April 1, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 721 been expended in connection with additions to the by-product plaint, etc., and the provision of new wagons. A serious loss was occasioned by the strike, of South' Yorkshire miners, which took place in April. The profits have also been largely affected by the price of coke, which shows a very consider- able reduction as compared with the previous year. Owing to the war. the cost of timber and other stores has greatly increased.. The directors record the death of their esteemed colleague, Mr. Henry Wall. Mr. Hobart Henry Clayton, director of Messrs. Hardman and Holden Limited, Man- chester, has been elected to fill the vacancy. Edinburgh Collieries Company Limited.—The net profits for the past year, after providing for interest charges and including £19,223 brought forward, amounted to £36,644. The directors have written off .£15,000 for depreciation, and propose to pay the dividend on the preference shares, carry- ing forward £16,532. Fleming and Ferguson Limited.—The directors announce an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, free of income-tax, on the ordinary shares for the half-year. Hatfield Main Colliery Company Limited.—The annual report shows that the sum of £138,343 19s. 8d. has been expended on capital account, of which £46,108 9s. 4d. was expended during the year 1914. The progress made during the year in sinking the pits had been satisfactory under the conditions encountered. No. 1 shaft was 403 yds. deep, and No. 2 shaft 111 yds. The system of cementation for sinking through the water-bearing strata had fully answered expectations. Greater progress would probably have been made but for the outbreak of the war, which had caused a great scarcity of labour, both skilled and unskilled. Owing to ill-health, the chairman, Mr. T. Townrow, had resigned his position as director of the company. The directors had appointed Mr. J. P. Houfton chairman, and had elected Mr. Chaworth-Musters to fill the vacancy on the board. Howard and Bullough Limited.—Interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum (fid. per share) on the ordi- nary shares for the past quarter. Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribution Limited.—After writing off £9,083 for depreciation, and £4,275 off new issue expenses, the directors recommend the full dividend of 6 per cent, on the preference shares for 1914, leaving £3,650 to be carried forward. Nantyglo and Blaina Ironworks Company Limited.—A dividend of £3 per preference share of £62 10s. is declared. Roburite and Ammonal Limited.—The directors announce that in consequence of the great pressure due to the war, it has been found impossible to complete the yearly accounts for presentation at the usual date. Every effort, however, is being made, and it is hoped that the general meeting may be held before the end of April. South Durham Steel and Iron Company Limited.—An interim dividend of 5 per cent, is declared, equal to Is. per share, less tax. Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company Limited.—The directors have decided on an interim dividend of Is. per share, less tax, on the ordinary shares. NEW COMPANIES. Cranmore and Company Limited. — Private company. Registered March 20. Tube drawers and manufacturers, engineers, smiths, manufacturers of machinery, workers in tin, steel, copper, and other metals, etc. Nominal capital, £8,000 in £1 shares. Governing director :—W. E. Cran- more, 168, Victoria-road, Aston Manor, tube manufacturer. Director :—J. V. Reynolds. Newton Brothers (Derby) Limited. — Private company. Registered office, 21, Market-place, Derby. Registered March 20. Electrical and mechanical engineers and manu- facturers, workers and dealers in electricity, motive power, and light, etc. Nominal capital, £31,000 in £1 shares. Permanent directors :—C. A. Newton, Midland Hotel, Derby; R. Newton, Hartington-street, Derby; H. Newton, Hartington-street, Derby, electrical engineers. Pentwyn Coal Agency (Roath) Limited. — Private com- pany. Registered March 19. Coal, coke, wood, fuel, brick, stone, lime, cement, pitch, pulp, paper, turpentine, and oil merchants. Nominal capital, £200 in £1 shares. First directors to be appointed by subscribers. Qualification of directors, one share. Subscribers (one share each) : J. M. Hodges, 104, Marlborough-road, Cardiff, agent; A. Paul, 7, Roath Court-road, Cardiff, pitwood buyer; M. Thomas, 45, Ninian-road, Cardiff, colliery agent. Ramcroft Colliery Company Limited.