286

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

August 6, 1915.

Mr. Hollinshead, for the colliery company, claimed that
beyond a certain amount of inconvenience, which he thought
should be overlooked, having regard to the carrying on of
the trade of the country, there was nothing to complain of.
In the natural stream, the water went past the plaintiff
altogether, but by his action he took the water from the
stream into a pool. The owner of the land on which the
colliery was placed would state that his cattle drank the
same water. He suggested that the evil was due to the
filthy condition of the waterway.—Richard Walley, one of
the defendants, deposed that the water drawn was some
ten tubs, each containing 8|cwt., per day. No dirt or
refuse came up with the tubs. He maintained that the
condition of plaintiff’s ditch was due to the sand which came
down from the highway. He had offered to clean the ditch
out, and that done he thought the water would not overflow
into the pool.—Mr. Hollinshead said there was no other way
of dealing with the water from the pit.—His Honour said
there were plenty of ways. It could be carried off in iron
piping.—Mr. Nelson said a suggestion had been made which
had it been carried out might have prevented the necessity
of the present proceedings. The idea was to turn the water
into a disused shaft, but it was found impracticable.—Mr.
Hollinshead said it turned out that the water would simply
run back to the place where it was taken from.—His Honour
explained a doubt which was in his mind as to whether the
fact of the cattle not drinking the water was due to the state
of the ditch. He should have thought it would have been
wise before this action was brought that this ditch should
have been cleared. Eventually, it was decided that the
case should stand adjourned to the September court, and
that in the meantime the ditch should be cleared out at
the expense of the defendants.

Notwithstanding magisterial warnings and the payment of
heavy damages, “ slacking ” by .a section of the miners in
the Black Country continues. Another batch were summoned
before the South Staffordshire Stipendiary at Brierley Hill
on the 29th ult., at the instance of Mr. William Parrish,
of the Sandfield pit, Pensnett. The prosecuting solicitor
said that the defendants were engaged on the repairing shift,
and were due to enter the colliery at 10 p.m. on Sunday,
July 11, to carry out the necessary repairs before the work
for the day commenced. They all absented themselves, and
as a result, a considerable section of the roof collapsed in
the night, causing over £50 damage. The output from this
part of the colliery was greatly reduced, and a considerable
number of men were rendered idle. Since the defendants
had had the war bonus they had consistently taken a week-
end holiday. Judgment for 20s. damages and the costs
against each of the defendants was imposed. Other men
employed at the same colliery were summoned for absenting
themselves from work, and leaving without the customary
14 days’ notice, and judgment was given against these
defendants as in the previous cases.

A phenomenal rainfall for the month, of 7'25 in., is the
outstanding feature of the monthly reports of the engineers
to the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage Commission,
which were issued on Saturday. Mr. Edmund Howl (the
general manager), also reports, as engineer for the Tipton
district, that the pumping had been 11,304,500 gals, per
24 hours. The figures represent a decrease of 450,000 gals,
compared with June, and .an increase of 1,800,000 gals, com-
pared with a year ago. There had been, says Mr. Howl,
some decrease in the quantity of water at the Moat pound,
but it was still necessary to work the Moat old engine and
the Gospel Oak Mond gas driven plant part time to assist
the new engine. On July 27, the fifth rod in No. 1 plunger
lift of the Moat new engine showed signs of fracture, and it
became necessary to change it. The rod was of pitch pine,
16 in. square and 57 ft. 9 in. long, and had been at work
for more than twenty years. The “ come ” of water at the
Bradley engine was now about three and three-quarter
strokes a minute, the full speed being six strokes a minute.
The water had been got down to the bottom coal at
Deepfields, by the new engine alone, the old engine not
having worked during the month. At the Herbert Park and
Stowheath engines there was no appreciable diminution in
the quantity of water, but the water had been further
lowered at Leabrook and the Crown Meadow Mond gas
driven plants, while at Park Lane, the water had been got
down to the New Mine coal. The engineer for the Old Hill
district (Mr. W. B. Collis) reports that the heavy rains
during the month had not yet reached the pumping engines.
Windmill End engine, working at five strokes a minute,
had been able to deal satisfactorily with all the water of
the northern portion of the Old Hill district. The water in
the Saltwells and Waterfall-lane pounds stood at its usual
height. The monthly meeting of the commissioners was
held at the Trindle House, Dudley, on Wednesday after-
noon. The chairman (Aid. John Hughes), in moving
the engineers’ reports, said they had been free from
accidents, except at the Moat pound, where the breaking of
No. 1 plunger rod might have been a most serious matter.
As it was, the damage was easily repaired, and only a short
time was taken in putting the matter right again. The
pumping showed a gratifying decrease compared with the
previous month, although they would notice a heavy increase
compared with the July month of last year. The reports
were adopted. It was also decided, on the proposition of
the chairman, that a general district rate for the half year
ended June be levied and assessed upon all occupiers of
mines within the drainage area, at the rate of Id. for every
ton of mineral raised during the half year, and that such
rate should be payable on October 1 next.

