal
separately with the School and Arley water on the one hand,
and the Pretoria on the other. In order to succeed, the
plaintiffs must show something substantial and appreciable.
It was also necessary for the plaintiffs to show what was
the pollution when it reached their premises, not at a point
higher up the stream.—Mr. Cunliffe, K.C., began his reply
on behalf of the plaintiffs. He submitted that'the issue
was whether there had been an invasion of the plaintiffs’
rights as riparian owners, as interpreted and modified by
the order of July 1, 1913; and he should have to call atten-
tion to some cases in order that the Court might ascertain
how far the law affected them.—At the end of the 13th day
of the trial the case was adjourned until Monday,
February 22. The Vice-Chancellor remarked that he should
want Mr. Cunliffe to address himself with particular care
to the question of hardness.

North Wales.

Presentation to Colliery Manager — Local Iron Trade
Improves—Flintshire Light Railway.

On the occasion of Mr. R. Yates (late manager of Bryn-
kin allt Colliery, Chirk, owned by Messrs. W. Y. Craig and
Sons Limited) leaving the colliery and district to take up
duties elsewhere, the management and employees recently
made him a present of a handsome gold watch and aneroid.

There is a marked improvement in the state of the iron
trade at Ellesmere Port; as a result the local works have
been able to increase the number of rolling mills at work,
thus giving increased work to a large number of employees,
who have of late suffered considerably from trade
depression.

With reference to the proposed light railway through
Flintshire, a joint meeting has been held of the Holywell
Rural and Urban District Councils, and it has been decided
that these Councils shall join in borrowing the sum of
£10,000 to advance by way of loan to the Mid-Flintshire
Railway Company, and that the Councils apply to the
Development Commissioners to assist, through them, the
company by a loan of £20,000.

The Midlands.

The Shortage of Fuel—Iron Production Reduced.

Coal is still going forward from the Midlands to London
and the South of England, where there is such congestion
that trucks sent a fortnight ago have not been cleared, and
the feeling becomes more general that some of the collieries
—whose difficulties are admitted—are not'. doing all they
could to keep up with their contracts. The position is acute,
and, unless steps are taken to control the market, it will
shortly be a case of one buyer outbidding the other and
sending prices beyond even the present figure. A prominent
Cannock Chase coal owner assigns the reason this week for