128 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. July 16, 1915. first and second Admiralties are reserved by the Govern- ment, and there is no quotation. In the case of ordinary steams, 25s. to 26s. is being obtained in cases where liberty is given to ship; and Monmouthshire coals are also lower in sympathy. Best Black Veins do not command more than 25s. 3d., Western Valleys 23s. 9d. to 24s. 3d., and Easterns 23s. 3d., in each case f.o.b.* Cardiff. Washed coals continue firm, and prices realised are even higher than for ordinary large coal. Nuts are 27s., and peas 25s., with the ordinary reduction of Is. for second grades. The small coal market keeps fairly firm, and the demand from the Conti- nent has increased, owing to better discharge now being given at some of the French ports. Best bunkers are 20s., ordinary, 19s. 6d., and cargo sorts 15s. 6d. to 16s. per ton. In bituminous coals there is practically no market, and business is quite on a nominal basis. No. 3 Rhondda large is 25s., through 23s., and small 21s. to 22s. per ton. No. 2 large is 20s., through 18s. 6d., and small 16s. 6d. per ton. Coke shows little variation, although there is a slight ten- dency towards easiness. Patent fuel is steady, best brands offering at 35s. to 37?. 6d. per ton. At these prices there is little new business, and makers are well booked for several months ahead. Exports last week amounted to over 31,000 tons, of which the Crown Company despatched 9,504 tons, Newport 5,500 tons, Swansea 17,657 tons, and Port Talbot 432 tons. Shipments of coal last week amounted to 340,797 tons, against 578,332 tons in the corresponding period of last year, or a decrease of 237,535 tons. From Cardiff alone there were exported 173,721 tons, or a decrease of 226,277 tons; from Newport 53,558 tons, or a decrease of 39,721 tons ; from Swansea 60,648 tons, or a falling off of 5,343 tons; and from Port Talbot 52,870 tons, or an increase of 33,806 tons. Charterings during the week were fairly satis- factory, the amount of tonnage taken up being 164,490 tons, compared with 169,580 tons in the preceding six days, or a falling off of 5,090 tons. Pitwood has been rather more plentiful, and is now offering at 25s. to 25s. 6d. per ton. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. * * 25/ -26/ 20/ 19/6 15/6-16/ 14/6-15/ 25/ -27/ 22/ -24/ 27/ 26/ 25/ 24/ 18/6 25/3 23/9-24/3 23/3 22/6 30/ 27/6-29/ 25/ 23/ ' 21/ -22/ 20/ 18/6 16/6 35/ -37/6 32/ -33/ 42/ -45/ 38/ -41/ 30/ -35/ 25/ -25/6 L’st week’s prices. * * 26/ -27/ 19/6-20/ 19/ 15/6-16/ 14/ -15/ 25/ -26/ 21/ -23/ 27/ -28/ 25/ -26/ 25/ 23/ 18/6 26/3 25/3 21/3-22/3 19/ -20/ 30/ 27/ -29/ 25/ 24/ 23/ 19/ -20/ 18/6 16/6-17/6 33/ -35/ 31/ -33/ 42/6-45/ 38/ -40/ 32/ -34/ 26/ -26/6 Last year’s prices. 20/6-22/ 19/9-20/ 17/6-17/9 10/6-10/9 10/ 7/9- 8/6 7/ - 7/6 18/ -18/9 16/6-17/ 15/6 14/3-14/6 14/6 13/3-13/6 10/6 17/3 16/6 16/ 15/3-15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 15/ 12/3 12/6-13/ 10/6 8/9 21/ 19/ -20/ 27/ -29/6 22/ -25/ 16/ -19/ 19/6-20/ Superior seconds Ordinary do. Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through Small .'. No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) * Nominal. IRON. The new order of the Government last week restricting the import of tinplate to foreign countries has not yet had much effect on the local statistical returns, but there is no doubt that from now onward there will be a big falling off in the quantity exported, not only to the East, but to the neutral countries in immediate proximity to the war area. Shipments last week were 65,271 boxes, compared with 82,592 boxes received from works, thus leaving 290,861 boxes in stock at the docks warehouses and vans. Prices are steady, Bessemer standard cokes being 19s. 3d., and oil sizes 19s. 6d. and 27s. 6d. respectively. Welsh tin bars are rather easier, but they are still quoted at <£7 10s. per ton for both Siemens and Bessemer qualities. Welsh pig iron is in less request and makers are now quoting 105s. to 107s. 6d. delivered. In the galvanised sheet trade there is little doing, and although spelter is now offering at <£106 per ton, owing to the high cost of material in other depart- ments, manufacturers are unable