The question as to whether English timber is as suitable
as foreign timber for mining purposes was raised at an
inquest at Coventry last week, concerning the death of
Joseph Bacey, miner, whilst following his employment at
Newdigate Colliery. Thomas Pacey, brother of the deceased
man, said he* was working in the mine not far away from
Joseph, and heard a “ bump ” and then a fall of coal, and
he saw that his brother was beneath the debris. At the
time the deceased was engaged in building a pack; no
timbers were withdrawn. Some (English spruce, seasoned)
had been set up, 5 ft. 6 in. apart, that morning, and they
all looked safe when witness examined them, but there were
no bars. There was a scarcity of foreign timber, and he
thought the English props broke sooner than foreign. The
jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death,” and offered
the suggestion to miners that the props used should be put
closer together than they were in this instance.

Kent.

Dover Corporation to Use Local Coal—Iron Ore Workings
at the Shakespeare Colliery.

The sinking to the seam of hard coal below the Beresford
seam at Snowdown Colliery is now proceeding at the rate of
about 25 ft. weekly, through very hard ground.

Owing to the very high prices of northern coal quoted in
the tenders received by Dover Corporation, they decided not
to accept either of the tenders, but to endeavour to arrange
for supplies from the Tilmanstone and Snowdown collieries.
Kent coal has been in use at the Corporation’s electricity
works for some time past, being used proportionately with
fine northern coal, and has given entire satisfaction.

The seam of iron ore which was encountered in sinking
the Shakespeare Colliery at Dover is now being worked for
commercial purposes, following on a very satisfactory test of
a bulk sample of about 700 tons which was sent down to
Yorkshire for smelting. On this test the ore yielded just
over 50 per cent, of metal, and is stated to have proved
equal to the best Cleveland ironstone. The Shakespeare pits
are lined with steel rings, and these have been pierced at the
600 ft. level, where the 18 ft. thick seam of iron ore lies.
Borings have proved this seam to extend some miles from
the colliery out to the north of Folkestone.

Dean Forest.

Every year the Gloucestershire County Council devote a
substantial sum to be expended in instructing the miners of
the Forest of Dean in questions relating to the industry.
£100 is set down for a mining scholarship, which entitles the
winner to two years’ tuition at Wigan Mining College,
whilst there are 12 travelling scholarships—nine being
granted to the advanced and three to the elementary students
—the winners of which go on a week’s expedition to another
colliery district and have all expenses paid. The award of
scholarships and distribution of prizes to the students in
connection with their work during the past session was made
at a well-attended public meeting held at Coleford. Sir
Francis Brain (chairman of the County Mining Committee),
who presented the prizes, announced that the winner of the
m00 scholarship was Mr. Alec Underwood, of Bream. The
travelling scholarships were won by :—R. Woolford,
Cinderford; O. Onions, Ruardean, Woodside; M. Teague,
Lydbrook; J. Morgan, Whitecroft; B. Jordan, Lydbrook;
R. Jenkins, Coleford; A. Blanch, Coleford; R. Addis,
Cinderford; E. Bannishter, Ruardean, Woodside (advanced
students); R. Voss, Bream; O. Oakey, Cinderford; and H.
Morgan, Whitecroft (elementary students).

Scotland.

Export Licences for Steel Shipments.

The Admiralty, in order to facilitate business and to
expedite the granting of certificates for the export of steel
and articles manufactured therefrom, invited the Glasgow
Chamber of Commerce to set up a committee to deal with the
issue of licences for the export of these articles. The
Chamber of Commerce nominated the following gentlemen,
viz. :—Montagu M. W. Baird, president; James W. Murray,
vice-president; W. J. Chrystal, John and James White,
chemical manufacturers, Glasgow; Archibald Colville, David
Colville and Sons Limited, Dalzell Steel and Iron Works,
Motherwell; James M’Skimming, Steel Company of
Scotland Limited, Glasgow; T. O. Mathieson, Alex.
Mathieson and Sons Limited, tool makers, Glasgow; and
George A. Mitchell, Stewarts and Lloyds Limited, steel
manufacturers, Glasgow. The Admiralty approved, and
the committee has been constituted. The area of the com-
mittee’s authority embraces the whole of Scotland.

