772.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

April 9, 1915.

Smith and McLean Limited.—The report for the period
ended December 31, 1914, states that the profits amount
to £8,594, to which has to be added the amount brought
forward, £12,625, making £21,219. The directors have
puaced to ordinary reserve fund £2,000, and recommend a
dividend on the ordinary shares of 5s. per share (free of
income-tax), carrying forward £13,262.

Ocean Coal and .Wilsons Limited.—The directors, in their
report to December 31, 1914, state 'that the profits avail-
able for distribution amount to £301,266 4s. 7d., which sum
they recommend be appropriated as folloiws :—To a divi-
dend of 10 per cent, on the ordinary shares (free of income-
tax), £296,216; to balance carried forward to 1915,
£5,050 4s. 7d.

NEW COMPANIES.

Drumma Colliery Company Limited.—Private company.
Registered^ April 1. Colliery and mine owners, dealers in
coal,toil, iron, clay, brick earth, bricks, tiles, pipes, etc.,
and to acquire by purchase the undertaking of the Ty’nyfrou
Colliery Company Limited. Nominal capital, £5,000 in £1
shares.' Directors :—J. L. Jones, David Lewis Thomas,
Evan Walters, William Davies, David Harris. Qualifica-
tion of directors, £50.

Rostoff Syndicate Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered March 25. To acquire 'and deal in any mining rights
or concessions in any part of the world, and to carry on
business of contractors, mines, coal, and iron masters,
quarry owners, brick' makers, timber merchants, etc.
Nominal capital, £3,300 in £1 shares. First directors shall
be appointed by subscribers. Subscribers (one share each) :
F. A. Saxon, 'Roseland House, Newcomen-road, Finchley,
N., clerk; J. R. Bickensall, 56, Myddelton-square, London,
E.C., clerk.

S. L. C. Syndicate Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered March 24. Coal and iron masters, smelters, engineers,
iron founders, patent fuel manufacturers, and contractors for
and dealers in coal, coke, iron or ironwork, brick makers,
etc. Nominal capital, £3,000 in £1 shares. First directors
to be. appointed by subscribers. Qualification of directors,
50 shares. Subscribers (one share each) :—M. Smith,
Mostyn-road, Birmingham, clerk; D. White, 4, Wilson-road,
Handsworth, Birmingham, clerk.

Wirral Colliery (1915) Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered office, the Colliery Offices, Nestor, Cheshire.
Registered March 29. To "acquire the undertaking rod all
or any of the assets and liabilities of the Wirral Company
Limited, in liquidation, incorporated in 1911, and to carry
on business of colliery owners, miners, mechanical engi-
neers, machine and tool makers, brick, tile, earthenware,
and pottery manufacturers, etc., and to enter into an agree-
ment. • Nominal capital, £20,000 in £1 shares. Directors
and subscribers (one share each) :—W. PL Davies, 1, Tithe-
barn-street, Liverpool, railway wagon owner; J. Settle.
Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent, coal factor. Qualification of
directors, £100.

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 FREIGHT MARKET.

Even in time of war, the commercial community cannot
wholly sacrifice its rest days, and, indeed, the volume of
business possible in most quarters is at present not sufficient
to justify that self-abnegation. Therefore it is that the
incidence of the Easter holidays has resulted in a very much
smaller tale of outward chartering than is normally the
case even nowadays. We are glad to be able to report that
such business as there has been still favours shippers on the
Whole'. At the Tyne, there is not a great deal of change,
however. Coasting business is rather firmer, at from 7s.
to 7s. 6d. to London. North France is in charterers’ favour
at 12s. 9d. to Rouen. The Bay is distinctly easier at 15s.
to Bordeaux, and 16s. to Rochefort. The Mediterranean is
well maintained at from 24s. to 25s. to Genoa. At South
Wales, figures are more favourable to shippers. Barcelona,
from Cardiff, is recorded at a reduction of 6d., Gibraltar is
Is. lower, Havre is Is., Lisbon 6d., and Rouen Is. 6d.,
whilst Caen and the River Plate are weaker. . Rates for
Bordeaux, St. Nazaire, Dakar, Las Palmas, and Teneriffe
are steady. Rates from other ports in the United Kingdom
are substantially governed by those just quoted.