to accept lower than <£22 to <£22 10s. for 24-gauge corrugateds. The iron ore market is fairly steady, best Rubio being 24s. 6d. to 25s., seconds 22s. to 22s. 6d., and Almeria 21s. 6d. per ton. In scrap metals there is practically no alteration, although the demand is not quite so brisk as it was a fortnight ago. Llanelly. COAL. There is no change to report in the coal market, and the position is very similar to that of last week. Business is most difficult to negotiate, and sellers do not care quote forward. The threatened coal strike is causing great annoy- ance, and the attitude of the men’s leaders is much con- demned. There is not the least excuse for their action, and the Government have the public certainly in their favour. The anthracite market is very firm, and all coals are doing well. Prices are being fully maintained, and for the machine-made kinds there is quite a scarcity. Most pits are sold for weeks ahead. Culm and duff are doing badly, and prices are not quite so firm. Steam and bituminous sorts are very easy. Smalls are doing better, owing to the good demand from the manufacturing works. This week’s quotations approximately are:— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ................ Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 24/ -26/ 22/ -25/ 21/6-23/6 18/ -20/ 30/ -32/ 30/ -33/6 32/ -35/ 32/ -33/6 24/6-25/6 18/ -19/6 10/6-11/ 6/3- 6/9 24/ -26/ 16^6-18/6 14/ -16/ 19/ -21/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 22/ -24/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -22/ 18/ -20/ 28/6-31/ 30/ -33/ 32/ -34/ 31/ -33/ 23/ -25/ 18/ -19/6 11/6-12/ 6/-7/ : prices. 20/ -21/6 I 18/6-19/ | 15/6—16/6 ' 12/6-13/6 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 21/6-23/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -18/6 12/6-13/6 6/ - 6/3 3/6- 5/6 28/ -30/ ! 14/6-16/6 17/ -20/ 10/6-11/3 16/ -18/ 8/3- 9/3 20/ -21/ 10/6-11/6 Swansea. COAL. There was a slight falling off in the returns of the trade last week, but, on the whole, the result was satisfactory. The coal trade was quiet, but there was a large export of patent fuel; the shipments together amounted to 83,030 tons. There was a good attendance on ’Change, and the undertone of the anthracite coal market was very strong, there being a brisk demand for all varieties. Swansea Valley and Red Vein large were firm. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were practically unobtainable. Rubbly culm and duff were without material alteration. In steam coals there was an easy tone in evidence. Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 23/ -25/ 23/6-25/6 21/ -23/ Secondary do. 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 17/ -18/ Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 21/6-23/ 19/6-22/6 15/ -16/ Red Vein large do. ... 18/6—19/ 18/3-19/ 12/6—13/6 Machine - made cobbles (net) 30/ -32/ 28/6-32/ 21/ -22/6 Paris nuts (net) — — — French do. do 32/6-34/ 32/ -35/ 21/9-23/9 Stove do. do 30/6-32/ 30/6-33/6 21/9-23/9 Beans (net) 24/3-25/3 24/6-32/ 16/6-17/9 Machine - made large peas (net) 18/ -18/9 17/6-19/6 11/ -12/ Do. fine peas (net) — — — Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) 10/6-11/ 11/ -11/9 6/6- 6/9 6/ - 6/3 Duff (net) 6/ - 6/3 3/ - 3/9 Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) 24/6-25/ 27/ -29/ 18/6-20/ Seconds do. 22/ -24/ 23/ -25/6 13/6-15/6 Bunkers (net) 16/6-18/3 17/6-20/6 10/6-11/6 Small (less 2| p.c.) 13/ -15/ 13/6-15/6 8/6- 9/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 24/6-25/ 26/ -29/ 17/ -18/ Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) — — — Small (less 2| p.c.) ... 19/6-20/6 19/6-21/ 11/ -12/ Patent fuel do 30/ -32/6 30/ -32/ 17/ -18/ IRON. During the past week, trade generally was brisk. The blastfurnaces were kept at great pressure, and the pros- pects indicated a maintenance of these conditions. There was little improvement in the tin-plate trade, and the sheet mills were still idle ; in some cases men have secured employment elsewhere. The Mannesmann Tube Works were fully employed. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 65,271 boxes, receipts from works 82,592 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 290,861 boxes. