May 7, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

967

<£1 4s. 6cl.; kitchen coal,, <£1 3s. 9d. Messrs. Hinchliffe
Lave since refused to go forward with their contract in
consequence of a dispute as to deliveries of coal to the
public baths. The Committee have been in communication
with last year’s contractors, Messrs. Spenser Whatley
Limited, who are prepared to make deliveries of coal up to
the period ending May 31 at the following prices—
Wallsend, <£1 9s. 3d.; London brights, <£1 6s. 8d.; kitchen
coal, <£1 4s. lid.; or, during the period ending March 31,1916
—Wallsend, <£1 10s. 3d.; London brights, <£1 7s. 8d.; and
kitchen coal, <£1 5s. lid. The Committee recommend that
the tender of Messrs. Spenser Whatley Limited at the
prices set out above, be accepted for the period ending
May 31, and at that date fresh invitations should be issued
for tenders for the supply during the remainder of the
financial year.

In reply to Mr. James Mason, Mr. Runciman states that
the total exports of steam coal to neutral countries in
Europe were: in January, 1,129,000 tons; in February,
1,287,000 tons : and in March, 1,559,000 tons.

In the House of Commons on Monday Lord Charles
Beresford asked why the Government did not condemn and
take over German merchant vessels at present interned.
Dr. Macnamara said the vessels referred to had not been
condemned as prizes, but all of them that were capable of
being utilised were now in use.

Mr. Pratt on Monday asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether he had entered, or proposed to enter, into
communication with the corporations of Glasgow, Liverpool,
Manchester, and other large cities, as to the accumulation
of stocks of coal in these cities, as he had done in the case of
the London County Council. Mr. Kunciman pointed out that
the recommendation of the Retail Coal Prices Committee
as to the accumulation by local authorities of stocks of
coal related only to London, and he had not communicated
with the local authorities of the cities mentioned. Those
places, he said, were situated much nearer the coalfields
than London is, and their difficulties as regards coal supply
for domestic purposes would appear to be less acute.
Mr. Duncan Millar asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether he was aware that the Coal Owners’ Asso-
ciation of the Midland counties of England had decided to
recommend to the coal owners of the district that the price
of coal for home consumption should be restricted, while
the Scottish coal owners were demanding from home con-
sumers the top price they could obtain for shipment; and
whether, in the event of the Scottish coal owners not
agreeing to restrict their prices, he would take steps at
once to regulate the price of coal in Scotland in order to
relieve the severe burden laid upon the poorer classes of
consumers. Mr. Runciman said he had received a resolu-
tion passed by the gas coal 'producers of the Midland area.
The whole question of the coal supply and coal prices was
receiving the most careful consideration.

The Government has consented to receive in London
to-day a deputation of English and Scottish ironmasters
who protest against the total prohibition, except under
licence, of the export of foundry iron. It is understood
that one of their chief points will be the alleged unequal
treatment accorded to applications for licences.

OBITUARY.

Mr. Robert Wild, who died at his residence, 24, Townley-
terrace, Cliviger, last week at the age of 81 years, was
employed at the Cliviger Collieries for more than 50 years,
and held the position of underground manager for a long
course of years. He retired a few years ago.

The death has occurred of Mr. James Booth, aged 58, at
his residence, 1, Auckland-road, Doncaster. Mr. Booth was
a colliery agent, well known throughout South Yorkshire,
being connected with Lord Fitzwilliam’s Elsecar Colliery.

Second-Lieut. B. Craig Job, grandson of Mr. W. Y. Craig
(Messrs. W. Y. Craig and Sons, Brynkinalt collieries,
Chirk), has been killed in action in France, whilst serving
with his company in the Royal West Kent Regiment.

The death took place very suddenly on Sunday of Mrs. H.
Brown, wife of Mr. H. Brown, the manager of the Bersham
collieries, near Wrexham, owned by the Broughton and
Bias Power Colliery Company.