Homewards, an interesting development has taken place,
so far as grain cargoes from the East are concerned. The
Government is reported to have appointed an. official
charterer in London to charter grain steamers home from
India, in order, it is understood, to centralise the 'business,
and to avoid the artificial inflation of rates of freight. There
appears, also, to have been a committee appointed by the
India Council to deal with the wheat situation. It is jto be
hoped that these factors will result in more reasonable rates
of freight,' and will tend also towards the cheapening of
foodstuffs. The East Indies are now very quiet, and it is
reported that 'the Indian Committee indicates only 50s. for
May loading at Kurrachee, whilst Calcutta is quoted at
70s. on d.w. The rice ports are quiet, but,steady, at 75s..
from Burmah and 77s. 6d. Saigon to United Kingdom. The
North Pacific is firm on the basis of 75s. The nitrate ports
are well maintained at recent rates. The Mediterranean is'
dull, with only a small enquiry. There is a good demand
for cotton tonnage at America, and, vessels being, in only
limited supply, extreme figures are being paid. Grain rates
are fully firm, and the figures for lumber and deal tonnage
are rather scaring off charterers. ' Business at the River
Plate is restricted, but there is no ease in rates, early load-
ing being quoted at 70s., and July at 62s-. 6d.

Tyne to Bordeaux, 2,800, 15s. ; Boulogne, 1,400, 16s.;
Bagnoli, 3,000, 25s.; Cette, 2,300, 23s.; Genoa, 3,900, 24s.;
2,200, 24s.; 2,500, 25s.; Havre, 1,800, 13s.; Islands, 2,200,
20s. ; London, 2,000, 7s. ; 1,200, 7s. 6d.; Oporto, 1,750,
21s. • Porto Ferrajo, 3,000, 25s.; Rochefort, 2,000, 16s.;
Rouen, 3,400, 12s. 9d.; Savona, 3,900, 24s.; Treport, 1,300,
15s.

Cardiff to Algiers, 1,200, 20 fr.; 2,500, 21 fr.; Aden, 7,000,

31s. 3d. ; Brest, 900, 10s.; Buenos Ayres, 27 s.; Barcelona,
3,000, 19s.; 1,400, 19s.; Bordeaux, 2,000, 15 fr.; 900, 15 fr.;
Caen, 850, 12s.; 1,500, 11s. 6d.; Dakar, 2,200, 15s., 500,
14s. 750, 13s., 1,000; Ferrol, 900, 16s. 6d.; Gibraltar, 1,700,.
16s.; 1,200, 16s., fast as can;-Havre, 1,400, 11s. 6d.; Hon-
fleur, 800, 12s.; Las Palmas, 3,000, 15s.; La Rochelle, 2,000,
12 fr.; 2,500, 12 fr.; Lisbon, 2,000, 16s., 350, April; Mar-
seilles,. 3,600, 21 fr.; Oporto, 900, 17s.; River Plate, 4,200,
25s. 6d.; Rio de Janeiro, 6,400, 27s., 500; Rouen, 1,200,
Us. 6d.; Rochefort, 2,000, 12| fr.; 2,500, 12| fr.; St.
Nazaire, 3,100, 13 fr.; St. Malo, 600, 10s.; St. Brieux, 900,
13s.; Trouville, 600, 13s.; Teneriffe, 3,000, 15s., April 12.