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 15. The London coal trade for the past week has been excep- tionally busy. The new business has been of a very limited character, but the large number of orders from the general public are still giving plenty of scope for the delivery trade, and depots are kept busy with back orders. The railway companies are bringing forward the daily quantities with increasing celerity, and in some cases the demand is falling off. Manufacturing qualities, however, are still in good dejnand, and also many of the cheaper qualities of house coal. The strong demand for bakers’ nuts continues, and kitchener cobbles are selling freely. Small nuts have slightly recovered from the “ slump ” of last week, but the large quantity available keeps the prices from advancing. The demand, however, is fully up to the usual standard, and any diminution from the approaching holiday season is viewed with a certain amount of apprehension. Slacks have suffered a slight set-back in price, but only to a limited extent. Hard steam coals are selling freely, and the factories along the Thames side are working at high pressure, especially those engaged in war munitions, and the quantities of hard steam coal required seem to be increasing rather than diminishing. In the seaborne market the number of vessels entering the Thames are well sustained, and 34 contract cargoes were returned for Monday’s market, and 14 for Wednesday. No offerings were made, however, in the open market, for all the cargoes were either for contract or previously sold. There has been a good attendance on the Exchange all through the week, and the orders have been fairly numerous. Collieries, however, are still restricting business, as they have so little to sell beyond the contract orders. A month ago there was scarcely a colliery working full time, on account of the short supply of empties, but now the swing of the pendulum has brought an overplus of private wagons, especially at the Midland collieries, and urgent messages are frequently given to the London buyers to cease sending in their own wagons. The question of Government intervention is still hanging over the heads of the traders, but at present no definite proposals are enforced. The shipping trade from the Humber ports has not been quite so brisk. South Yorkshire hard steam coals are quoted at 20s. to 20s. 6d. f.o.b. for prompt shipment.; Derbyshire hard steams are 19s. 6d. to 20s. f.o.b.; West Yorkshire Hartleys are 18s. to 18s. 6d. f.o.b. Gas coals are still very firm, and the demand, especially for the French ports, is very strong, even though the freights are 15s. Rouen and 13s. Dieppe from both the Tyne and the Humber ports. The Mediterranean trade is showing a marked falling off. There was a distinctly brighter outlook in the South Wales difficulty early in the week, and the tonnage coming forward to London was increasing. The London merchants are still busy in putting down all the house coal they possibly can, as a reserve for the winter, but the storage ground in the heart of London is exceedingly limited and valuable. The report of the Board of Trade, however, shows that the stocks of coal in the Metropolis at the end of May last were larger than the quantity in hand at the corresponding date of last year. This is so far satisfactory, and it is well known that householders are also better prepared for the winter than in any previous year. Freights are slightly easier. Vessels have been chartered at 7s. and 7s. 3d. from the Tyne to London. The restriction in the shipping trade owing to the new regulations as to licences has had a telling effect upon the quantities of coal exported during the month of June, and, in comparison with the last three years, show :— June 1913 , 6,226,908 tons; June 1914, 5,999,417 tons; June 1915, 3,725,423 tons. The British foreign bunker trade shows also the same diminutions :—June 1913, 1,721,016 tons; June 1914, 1,681,477 tons; June 1915, 1,065,779 tons. Yorkshire prices are firmly maintained, but the quality coming forward to London has shown a distinct falling off. Best Silkstones are quoted at 19s. to 19s. 6d. per ton at pit; Haigh Moor, 19s. 6d. to 20s.; Silkstone