—Private company. Registered office, 5, Gray’s Inn-square, W.C. Registered March 22. Iron and coal masters, iron and steel manufac- turers, colliery proprietors, miners, smelters, engineers, chemical manufacturers, brick makers, and manufacturers of products from metals and minerals, etc. Nominal capital, £60,000 in £1 shares. Directors and subscribers (one share each) :—Sir A. B. Markham, 47, Portland-place, W., baronet, M.P.; W. Humble, Skellow Old Hall, near Don- caster, colliery manager. Qualification of directors, £1,000. Roto Engineering Company (Bradford) Limited.—Private company. Registered office, Borough Mills, Bradford. Registered March 23. Electrical, mechanical, and venti- lating engineers, merchants, and manufacturers and dealers in rotary pumps, oil cabinets, and of and in steam, hydraulic, pneumatic, or other engines, machines, etc. Nominal capital, £1,000 in £1 ordinary shares. First directors to be appointed by subscribers. Qualification of directors, 50 shares. Subscribers (one share each) :—H. Hornby, 2, Clarendon-street, Bradford, iron merchant; F. Laycock, 92, Beech-grove, Lidget Green, Bradford, solicitor’s clerk. Tipton Tub and Tube Company Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered office, 20, Dudley-road, Tipton, Staffs. Registered March 24. Colliery and constructional engineers and sheet metal workers, iron manufacturers, steel makers, iron masters and founders, rollers of metals, etc. Nominal capital, £5,000 in £1 shares. Directors :—A. Parker, 20, Dudley-road, Tipton, manager; W. Houston, 1, The Shrub- bery, Bloomfield, Tipton, works manager. 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 that the names of the under-mentioned companies have been struck off the register and the com- panies dissolved :—Bevington Bush Galvanising Company Limited; Blaydon Forge Company Limited; British Tungs- ten Metals Syndicate Limited; Brownlow Tin-Plate and Brass Company Limited; Egmont Mining Company Limited; Fractionate Combustion Limited; Quick-fit Fire- brick Company Limited; Standard Tin-Plate Company Limited; Steel Trucks Limited; Swansea Townhill Colliery Company Limited. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last White pages. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Blaina (Mon.), April 7.—4,000 tons of gas coal for the Brynmawr and Blaina Gas Company. Tenders to L. Murray, manager, Gas Works, Blaina. Bristol, April 14.—Large steam, small steam, smiths, and house coal for the Docks Committee. Forms from T. A. Peace, engineer, Cumberland Basin, Bristol. Bulford, April 7. — Steam coal and coke for H.M. Government. Forms from Officer Commanding A.S.C., Headquarters Office, Bulford. Coseley, April 8.—Best quality thick coal and coke for Education Committee. Forms from F. J. C. Poole, secre- tary, Education Office, Coseley. Faikirk (Scotland), April 10.—Coal for the Corporation. Forms from T. McKee, Inspector’s Office, Burgh Stables, Falkirk. Leith, April 14. — Coal for the Commissioners for the Harbours and Docks. Particulars from the Superintendent, Tower-place, Leith. Wallingford (Berks), April 14.—Coal and coke for the Berkshire Lunatic Asylum for the Visitors Committee. Forms from the Steward, Berkshire Asylum, Wallingford. Wrexham, April 7.—Good house coal, steam coal, or nuts and slack for the Guardians. Forms from T. T. Thomas, master, Workhouse, Wrexham. Wrexham, April 7. — 14,000 tons of best approved gas coals for the directors of the Wrexham Gas Company. Forms from O. Evans, engineer and manager. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, Ac. Ballarat (Australia), May 19.—Drilling Machines — Four 5 ft. high-speed belt-driven radial drilling machines for the Victorian Railway Commissioners.* Brighton, April 12.—Surface Condenser.—One surface condenser, capable of dealing with 52,5001b. of steam per hour, for the Corporation. Specification from Town Clerk, Town Hall, Brighton, on deposit of £1. Manchester, April 8.—Cast Iron Pipes.