Swansea to St. Servan, 600, 11s. 6d.; St. Malo, 750, Ils.;
Tonnay Charente, 1,900, 18 fr.; Rouen, 1,700, 12s. 3d.;
1,700, 12s. 6d.; 1,700, 13s.; 750, 13s. 6d.; 1,500, 12s.;
Belfast, 300, 5s.; Tr eport, 900, 13s. 6d., free in and out;
Genoa, 1,300, 20s.; Spezzia, 1,300, 20s.; Leghorn, 1,300,
20s.; Chantenay, 1,900, 18 fr.; Messina, 2,000, 22s.;
Catania, 2,000, 22s.

Newport to Buenos Ayres, 5,000, 27s., first part April;
Seville, 1,300, 18s., April 12; River Plate, 5,500, 27s.

Llanelly to Dieppe, 720, 13s. 9d.

Methil to London, 1,800, 8s.

Blyth to Havre, 1,200, 13s.

Hull to Dunkirk, 1,200, 14s. 6d. ; Rouen, 2,400, 12s.;
Brixham, 750, 10s., free delivery, 1,100, 10s., C.T.; London,
1,700, 6s. 3d.

> Port Talbot to Huelva, 1,900, 18s.

Mersey to Alexandria, 1,000, 30s., April.

Glasgow to Rouen, 2,500, 14s.; Tonnay Charente, 1,250,
18 fr.; Rochefort, 1,250, 18 fr.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

3886 (1914). Improvements in or Relating to Vertical
Coking Retorts, Carbonising Chambers, or the like. B.
Cochrane, of Hurworth Old Hall, near Darlington; and R.
Peel, of The Tower, Neville’s Cross, near Durham.—Accord-
ing to the invention, a coking retort or carbonising chamber
is provided with an inner cylinder or tube imperforate except
at the base, wherein are arranged a number of smaller tubes,

6

which are connected to or in communication with a suction
main at the top leading to an exhauster, and open at the
bottom into or are connected by branches to the space con-
taining the coal or the like to be carbonised. The inner
cylinder or tube may in some cases be partially or wholly
filled around the smaller tubes therein with any suitable
heat-retaining material. Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations at
right angles to each other. (Three claims.)

4688 (1914). Improvements in and Relating to the Process
of and Apparatus for Washing Coal and Clarifying the Wash
Water Used therein. C. Burnett, of Belmont House,
Durham. —■ Comprises improvements according to which
simple and effective.means are furnished, whereby the water
in •circulation during the washing process is clarified, and the
operation of the apparatus rendered more efficient and satis-
factory. According to the invention, the settling tank is
extended to a sufficient height above the overflow of said tank
as to contain all the water in circulation in 'the washing
troughs and the pipes, and means are provided for deliver-
ing all the water in excess of the normal quantity collected

in the tank into the pump well for facilitating, the starting
of ' the washer.. For this purpose the overflow from the
settling tank is provided with a suitable valve, which, when
the pumps are stopped, is closed, and the circulating water
upon the washers and also contained in the circulating pipes
is run into the heightened portion or extension of the tank
above the overflow, and when the pumps are to be again
started, the valve is opened so as to deliver the water con-
tained in the upper part of the tank into the pump well,
which thereby facilitates the starting of the washer, and the
great inconvenience of stoppage, through emptying the well,
which has hitherto been experienced, is thereby obviated.
Advantageously, two or more settling tanks of this
character are provided, adapted to be worked successively at
such intervals of time as will ensure the precipitation of the

fine coal in suspension, and enable same to be removed by
the scraper conveyor from the tank, thereby ensuring a fresh
supply of clear washing water without appreciable loss of
either coal or Water at comparatively short intervals. In
combination with a settling tank or tanks of the above
described nature, means may be employed for more effec-
tively extracting the water from.the precipitated fine coal,
which is removed from the settling tank or tanks. Fig. 1 is
a sectional side elevation through one of the settling tanks,
and the pump well, and also showing the present arrange-
ment for extracting water from the coal after same has been
withdrawn from the settling tank; fig. 2 is a transverse
section through the two settling tanks on line 1—1 of fig. 1;
fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of a suitable
presser for extracting water from the fine coal removed from
the settling tanks, two forms of pressers being illustrated;
fig. 4 is .a transverse section on line 2—2 of fig. 3. (Six
claims.)