A fire occurred recently near the Old Quarry, closely
adjacent to Wishaw Gasworks. The quarry is utilised as
a store for old lumber, ashes, etc., and at some points
unworked coal is visible on the surface. There is also a
disused coal mine in the immediate vicinity. Considerable
difficulty was experienced in extinguishing the fire.

Sheriff Shennan, in the Hamilton Sherig Court, has issued
his decision in the action which was raised by John
Thomson, oversman, C alder-street, Motherwell, against
Patrick Mulvey, mining contractor, Cadzow View, Ladywell-
road, Motherwell. Pursuer claimed £20 as damages on the
ground that on or about May 3, the defender wrote to one
of the directors of the Wishaw Coal Company, by whom
pursuer was employed, reflecting upon pursuer’s actions with
certain workmen in the pit, as a result of which the
employees were being defrauded. Sheriff Shennan, says, after
hearing the proof, he had come to the conclusion that the
defender had slandered the pursuer in the letter in question.
There might be a certain degree of privilege in respect that
the letter was addressed by a servant of the company to the
consulting engineer, but the privilege could not cover the
statements made by the defender, when he admitted that
he took no trouble to ascertain their truth. He explained
now that his grudge was against the manager of the colliery
for having communicated his letter to the union officials. In
the case of such a letter as that complained of it would
have been easy for him to explain to the pursuer that he
did not intend to reflect on him, and to apologise, as any
right-minded man would do when he made a mistake. The
defender, unfortunately, had refused to apologise. The
pursuer had not actually proved damage, and did not ask
for a greater amount than would clear his character, and his
lordship stated he would award him the sum of £5, with
expenses.

It is 22 years ago since a Select Committee of the House
of Commons set about considering the question of mineral
damage to surface property in Lanarkshire, and particularly
in the town of Motherwell. The problem is still as acute
as ever, and the legislation which the Select Committee was
set up to foreshadow is still very remote.

In the Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday, John McDade,
Mackerty Rows, Bothwell, was charged with having, while
acting as pit bottomer in Haughhead Rows, Blantyre, failed
to close the gate of the cage immediately after he had
signalled it away. He admitted the offence, but pleaded
in extenuation he was in such a hurry at the time that the
duty quite escaped his memory. A fine of 15s. or ten days’
imprisonment was imposed.

Good progress is being made with the development of the
new colliery at Seafield, near Kirkcaldy. The colliery is
situated within a mile of the town, and should the coal
field come up to expectation, it will prove a decided boon to
Kirkcaldy and district.

An effort is being made to develop the workings at
Laurieston Mine in the Stirlingshire district. Bores are
being put down, with a view of tapping the main coal seam.

Recently an alarming incident occurred at Prestongrange
Colliery, Prestongrange, belonging to the Summerlee and
Mossend Iron and Steel Company Limited. The ventilating
fan, which is between No. 1 and No. 2 pits, suddenly caught
fire while about 100 men were underground, and, as the fan
is situated near the pit, much anxiety for the safety of the
workmen was felt. The Edinburgh fire brigade were tele-
phoned for, but before their arrival the workmen had the
fire well under control. All the workmen escaped uninjured.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.
REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Limited.—The directors have declared an interim dividend of
7J per cent, per annum on the ordinary, and 6 per cent,
on the preference capital for the half-year ended June.

Briggs (Henry), Son and Company Limited.—The directors
in presenting their 50th annual report, state that the result
of the year’s work shows a profit less by £10,000 than that
of the previous year, a result that must be considered satis-
factory, considering the very great difficulties brought about
by the war and the fall in price at the beginning of the year,
and the reduction in output caused by the absence of upwards
of 1,100 of their employees on active service. This shortage
of output left the company without the usual margin beyond
what was necessary to cover contracts, so that it has been
impossible to take advantage of the increase of price ruling
of late. The quantities contracted for, however, have practi-
cally been delivered. The balance standing to the credit of
profit and loss account, being the year’s profit of
£80,960 3s. 7d., supplemented by the balance brought from
last year, £42,903 Ils. 9d., less £16,393 15s., being the
interim dividend paid in February last, is £107,470 0s. 4d.,
which the directors recommend be appropriated as follows :—
To payment of a dividend of £2 5s. per share on the “A”
shares, and £1 10s. per share on the “ B ” shares (free of
income-tax), making with the interim dividend a return for
the year of £3 per “A” share, and £2 per “ B ” share,
£49,181 5s.; reserve fund, £10,000; depreciation of invest-
ments, £10,000; leaving a balance to carry forward of
£38,288 15s. 4d.

Bristol and South Wales Railway Wagon Company
Limited.—The directors have resolved to pay an interim divi-
dend of 3s. per share, being at the usual rate of 10 per cent,
per annum.