—About 124 tons of cast iron pipes, 18 in. in diameter, for the Corporation. Specification from F. A. Price, superintendent, Gas Depart- ment, Town Hall, Manchester. * Specifications, particulars, . etc., may be seen at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73, Basinghall-street, E.C. THE FREIGHT MARKET. During the period which has elapsed since last report, outward chartering on the north-east coast has been very limited in volume, for the very good reason that loading turns are already so congested that there is little market for fresh tonnage at the moment. On the other hand, there has been a further influx of tonnage into the local ports, and the result is that rates have fallen still further. Coast- ing business has been done at a minimum of 6s. to London, as against 8s. last week. North France has Rouen at 13s., as compared with 15s. the week before, and 19s. a fortnight ago. The Bay has receded to a quotation of 15s. for Bor- deaux, a drop of 7s. 6d. on the week. The Mediterranean is represented by 24s. to Genoa, with Marseilles quoted at 23s., a fall of fully 10s. when compared with two weeks since. At South Wales, chartering has been very active, but the congested state of loading turns is slowing down fixtures very considerably, and owners are offering tonnage at comparatively cheap rates for prompt shipment. How figures have fallen is illustrated by the fact that Caen has been done from Cardiff at 12s., as against 14s. a week ago, and Rouen at 13s., as against 14s., with Havre at 12s. 6d., as against 14s. 6d. The Bay is reduced to 15 fr. to Bor- deaux, as against 19 fr., with St. Nazaire at 13 fr., as against 15J fr. The Mediterranean is represented by 19s. to Genoa, as against 20s. Port Said appears to be fairly steady at 25s. The River Plate is typified by 27s. 6d. to Rosario, as against 31s. Rates from other United Kingdom ports have the same trend, and it is probable that ship- owners are not altogether sorry that figures show some ease, even although the process of depression may be proceeding faster than they like 'to see. Certain it is that rates had reached such a height as to startle all sections of the com- mercial community and exasperate the British public, thereby causing the shipowner some trepidation Jest strong authoritative action should be taken to prevent his exploita- tion of public needs. Even with rates at the present height, the shipowner is reaping a harvest such as he would not despise in the best of peace times. Homewards, rates from rice ports are well maintained at about 75s. from Burma to London or Liverpool. The East Indies are slow, 'with charterers hesitating to do business until the effect of the Government wheat edict can be more accurately measured. The Mediterranean is rather dull, with rates fairly well maintained. America is quiet for grain, steady for cotton, and with a good demand for deal and lumber tonnage. The River Plate is quiet, but rates tend to rise'. Tyne to Algiers, 2,900, 20s.; Ancona, 3,600, 36s. 6d.; Boulogne, 1,000, 16s.; Catania, 1,700, 28s., 350; Genoa, 4,000, 24s., reported; Las Palmas, 1,900, 25s., from Der- wenthaugh, 2,600, 22s. 6d.; London, 1,100, 6s.Md.; 1,600, 7s.; 2,500, 6s.; Lisbon, 1,700, 20s.; Oran, 1,800, 20s.; Rochefort, 3,600, 18s.; Rouen, 1,600, 14s. 6d.; 1,700, 13s.; St. Vincent, 2,600, 22s. 6d. Cardiff to Barcelona, 3,100, 19s. 6d.; Bordeaux, 3,700, 18i fr.; 1,100, 17 fr.; 3,000, 15 fr., April 7; 2,000, 15 fr.; Colon, 3,400, 32s. 6d., 150, April 28-May 20; Caen, 1,200, 12s., April 10; Chantenay, 1,600, 171 fr.; Dakar, 1,400, 18s. coal, 18s. 9d. fuel, April 7; 1,700, 15s., 500; 1,700, 14s., 750; 1,700, 13s., 1,000, April 12; Dieppe, 2,700, 13s.; 600, 14s. 9d.; Fray Bentos, 3,400, 32s. 6d., 150, April 28- May. 20; Ferrol, 1,100, 17s.; Genoa, 3,800, 20s.; 3,900, 19s.; Gibraltar, 1,800, 17s.; Huelva, 3,200, 19s., April 9; Honfleur, 700, 14s. fid.; Havre, 1,600, 12s. 6d.; Las Palmas, 4,000, 20s. 6d., April 6; 2,200, 15s.; Lisbon, 3,200, 16s. 6d., 500; 1,500, 17s., mid-April; La Pallice, 3,300, 12} fr., early April; 1,900, 14 fr.; Monte Video, 5,000, 28s., April 10; Madeira, 4,000, 20s. 6d., April 6; Oporto, 900, 17 s.; Ply- mouth, 470, 10s., two voyages; Port Said, 4,500, 27s., April 14; 4,400, 25s., April 7; Palma, 2,000, 20s., April 10; River Plate, 5,000, 27s., April 27, lower ports ; 4,000,-25s., April, lower ports, reported; Rouen, 1,500, 14s. l|d.; 3,200, 14s. 3d., April 7; 1,800, 14s. 3d.; 3,000, 14s.; 2,000, 13s. 6d.; 1,500, 13s.; Rosario, 27s. 6d., early April; St. Nazaire, 2,200, 17 fr.; 3,100, 15J fr.; 3,000, 14 fr., April 7; 3,300, 13 fr., early April; 1,500, 13 fr.; Savona, 3,800, 19s.; Ten eriff e, 2,200, 15s.; Trouville, 950, 14s.; 600, 13s. Swansea to Aarhus* 1,250, 24s., April 10; St. Malo, 680, 12s. fid.; 800, Ils. 9d.; St. Servan, 800, 12s.; Trouville, 800, 15s.; Caen, 950, 14s. 3d. ; Lisbon, 1,200, 17s., April 7; Bor- deaux, 1,700, 19 fr.; Leghorn, 1,100, 20s. ; Trapani or Porto Empedocle, 2,200, 24s. one port, 25s. two ports; Dieppe, 