5069 (1914). Improvements in Electric Switches. St.
Helens Cable and Rubber Company Limited, of Arpley,
Warrington, Lancashire, and J. C. White, A.M.I.E.E., of
the same address. — Has for its object the provision of a
thoroughly gas or watertight switch, which avoids the use
of stuffing boxes or glands, particularly around the cables or
around the means for transmitting motion from the exterior
to the interior of the box. According to the invention, the
switch comprising terminals and the actuating mechanism is
enclosed in a small casing, and the member for transferring
motion for actuating said mechanism from outside is formed
to co-act with the casing so as to form a liquid seal of the
dip and recess type. Preferably either the cables entering
the box are sealed by or the terminals are embedded in
sealing compound. In either case the compound is such as
to be capable of assuming a liquid form when placed in
position, and may possibly be a liquid under all normal
conditions. In ia preferred form the terminals are placed in
a recess or recesses separate from the actuating mechanism,
so that the cables Which enter the box pass through a sinuous
path and enter the recess in such manner that they may be
sealed either by filling part of the path with sealing com-
pound, or embedding the terminals themselves in the
compound. In order to separate the terminals from the
actuating mechanism, these are preferably arranged in
separate compartments. In order that a quick break switch
may be employed, and at the same time the actuating
mechanism entering the box be sealed by a seal of the dip
and recess type, it is necessary that its> motion should be
rotary. Now the standard form of a quick break switch
for small constructions is the well-known tumbler switch,
and consequently a link mechanism lis necessary to connect
the handle thereof with the rotary member, so as to produce
the reciprocating motion from a rotary motion. For this

46

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purpose a circular hole is made in the rotary member, into
which a pin working in a slot in a link is adapted to fit.
This link has a second slot embracing the knob of the switch,
and being of sufficient size to enable the quick break or snap
action to be effected, the other end of the link being pivoted
on a pin either fixed to the casing or to some other part.
Fig. 1 shows a sectional elevation of the switch when the
casing is formed of porcelain or like material; fig. 2 is a
plan looking upwards, with the lower plug removed in order
to show the switch actuating mechanism; while fig. 3 is a
plan of fig. 1 with the upper plug removed in order to show
the .position of the terminals; fig. 4 is an elevation corre-
sponding to fig. 1 when the casing is formed of iron or like
material; figs. 5 and 6 show a partial elevation and plan of
the arrangement, in which the conductors are led in directly
from a conduit. (Eight claims.)

5395 (1914). Improvements in Signal Indicators or
Registers such as are Used in Collieries. H. Stoddart, of
13, Park-road, Aspatria, Cumberland. —■ The object of the
invention is to give the engineman in charge of the winding
a visible record as well as an audible alarm of the nature of
tiie signal, which visible record remains in view until the
signal for another operation is given, when the first signal
is automatically cancelled in registering the second. The
apparatus >is of the type in Which there is a dial of sufficiently
large, diameter to allow of figures or letters being clearly dis-
played thereon, such dial being provided with an index
pointer operated by a pawl and ratchet wheel, a detent being
used to prevent the ratchet wheel and index from running
back through the recoil of a spring. According to the inven-
tion, certain improvements are introduced. The accompany-
ing drawing shows in elevation the actuating 'mechanism
of the signal indicator or register with dial removed, the
actuating rod being in the drawn up position. If the wire
from the pit is pulled and released, say, three times in quick
succession, the mechanism operates three times, that is to
say, the detent lever 25 is moved out of gear with the ratchet
wheel 16, so that, firstly, the index 20 flies back to zero;
secondly, the gong is rapped three times, and the ratchet
wheel 16 is operated three times to move the index 20 to
numeral 3 on the dial. As the three pulls and three libera-
tions of the wire are made in fairly quick succession, the