house, 17s. 6d.; gas coal (screened), 17s. fid.; gas coal (unscreened), 14s. fid.; best hards, 17s. to 17s. 6d. In the Welsh market the best Admiralties are still absorbed by the Government, so that all quotations are nominal. The second quality of hard steam coals are quoted from 26s. to 27s. per ton f.o.b.; Black Veins, 25s. to 26s.; western valleys, 23s. to 24s.; eastern valleys, 20s. to 22s. The Corporation of the City of London have just agreed to purchase their supply of coal and coke for the various departments for the ensuing year, amounting approximately to 1,300 tons house coal, 3,300 tons steam coal, and 1,400 tons coke. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, July 9. — There were no seaborne house coal cargoes on offer at to-day’s market, which remained steady. Cargoes, 24. Monday, July 12.—There was a slight improvement in the seaborne house coal market to-day, but no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 35. Wednesday, July 14.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day, no cargoes being on offer. Cargoes, 11. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 15. Dublin. The demand generally continues to be good in this port, and, as very large supplies have been coming in for the past few weeks, merchants’ stocks are assuming considerably larger proportions. There is no change in prices of any class of fuel during the week. Quotations are as follow :—Best Orrell, 34s. per ton; Hulton Arley, 33s.; best Wigan, 32s.; best Whitehaven, ■ 32s.; Pemberton Wigan, 31s.; kitchen nuts, 30s.; best slack, 26s.; all less Is. per ton discount. Scotch steam coal, from 28s. to 29s. per ton; certain classes up to £2 2s. per ton; coke, 34s. per ton delivered. Irish coal at Wolfhill Collieries, Queen’s County, is 25s. per ton for round coal at the pit; culm, all prices from 3s. 4d. to 10s. per ton. Pit prices for Kilkenny (Castlecomer) coals, outside of contract prices, are as follow :—Best small coal, 23s. 4d. per ton; best large, 21s. 8d.; second quality, 20s.; bottom coal, 16s. 8d.; breakage, Ils. 8d.; culm, 5s. to 8s. 6d. A contract for supplies of locomotive steam coal to the Midland and Great Western Railway is now open, to cover a 12-months period. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Ayr, Garston, Manchester, Partington, Llanelly, Glasgow, Workington, Whitehaven, Troon, Liverpool, Preston, Saundersfoot, and Cardiff. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 20,000 tons, as compared with 23,905 tons the week previously. Belfast. Prices of all qualities of coal continue unchanged, and the demand locally is still quiet as regards house coal, the result being that large stocks of these classes are now held by the local merchants. The inland trade is still fairly active, as supplies are being laid in for the winter by many of the consumers, but the railway wagon supply is short of require- ments for the carrying out of these orders. The following are the current prices of house coals :—Best Arley, 36s. per ton; Orrell nuts, 35s.; Scotch house coal, 32s.; Orrell slack, 32s. per ton delivered. From June 13 to July 3, the total number of coal-laden vessels entering the harbour was 170. The colliers arriving during the past week were chiefly from Garston, Silloth, Whitehaven, Preston, Ayr, Workington, Ardrossan, Sharpness, Irvine, Ellesmere Port, Glasgow, Partington, Troon, and Manchester. It is stated that the Arigna Mining Company are now unable to respond to invi- tations for tenders for coal, as the mines are about to be shut down owing to the persistent hostility of the Irish Nationalist Party. Statistics of Rainfall. — Messrs. John Davis and Son (Derby) Limited send us the following statistics of rainfall during the first half of 1915 : — Derby. Duffield. A Average r No. of No. of for Derby 1884-1904 In. rainy days. In. rainy davs. inclusive. January ... 2-97 ... 21 .. . 3T8 ... ’18 ... 2’13 February ... ... 2’41 ... 16 .. . 3’36 ... 18 ... 1’57 March ... i-oo ... 14 .. . 0’91 ... 12 ... 1’67 April ... 0’89 ... 12 .. . 0’80 ... 13 ... 1’78 May ... 1’69 ... 9 .. . 1’47 ... 11 ... 2’02 June ... 1*62 ... 7 .. . 1’27 ... 8 ... 2’10 Total ... ... 10’58 ... 79 .. . 10’99 ... 80 ... 11’27