1082

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 21, 1915.

- Bbnsey ;awarded'Matthew Clark, farmer, £12 for damage
to wheat crops caused by smoke or. sty the arising or issuing
.from .a burning pit heap at Littletown Colliery, owned
•by Sir B. Samuelson and Company Limited. For the
defence, it was contended that there were several possible
causes of the damage—stythe from the pit heap and from
the puddle heap which was owned by . the Londonderry
Collieries, coal dust from the Londonderry Collieries, and
colliery subsidence. The bulk of the damage, it was con-
tended, was due to colliery subsidence which occurred
some years ago. His Honour, however, did not accept the
plea that the damage could be attributed to subsidence.

Messrs.’ Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited
having, with the consent of their debenture holders, now
made satisfactory arrangements with their bankers for the
lean of the necessary money, have just recently made a com-
mencement with, a comprehensive scheme of improvements
and additions to their iron and steel works plant at Jarrow-
on-Tyne. The scheme includes a large gas-driven power
house, in which will be installed approximately 15,000 b.h.p.
of gas engines, all driven by the waste gases from the blast-
furnaces; a.new lay-out of the heavy cogging mill, which it
is intended to drive electrically, together with the conversion
of all the steel works auxiliaries from steam to electricity,
by which large savings in the cost of coal will be effected;
and a new gas producing plant for the steel smelting fur-
naces, together with modern soaking pits for the same. At
the Palmer Yard blastfurnace gas is available in large
quantities, and after this has been cleansed it will be used
in high-speed vertical gas engines of 1,000 b.h.p. each for
generating power, and in. horizontal double acting gas
engines for supplying air to the blastfurnaces. Four gas
blowing engines are on order from Messrs. Galloways
Limited, of .Manchester, and six gas electric generating
units from the National Gas Engine Company Limited, of
Ashton-under-Lyne. Before use the gas will be treated on
the dry cleaning system of Messrs. Fraser and Chalmers
Limited, of Erith, Kent. The horizontal double-acting gas
blowing engines will each have two gas power cylinders in
tandem, with one air cylinder between them. These engines
(normally rated at 2,000 b.h.p. each) will be worked at
reduced speed for blowing. The National gas engines will
be of the .high-speed vertical single-acting type, each unit
having 12 cylinders on six cranks, and driving a 1,000 kw.
alternator. The blowing engines will supply air to the
blastfurnaces, and the electric power generated will be
utilised throughout the Palmer Works. The contract for
the electrification of the heavy cogging mill and the con-
version of the steel works auxiliaries from steam to electricity
has been awarded to the British Westinghouse Electrical
and Manufacturing Company Limited. The scheme is
being carried out to the requirements of Mr. A. B. Gowan,
managing director, and under the direction of Mr. A. P.
Pyne, works manager, of Messrs. Palmers Shipbuilding and
Iron Company Limited, with whom Mr. William C.
Mountain, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, is associated as consulting
engineer.

Col. T. E. Jobling, well-known in Northumbrian coal
circles, who has been laid aside by illness for a considerable
period, has now been able to resume his magisterial, military
and mining activities.

Mr. Geo. Pattison, manager of Trimdon Grange Colliery,
who is leaving to take up similar duties at Leadgate Colliery,
near Nuneaton, has been presented by the Trimdon colliery
officials, workmen and other friends with a canteen of table
cutlery, a case of fish knives and forks, and a silver-mounted
umbrella; with a gold brooch for Mrs. Pattison.

The stoppage at the Beamish Mary Pit proved to be of
much shorter duration than was originally anticipated. The
accident to the main shaft of the winding engine has been
speedily repaired, and work was resumed last week after
the colliery had only been idle for a little over a week.

Mr. J. G. Ramsay, under-manager of Bowburn Colliery,
has been presented by the members of the colliery ambulance
class with..an oak inkstand and ivory paper-knife, in recogni-
tion of his services on their behalf as secretary and instructor
of the class. ■ Mr. Peter Harle, manager of the colliery,
who made the presentation, advised the class to endeavour
to raise a team to win the Donald Bain shield.

The proceedings instituted by the Treasury against the
Walker Coal Company, in October last, for alleged breaches
of mines regulations, were withdrawn on Friday of last
week at Newcastle. Mr. Sheriton Holmes, applying to have
the 16 summonses dismissed, said it had been decided to
withdraw them, a satisfactory report on the present con-
dition of the colliery ' having been received and having
regard to present circumstances. Mr. Edward Clark, for
the company, said he had no objection to the withdrawal
of the summonses, but he did object to the statement that
a satisfactory report as to the colliery had now been received
by the prosecution, because the colliery had been worked
exactly as before. If the report were satisfactory now, the
condition of the colliery should have satisfied the prosecution
in October last.