British Insulated and Helsby Cables Company Limited.—
Warrants for the dividend on the 6 per cent, preference shares
to June 30 have been posted.

British Wagon Company Limited. — The directors have
resolved to pay an interim dividend of 4s. per share on the
shares with £3 paid up, and of Is. 4d. per share on the shares
with £1 paid up. The declaration is for the half-year ended
June, and is at the same rate as a year ago.

Consett Iron Company Limited. — The report of the
directors states that for the year to June 30 last the profit is
£214,383 15s. 3d. The directors recommend that this amount
be appropriated as follows :—In meeting the interim divi-
dends paid on February 15 last of 8 per cent, on the prefer-
ence shares for the half-year to December 31,'1914, £20,000;
6d. per share on the ordinary shares, £25,000; in extin-
guishing the special expenditure shown on the creditor side
of the balance-sheet, £5,848 5s. 8d.; in writing down invest-
ments, £40,000; in paying on August 9 next to the members
registered in the company’s books on August 7, dividends of
8 per cent, on the preference shares for the half-year to
June 30, 1915, £20,000; 2s. per share on the ordinary shares,
£100,000; in carrying forward an undivided profit of
£3,535 9s. 7d. The year has been actually the worst the
company has experienced during the last 20 years. The
reduced profits are entirely due to dislocation of trade in
many directions brought about by the war, resulting in
reduced outputs of coal and steel, large increases of wages,
and enforced granting of “ war wage bonuses.” The full
effect of the increased charges will be felt in the current year,
and there are considerable balances to deliver under contracts
at prices very much lower than the prices of to-day for
material produced or manufactured by the company. The
enlistment of men has reduced the output of coal and steel,
and for some time it has been most difficult to run the steel
mills. At the present date it is impossible, owing to the
scarcity of men, to run all the mills at one time. At the
Templetown by-product coke plant, in January last, a main
flue threatened to collapse, and it was necessary to at once
undertake repairs. This involved putting out one battery of
ovens. Opportunity was taken of this enforced stoppage to
put in a new sloping bench for cooling the coke and loading
with an automatic plant. It is expected that the repairs and
improvements will be completed and the full plant at work
before the end of next month. The erection of the coal wash-
ing and by-product coke oven plant at the Langley Park
Colliery is completed. It was started in May last, and is
working on the whole satisfactorily. It is with feelings of
regret that the directors have to record the death of their
late chairman, Mr. C. W. C. Henderson. Mr. Mark Fenwick
(who joined the board in 1890, and was vice-chairman for
some years) has been appointed chairman. The vacancy on
the board has been filled by the appointment of Mr. Clarence
D. Smith (of Thomas and Wm. Smith Limited, of Smith’s
Dock Company Limited, etc.).

Consett Spanish Ore Company Limited.—The report states
that the net revenue for the year amounts to £8,600 9s. 5d.
The directors advise that this amount be dealt with as
follows :—In meeting the interim dividend of 2s. per share,
paid on February 15 last, £5,520; in paying on August 9 next
to the members registered in the company’s books on August 7
a dividend of Is. per share, £2,760; in carrying forward to
undivided profit, £320 9s. 5d. The war has adversely effected
the working and earnings of the Orconera Company, and the
amount at the disposal of this company is very small. Mr.
M. Fenwick has been appointed chairman, and the vacancy
on the board has been filled by the appointment of Mr.
Clarence D. Smith.

Dominioin Steel Corporation Limited.—The directors have
declared a dividend (No. 14) at the rate of 1| per cent, on the
preference shares.

Fenwick (Wm. France) and Company Limited.—Interim
dividend of 5 per cent, on the ordinary shares, payable on
September 1 next.

Lanarkshire Steel Company Limited.—The directors have
declared an interim dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, per
annum, less tax, on both classes of preference shares.

Lowood (J. Grayson) and Company Limited.—The direc-
tors, in submitting the balance-sheet for the year ended June
to the shareholders, state that the year's working, after
writing off depreciation, has resulted in a profit of
£5,953 13s. 6d., which, with the balance from last year,
£497 4s. 3d., makes £6,450 17s. 9d. From this has to be
deducted interest on debentures, £2,250, leaving a balance
of £4,200 17s. 9d. It is proposed to pay a dividend of 5 per
cent., less tax, absorbing £2,160 6s. 9d., and to write off for
depreciation £1,000, carrying forward £1,040 Ils.

Newbiggin Collieries Limited.—Interim dividend of 2| per
cent, on the ordinary shares, less tax.

New Sharlston Collieries Company Limited.—Interim divi-
dend of 5s. per share, less income-tax, payable August 20.