In the recent heavy fighting around Ypres, the Northern
Division, comprising the Territorial battalions of the
Northumberland Fusiliers, the Durham Light Infantry and
the Yorkshire regiments, lost heavily in officers and men,
and amongst them are many colliery managers and miners.
Great sympathy will be extended to Lieut.-Col. W. C.
Blackett, the agent of the Charlaw and Sacriston Collieries
and past-president of the North of England Institute of
Mining and Mechanical Engineers, whose only son has
been killed. Lieut. Geoffrey Blackett was only 21 years
of age, and had served under his father at Sacriston. He
was intended for the Royal Flying Corps and was
temporarily attached to the 8th Durhams. Lieut. Jas. R.
Brass, who has been wounded, was also trained at Sacriston
and is one of six sons of Mr. F. T. Brass, mining engineer,
and manager of the Primrose Main Colliery, Barnsley,
who are serving with the Colours. Capt. W. H. Coulson,
also of the 8th Durhams, who was also killed in action, was
the only son of Maj. Coulson, of Shamrock House,
Durham, and was manager of the Fishburn Colliery,
Ferryhill. He also served his time at Sacriston. Lieut. J.
Wood, second son of Mr. T. Wood, of Rainton, is wounded,
missing and believed to be a prisoner, and the same fate
has befallen Maj. J. R. Ritson, of Sniperley Hall, Durham.
Son of Mr. Utrick A. Ritson, the well-known Durham
coalowner, he is a member of the North of England
Institute. Lieut. Id. Angus Leybourne, son of the late
Mr. S. J. Leybourne, agent for the Priestman Collieries
Limited, who has been wounded, was also a member of the
institute. Capt. Cecil Chipper, of the 4th Northumber-
land Fusiliers, who has been slightly wounded, is chemist
to the Mickley Coal Company. Lieut. A. B. Hare, of the
6th Durhams, who has also been wounded, is a nephew of
Mr. Samuel Hare, of Howlish Hall, Bishop Auckland, and
agent for Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Co’s collieries.
Second-Lieut. J. Nelson Rogers, of the 8th D.L.I., who was
killed in action on April 27, was under-manager at one of
the Hetton collieries. Lieut. T. L. Bainbridge, of the 5th
Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed on April 27, was
the son of the late T. H. Bainbridge, of Eshott Hall, Felton.
He was an electrical engineer with Messrs, Swan, Hunter
and Wigham Richardson, of Wallsend, Capt, T. A.

Bradford, of the Vigo House, Chester-le-Street, of the 8th
DLL, is a land agent who is associated with the coal-
mining industry. Capt. Burgoyne Johnson, of the same
battalion, who has been killed was a son of Mr. J. B.
Burgoyne-Johnson, of Brockley, Salt burn, and owner of the
Hamsteels Colliery.

Mr. Alfred Onions, miners’ agent, Tredegar, received
intimation from the War Office, on Tuesday, of the death
of his son, Lieut. Wilfred Onions, of the 3rd Monmouth-
shires, who had been previously reported wounded. Lieut.
Onions was killed in action on April 25, when leading his
men against a German attack. He is buried near Ypres.
The deceased, who was 26 years of age, joined as a private
at the outbreak of war, securing a commission in October.
Lieut. L. D. Whitehead has written that Lieut. Onions was
beloved by officers and men, and was extraordinarily
conscientious in the discharge of his duty. He was a
well-known footballer, and the parents have received many
messages of sympathy.

It was officially announced last week that Capt. W. A. R.
Carter, of the 5th King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment
(Territorials) had been killed in action. The deceased,
who was 33 years of age, was a son of the late Mr. James
Carter, coal merchant, of Blackburn and Fleetwood, and
was a director of the firm, which is now known as Messrs.
James Carter and Sons Limited. He had charge of the
Blackburn office.

The death occurred at his London residence, on April 15,
of Mr. George Humphreys-Davies, architect and surveyor,
at the age of 66, after a long illness. Mr. Humphreys-
Davies was best known professionally as a rating surveyor,
and more especially by those with whom he had come in
contact on the question to which he specially directed his
energies—viz., the exemption of machinery from rating. He
was joint author with the late Sir Edward Boyle, Bart.,
K.C., M.P., of The Principl-s of Rating. He was also the
author of a number of papers read before technical
societies, among which may be mentioned “ The Rating of
Coal Mines,” before the Institution of Mining Engineers. He
was, from its inception in 1889 until recently, surveyor to
the Machinery Users’ Association. He was also very
largely retained in assessment cases for collieries
and for railway, gas, electric, water and similar
undertakings carried on under statutory powers.
The experience of Mr. Humphreys-Davies’ firm in the
valuation of collieries for rating purposes has been exten-
sive and unique. They were concerned in the leading cases
of the Denaby and Cadeby Main Colliery Company v. the
Doncaster Union, and John Brown and Company Limited v.
the Rotherham Union, and they have advised a large
number of colliery companies in all the coalfields of England
and Wales upon the subjects of local rates and Imperial
taxes, including practically the whole of the companies
owning collieries in the Rhondda Valley and in the Merthyr,
Bridgend, Neath and Swansea districts of South Wales.
They have advised, and in some cases are at the present
time acting for, groups of colliery owners in the Derbyshire
and Somersetshire coalfields. Messrs. Humphreys-Davies
and Co. have also acted for many of the largest iron works,
including such well-known companies as Messrs. Armstrong,
Whitworth and Company, Messrs. Palmers’ Shipbuilding
Company Limited, the Cargo Fleet Iron Company, Messrs.
Cammell, Laird and Company, and Messrs. John Brown and
Company Limited. On account of advancing age and the
extension of his business, Mr. Humphreys-Davies had some
time before his death made arrangements by which the
business was formed into a small private company, in which
a number of the members of his staff who had been with
him for many years would be interested. The business will
be carried on by them at the offices at 5, Laurence Pountney-
lane, London, E.C., under the direction of the two seniors,
Mr. H. E. Elkins, A.R.I.B.A., and Mr. H. M. Carpenter.