Cumberland.

The Thirlwell Colliery, near Greenhead, was idle two days
last week, owing to the breakdown of a pump. Better pros-
pects are being obtained under the new manager, and the
opening of a new drift has proved very satisfactory.

On Friday evening, a presentation was made to Mr. John
Webster, on his retirement from the position of overman
of the Buckhill Colliery, near Broughton, after 40 years’
service.

Over 100 Belgian miners arrived at Workington, on
Saturday, to work in the local pits, principally at the
Workington Iron and Steel Company’s Lowca colliery,
which has been depleted of labour by the heavy enlistments
of the Cumberland coal miners. Another batch of about
300 are expected during the week”.

Yorkshire.

A Successful Relief Fund—Anti-German Riots at Gold-
thorp e—-Barnsley Housing Scheme.

The continued prosperity of the Thorncliffe and Rocking-
ham Permanent Relief Society was again the subject of
congratulation at the annual meeting, which was held at
Chapeltown recently, under the chairmanship of Mr. T.
C. Newton. The annual report showed that the member-
ship at the end of the year was 4,267. The total income
had been .£7,257 18s. Id., and the benefits paid had
amounted to £5,306 8s. 2d. The capital of the society at
December 31 was £48,680, an increase of £1,181 on the
year. It was a matter for congratulation that no fatal
accidents had occurred during the year. Payments to
minor accident cases showed a decrease of £286. Payments
to permanently disabled members had increased by £100,

and. would continue to increase to some considerable degree
for several years, as the benefit had been increased from
10s. to 15s. per week. About 400 members of the society
had up to the present joined the Forces.- The report was
adopted.

■ One of the chief topics of the week has been the serious
anti-German riots which have occurred in the South York-
shire coalfield, particularly in the district around Doncaster,
and in which it is alleged the miners have played a con-
spicuous part. The worst of the riots appear to have been
at Goldthorpe, a typical colliery centre some 8 or 9 miles from
Doncaster, and in the vicinity of the Hickleton Main,
Barmborough, and several other collieries. Not only was a
German pork butcher’s shop wrecked and looted, but a large
establishment opposite, and belonging to an Englishman,
who was supposed to have sympathised with the German,
was likewise absolutely wrecked. The allegation is that
thousands of miners joined in the riot. The police had to
be strongly reinforced, and there were numerous baton
charges and broken heads. The sequel, on Saturday last,
was the appearance before the Doncaster West Riding Bench
of 21 miners belonging to Goldthorpe and Bolton-on-Dearne,
charged with riotously assembling, and their remand to
Wakefield Gaol for one- week. During one of the riots
revolvers were used against the crowd. Five men were shot,
two being very seriously wounded, and four persons stand
remanded charged with shooting.

A desire for a municipal housing scheme has been expressed
at Barnsley. At last week’s meeting of the Corporation,
the Streets and Buildings Committee reported having con-
sidered a communication from the local Trades and Labour
Council with regard to the adoption of a housing scheme for
this old colliery town. The matter was considered, but the
committee found itself unable to recommend that such a
scheme should be entertained during the progress of the war.

The Parish Councils of South Kirkby and South Elmsail
are emulating some of those of the Doncaster district, who
have lately secured urban powers. They are talking of
making a joint application. Hemsworth Parish Council are
also contemplating an application. The general desire of
mining communities seems to be for wider governing powers.

Mr. Marmaduke Scott Marsden, son of Mr. Marmaduke
Marsden, coal exporter of Hull and Goole, has been pro-
moted to the position of lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air
Service. Lieut. Marsden up to this appointment was sub-
lieutenant, and he is now “ somewhere in France.”