600, 14s. 9d.; Rouen, 1,450, 14s. fid., April 5; 3,300, 14s. 3d.; 2,200, 14s. 6d.; 1,700, 13s. 6d.; 1,500, 13s.; 900, 13s. 9d. ; Guernsey, 420, 11s. Newport to Genoa, 3,000, 20s., early April. Mersey to Stavanger, 800, 25s., salt; Porto Ferrajo, 5,600, 25s. Llanelly to Caen, 850, 14s. 3d. Blyth to London, 1,100, 6s. 6d. ; Dunkirk, 1,400, 16s. 3d. Forth to Rouen, 2,100, 18s. ; Havre, 2,100, 17s.; Dieppe, 2,100, 17s.; 2,200, 18s. Wales to any accessible port between Brest and Boulogne, 1,800, 14s., 12 voyages, commencing June 15, option Clyde loading, 16s. Burryport to Aarhus, 1,250, 24s.; St. Malo, 800, 11s. 9d. Port Talbot to Rouen, 3,200, 14s. 3d., April 7; 1,500, 14s. IJd.; Huelva, 3,200, 19s. coal, 21s. 6d. 1,000 coke; Gandia, 1,300, 20s,; Algiers, 4,000, 20.fr., April 7. Tees to Rochefort, 1,700, 25s., pitch. Glasgow to Rouen, 2,300, 18s., April 6; Rio de Janeiro, 23s.; Genoa, 3,700, 25s., April; Savona, 3,700, 25s., April; Leghorn, 3,700, 25s., April. Wear to Havre, 1,500, 13s.; Rouen, 1,800, 13s. 6d.; St. Nazaire, 3,000, 14s. 6d. Hartlepool to Rouen, 2,200, 14s. Hull to Rouen, 1,800, 13s. ; Dunkirk, 1,500, 15s. ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS RECENTLY ACCEPTED. 5092 (1914). Improvements in Safety Mechanism for the Winding Gear of Mines. B. Norton, Selborne, Dudley, Worcestershire.—Relates to safety mechanism for the wind- ing gear of mines of the type in which a pair of screws are rotated by means of gearing from the winding engine, the screws being provided with carriages which travel along the screws, and operate a trip mechanism to apply the brakes and shut off steam in the event of winding in the wrong direction, overwinding, or excessive-speed. The object of the invention is to provide a more sensitive machine than has hitherto been used. To do this, an extremely sensitive and differential movement is imparted to the intercepting profiles by means of a high-speed governor, combined with a specially formed bell crank lever. This lever causes a highly multiplied movement at the lower speeds, which are the most critical periods in the operation of a controller. The lever may be formed so that at the higher speeds the governor moves the profiles an amount either equal to, or less than, its own movement. A positive trip action is pro- vided by means of the motion of the travelling carriages only, without requiring any efforts to be exerted by the governor, thus not affecting its sensitiveness. There is also provision for the most rapid acceleration that the winding engine is capable of (at the commencement of the wind) by means of lifting pawls. The accompanying drawing shows one form of the invention in an elevation. The operation of the machine is as follows If winding in the wrong direc- tion is commenced, carriage A1 forces pawl A3 against serration of profile L1, pushing away the support J from the Ji J- weighted lever K, causing it to fall, such fall operating through extraneous levers, etc., applies the brakes and shuts off steam. If winding commences in the right direction, as the speed of engine increases, the governor F rises, carry- ing with it the collar G1, and in conjunction with roller H1 bearing against the special shape of the bell crank lever H, gives any pre-determined rate of motion to serrated profiles L, L1. The special shape of lever H consists in making the first part of the lever below the centre of roller H1, inclined from the vertical, in order to cause rod H2 to lift more rapidly than the governor lifts, and also to lower more rapidly than the governor lowers, during the movement which takes place at the slower revolutions of the governor. The profiles L, L1 may be made of any desired length to control any desired proportion of the wind. The shape of the profiles L, L1, in conjunction with the movement imparted to them by the governor F and lever H, is such that unless the -speed of winding is retarded, and the brakes applied in such manner as to bring the cages in the mine to rest at, or before the proper position before the end of the wind, the point B3 of carriage B will instantly engage with one of the serrations of lever L, and force out the supporting link J, allowing the weighted lever K to fall. The shape of the serrated profiles L, L1, and of the lever H may be determined, and made to suit the actual power of the brakes fitted to any winding engine, so that it ensures the engines being brought to rest within the limits of position of cages allowed. (Three claims.)