THE GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN COAL
AND IRON TRADES.

We give below further extracts from German
periodicals that have reached us, showing the course of
the coal and iron trades in Germany and Austria:—

Increase in German Tube Prices.

The German tube makers have decided to raise the
price of gas pipes by reducing the rebate by 2 per cent,
on sales in the home market and 3 per cent, on sales
abroad. For boiler tubes and flanged tubes the rebate
has been lowered by 3 per cent, both for the home and
foreign markets, whilst a direct increase of 20 mk. per-
ton has been made in the case of g -Ivanised pipes.

Company Reports.

Norddeutsche Kohlen und Kokswerke A.G., Hamburg,
announces a dividend of 3 per cent. (5 per cent.).

Steinkohlenbergwerk Friedrich Heinrich A. G., Lint-
fort.—Having made a gross surplus of 4,679,488 mk.,
this company has been able to wipe out the old deficit
of 1,700,900 mk., cover the cost of general expenses and
taxes, write off 912,125 mk. (260,136 mk.) and pay
1,488,570 mk. interest, and is thus out of debt for the
first time. The coal output for the year was 814,564
tons and the coke production 268,555 tons. Owing to
the large amount of French capital in this concern, it
was placed under compulsory management some
months back.

Internationale Bohr-Gesellschaft, Frkelens.—The gross
profit of 3,600,108 mk.'(4.298,599 mk.) was composed of
the forward balance of 278,569 mk. (2,445.363 mk.) and
1,917,539 mk. (1,853,235 mk.) surplus from the working
opera1 ions and sales of properties and shares,
1,700,000mk. being written off, and 1,082,569mk. placed
to reserve. On the other hand, general expenses
absorbed 587,515 mk. (622,477 mk.), taxes and workmen’s
insurance 132,245 mk. (79,192 mk.), interest 311,747 mk.
(388,975 mk.), and writing-off 617,047 mk. (425,394 mk.)
Laving 1,251,552 mk. to be carried forward.

Gewerkschaft des Steirikohleribergwerks Graf Schwerin,
Castrop.—The coal output amounted to 473,140 tons
(613,460 tons) and the coke production to 99,220 tons
(188,183 tons), the former selling at 11-23 mk. (11*82 mk.)
and the latter at 16’66 mk, (18 mk.) per ton. The income

from coal and coke was 668,398 mk. (1,610,854 mk.) and
from by-products 302,919 mk. (563,620 mk.). Interest
consumed 362,919 mk. (344,600 mk.) and general
expenses 159,463 mk. (187,936 mk ) leaving 400,000 mk.
(1,000,000 mk.) to be distributed and 119,566 mk.
(707,658 mk.) to be written off.

Mulheimer Bergwerksverein, Millheim (fR/uhr).—The
coal output amounted to 1,258,654 tons (1,485,328 tons),
a deficit of 15 3 per cent. After writing off 794,784 mk.
(843,947 mk.) there remained a net profit of 1,337,730 mk.
(1,941,954 mk.), of which 53,152 mk. (85,037 mk.) are
placed to statutory reserve, 1,050,000 mk. (1,540,000 mk.)
devoted to paying a 7^ per cent. (11 per cent;) dividend,
and 17,995 mk. (42,228 mk.) awarded as directors’ share
of profits, 216,582 mk. (274,689 mk.) being carried
forward.

Aplerbecker Aktienverein fur Bergbau Solde.—The
coal, output was 251,352 tons (328,096 tons), and the
briquette production 72,276 tons (91,935 tons). The
profits on the mine amounted to 263,600mk. (518,450 mk.),
and on the briquette works to 94,834 mk. (165,328 mk.),
other sources of income bringing in 43,971 mk.
(64,761). After writing off 25(\684 mk. (296,282 mk.),
and providing for taxes and other dues, there remains
only 21,000 mk. (47,100 mk.) to be carried forward, as
compared with a profit of 287,105 mk. (10 per cent,
dividend) last year.