At the council meeting of the Yorkshire Miners’ Associa-
tion, held at Barnsley, on Tuesday, the president (Mr. H.
Smith) in the chair, a resolution of sympathy was passed
with the relatives of 31 members reported killed in the
service of King and country. Notification of five
further deaths has also been received, making the
total members of the association lost through the
war up to date 118. In connection with these the
association has already paid out 113 death claims. It is
estimated that nearly 25,000 Yorkshire miners have joined
his Majesty’s Forces.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

At a meeting of the Blackburn Trades Council, held on
Tuesday, May 11, reference was made to the deficiency of
4,700 tons in the coal stock at the gasworks, and a resolution,
moved by Mr. J. Frankland, J.P., that their representatives
on the Town Council put a notice on the agenda asking for
a Local Government Board enquiry into the matter, was
adopted. Mr. Frankland said the ratepayers ought to have,
the full circumstances. There was no doubt the Corporation
had had the coal, and that it had been used in the gasworks,
but there was something wrong in the bookkeeping. He
thought if they could get the whole of the facts, they would
find the gas strike was the explanation of this extra coal
having been used.

A correspondent learns that a syndicate operating, it is
said, from Liverpool, are about to commence boring for coa]
in the Glazebury district of Southern Lancashire.

The Midlands.

Miners' Neglect of Work—Rescue Appliances for the Front
Re-opening of Pits at Goseley.

At Birchfield, last week, five miners were summoned for
neglecting their work at the Hamstead Colliery. Nominal
damages were claimed varying from 35s. to 65s. Mr. L.
Holland, manager of the colliery, said the company were
anxious to get all the coal possible out of the pit to send
away. The War Office and Home Office were pressing them
to do so, and a representative from the War Office had visited
the colliery. The men had been called together between
;the shifts, and the urgent necessity of attending to their
work pointed out to them. So long, however, as some of
them earned £1 a week they were satisfied. They cared
neither for the colliery nor the country. Mr. C. B. Bragg,
the presiding magistrate, in ordering the defendants to pay
the amounts claimed, said he could not conceive of any
right-minded man slacking work at the present time.

Six sets of self-contained breathing apparatus have been
lent to the military authorities by the South Staffordshire
and East Worcestershire Mines Rescue Association from
their station at Dudley. The military authorities have been
supplied with the names of 14 Black Country men with a
knowledge of the apparatus who are at present serving with
the Colours, some being already at the front. An appeal
was made for 180 sets from different parts of the country.

The coal trade is in a state of suspense pending the
decision of the wages question. The general adoption in the
past of wages clauses in selling contracts will enable col-
liery owners to charge upon the merchants the retrospective
wages increase, whilst the latter will not be able to recoup
themselves from their customers with regard to recent sales
upon the old basis. The cost of coal-getting is increasing
also through other difficulties, notably that of obtaining pit
props. It is thought highly probable that in June, when new
coal contracts are made, the wages clause will be pretty
generally dropped, and an all-round increase of 5s. will be
substituted to cover possible increased costs of all kinds to
the colliery owner during the period of the contract. This
solution of the difficulty is thought likely to meet with the
approval of the coal merchants.

An announcement of very much satisfaction to the local
coal trade is possible concerning the Goseley district, near
Bilston, South Staffordshire. Messrs. Sidney Parrish Limited
have determined to re-open the Deepfields and Blue Button
collieries, which, when in working order, will find employ-
ment for between 400 and 500 miners. Messrs. Parrish
have had experience in the working of mines in the Kings-
winford district, and will have to overcome serious obstacles
in respect to pumping up from the deep the underground

water with which the mines are now clogged, but they are
receiving assistance amounting to more than £2,000 from
the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage Commissioners to
enable them to get the water down, and there is little doubt
that they will be successful. The opening up of new pits
was badly needed in the.Black Country coalfields, in order
to keep pace with the increased demand for manufacturing
fuel, which is now so conspicuous, from the ironworks.

Kent.

Court of Chancery Refuse to Confirm Sale of Tilmanstone
Colliery.

The annual general meeting of the East Kent Light
Railways Company, which is concerned with the colliery
railways in this district, is to be held on the 27th inst. As
a result of the war, progress with' the building of such
lengths of the railways as were not then completed has been
practically at a standstill for some months past. The con-
tractors have been granted an extension of time, and a
further extension is now under the consideration of the
directors. At a special meeting to be held the same day, the
draft Order for the additional light railway from Wickham-
breaux to a point near .Birchington Bay is to be considered.

The Court of Chancery having at the week end refused to
confirm the sale of Tilmanstone Colliery to the Channel
Collieries Trust, the shareholders are again free to attempt
to retain the property in their own hands, according to the
scheme adopted at last week’s meeting, of which an outline
has appeared. The raising of £75,000, the half of the new
second debenture issue, gives promise of being successful. At
present, about 500 tons of coal is being raised weekly, which
is being used to supply the pumps, and the balance sold in
the district. The coal difficulty is becoming serious with
■some of the big concerns in the district, and there is no
doubt that if Tilmanstone could raise 4,000 tons weekly, it
would be an appreciable advantage. This engineers estimate
could be done by an expenditure now of £12,000.