Oberschlesische Fisenindustrie A.G. fur Bergbau und
Huttenbetriebe, Gleiwitz.—After writing of 2 million
marks, the net profits are 962,195 mk. (785,025 mk.), the
distribution of which has not yet been settled. Last
year no dividend was paid.

Franz Meguin und Co., Dillingen.—In view of the
company’s connections with enemy countries, it has
been decided to postpone for several months the publica-
tion of the accounts and the holding of the general
meeting. In 1913-14 the net profits amounted to
363,838 mk.

Gewerkschaft Freie Vogel und Unverhofft, Gerthe.—Out
of an income of 497,521 mk. the expenses absorbed
390.862 mk., leaving as profit 106,389 mk., the whole of
which is to be written off. The total deficit at present
is 5,671,366 mk. The coal output for the year was
395,837 tons (345,582 tons).

Arenbergsche A. G. fur Bergbau und Huttenbetriebe,
Fssen.—The trading surplus amounted to 4,485,796 mk.
(5,796,729 mk.), no profit having been obtained from the
Gewerkschaft Arenberg (last year 300,000 mk.). After
paying loan interest and writing off 1,926,144 mk.
(1,906,881 mk.), there remains a net profit of 2,626,6Slmk.
(4,205,829 ink.), which is to be allocated as follows:—
17 per cent. (25 per cent.) dividend, 2,448,000 mk.
(3,600,000 mk.) ; Board’s share of urofits, 119,019 mk.
(194,800 mk.); carried forward, 59,062 mk. (89,029 mk.).

Gluckauf A. G. fur Brau,nkohlenverwertung, Lichtenau,.
—The whole of the net profit of 112,448 mk. is to be
devoted to writing off. Last year 4 per cent, was paid
on the A preference shares, and 1 per cent, on the new
preference.

Gewerkschaft des Steinkohleribergwerks Adler, Kup-
ferdreh.—Out of the net profits of 748,230 mk.
(827,396 mk.), 270,000 mk. (425,000 mk.) are to be
distributed among the shareholders, 344,132 mk.
(381,740 mk.) written off, and 126,342 mk. (114,870 mk.)
carried forward.

Skodawerke A.G., Filsen.—Including 594,432 kronen
brought forward, the net profits amount to 7,076,626 kr.
(a deficiency of 544,976 kr.), out of wihch a dividend of
14 per cent. (15 per cent.) is to be paid, 200,000 kr. being
placed to reserve and 584,366 kr. carried forward.

Gewerkschaft Meimershauspn, Saarbrilcken.—The year
closed with a loss of 79,501 mk., necessitating a call of
250 mk. per share.

Fisenstein - Bergwerk Gewerkschaft Wilhelmina.—A
sum of 30,000 mk., being 30 mk. per share, is to be
distributed among the shareholders.

Fisenhiltte Silesia A.G. Faruschowitz.—Net profit
115,842 mk. (944,195 mk.), of which 20,000 mk. are
devoted to paying the coupon tax, and 95,847 mk. carried
forward. Last year the dividend was 8 per cent.

Duxer Kohlenverein, Gross-Zossen.— The Bohemian
collieries of the company raised 721,076 tons (853,403
tons) of coal, and the Saxon collieries 10,220,000 hecto-
litres (9,714,000 hl.), 4,790,094 cwt. (4,229,709 cwt.) of
briquettes being made. After writing off 358,425 mk.
(408,071 mk.), a net profit of 1,189,112 mk. (1,216,117 mk.)
was obtained, enabling a 16 per cent. (16 per cent.) divi-
dend to be paid, and 326,106 mk. (324,664 mk.) to be
carried forward.

The Supply of Gas and Industrial Fuel.—A joint conference
of representatives of the gas and electrical industries was
held in the lecture theatre of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers, presided.over by Sir Corbet Woodall, the governor
of the Gas Light and Goke Company, supported by Sir John
Snell, the president of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
The position as disclosed at the conference is that, though
until recently there were supplies of coal at the pits but diffi-
culties in transport, nowT the supply is less than the demand,
charges have been put up, and, in spite of a great number of
ships for transport, and a fall in freights, the gas and elec-
tricity undertakings are faced with the prospect of a coal
famine. In Manchester, for example, the stock held by the
Gas Committee is less than it was after the coal strike, and
only enough coal can be obtained to meet current demands,
whereas normally at this season the stocks should be in
process of being increased, in anticipation of the greater con-
sumption of the winter. Resolutions were passed suggesting
the extension of the restrictions against exporting coal, and
requesting the Government to take immediate steps to
increase the output of coal, and to improve the conditions
of its carriage by rail and sea, and also to reduce its price
to reasonable limits. A representative body from the gas and
electrical interests was appointed to forward these objects.