Scotland.

Rescue Work in Lanarkshire : Opening of New Station at
Coatbridge.'

The central rescue station erected in Coatbridge by the
Lanarkshire Coal Masters’ Association, which was
formally opened in the presence of a large and representa-
tive company of invited guests, is the principal of four
stations which the association have agreed upon for the
purposes of rescue work in case of explosion or other
untoward occurrence in the mines of the county. The three
sub-stations will be erected at Lesmahagow, Bathgate, and
Larbert. In response to invitations sent out by the associa-
tion, nearly 100 gentlemen, drawn from the mining and
engineering industries, attended the opening ceremony,
while there were also present others representing educa-
tional institutions and committees. The building has been
erected on the old gasworks site in Ellis and Whittington
Streets, adjacent to Coatbridge Cross, and convenient to the
car and railway stations. It is a building of three storeys
high, and in the extreme north and south portions, occupying
the street flat and first floor, there are four houses of four
apartments each, for the accommodation of the super-
intendent and the married members of the resident brigade.
The administrative rooms are provided in the central part
of the buildings and comprise, on the street level, general
office, apparatus room, drying room and lecture room, also
a large hall, 60 ft. by 30 ft., to be used for drill and general
purposes. All these apartments are reached direct, or by
corridor, from the main entrance hall, which is 11 ft. wide,
and from which also the stairs to the basement and the
upper floor lead. On the upper floor there are provided four
bedrooms for single members of the brigade, together with
a mess room and general lavatory accommodation. The
board room occupies the central portion on this floor, and is
handsomely appointed and furnished. The floor between the
basement and the street flat is fireproof, being composed
of steel joists and concrete, that in the drill hall being
specially strengthened to withstand the heavy motor traffic.
The basement flat is of considerable area, and the chief
feature here is the working galleries, which have been pro-
vided under the drill hall, and where there is available for
demonstration a length of 75 ft. There is also a large and
commodious observation hall, from which the galleries can be
seen, and the nature and details of the rescue work followed
in comfort, without interruption. The heating chamber is
provided to the north of the galleries, and it is from a
furnace here that the smoke for flooding the workings is got.
For the purpose of clearing the galleries quickly, a large
fan, electrically driven, has been erected at the east end,
and connected to an upright shaft in the outer wall. In close
proximity to the galleries there is a large bathroom, fitted
with spray and shower cabinets. There is ample storage in
this flat, in addition to a large apartment for machinery,
which may be added from time to time in connection with the
apparatus used in the galleries. The walling throughout is
of brickwork, and that part fronting the streets is faced with
terra cotta brick, having stone dressings introduced at
intervals. The entire buildings are lit by electricity, and in
addition to an open fire in each apartment, there is a heating
system of hot water in piping and radiators, generated from
a boiler in the heating chamber. The building has been
erected to plans prepared by Messrs. James Davidson,
F.R..I.B.A., and Son, architects, 6, Academy-street, Coat-
bridge.

An inspection of the buildings was made by the company,
and for the benefit of the visitors a demonstration was given
by the rescue station staff, under Mr. Welch, with the
“ Proto ” breathing apparatus. Luncheon was afterwards
served in the drill hall, Mr. Adam Nimmo presiding.
In proposing the loyal and service toasts, the chairman
referred to the death at the front of Col. Robinson, chief
inspector of mines for Scotland. He had only heard a few
days ago in London, Mr. Nimmo said, that Col. Robinson
had been doing splendid work with the Army, that his
striking personality was showing itself, and that great use
was being made of his wide knowledge and experience in
connection with mining work. His loss was deeply lamented
by all who had been associated with him in his work in
Scotland. It was agreed, on the motion of the chairman,
to send an expression of regret and sympathy to Col.
Robinson’s relatives.

The opening ceremony had been entrusted to Sir Richard
Redmayne, but in his unavoidable absence the duty was
undertaken by the chairman. At the outset of his remarks,
Mr. Nimmo outlined the history of the Home Office regula-
tions and the negotiations which had been carried on by the
Scottish mine owners’ committee regarding the establishment
of rescue stations. The attitude which the Scottish coal
owners had adopted, he said, was not taken up in any spirit
of captious criticism. It was adopted because of their con-