August 20, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 387 Notts and Derbyshire. Managers Visit Welbeck Colliery—The Bolsover Company's Enterprice at Clipstone—Handsome Contribution for Providing Motor Ambulances. Members of the Midland branch of the National Associa- tion of Colliery Managers paid a visit of inspection on August 12 to the new Welbeck Colliery, belonging to the New Hucknall Colliery Company Limited, which is situated about two miles to the north-east of Market Warsop, and seven miles from Mansfield. After inspecting the surface plant, including the excellent screening machinery, which is capable of dealing with 2,000 tons per day, and which can be extended to deal with another 2,000 tons per day when necessary, a number of the visitors descended one of the shafts and viewed the main headings. Later, the members were entertained to luncheon by the colliery company, Capt. Muschamp (president of the branch), being in the chair, supported by Mr. Simeon Watson, J.P., a director, Mr. J. T. Todd, of Blackwell, Mr. J. Piggford, of Teversall, Mr. Wm. Maurice, of Sheffield, and Mr. R. Laverick, of Nottingham (secretary of the branch). Mr. Watson, reply- ing to the toast of the New Hucknall Colliery Company Limited, remarked that the company had been in existence upwards of 40 years, and was hopeful of renewing its youth for years to come through the acquisition of the new Welbeck coal field. A telegram was sent to the Marquis of Titchfield, son and heir of the Duke of Portland, offering hearty congratulations and best wishes on his marriage. Subsequently the members were conveyed in motor cars to Rufford Abbey, where, by permission of Lord Saville, they were conducted through the gardens. The Bolsover Colliery Company, it is stated, are about to develop further the coal field in the Mansfield district. They have, in fact, made a start, for a railway siding has already been constructed. The new pit will be situated near to Balker Parm. This new enterprice will bring up to five the number of collieries owned by the Bolsover Company, of which Mr. J. P. Houfton is managing director. First they sank Bolsover, next Creswell, then Mansfield, and lastly Rufford; as deceased had got caught by the crane. Watson was dead when got out from between the crane and a bank, his head having been crushed. A verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned. Dean Forest. Half-yearly Dinner: Collieries' Application for Exemption from Limitation Act. The Forest of Dean coal owners and others interested in the various kindred industries met at the Speech House, on Friday afternoon last, to pay the royalties due to the Crown on the mineral won during the past half year. Afterwards they sat down to dinner, Mr. W. Forster Brown (the deputy gaveller) occupying the chair. He was supported by Sir Francis Brain (Trafalgar Colliery), Mr. T. H. Deakin (Parkend and New Fancy collieries), Mr. T. S. Osmaston (deputy surveyor), Mr. M. Maclean (Cannop Colliery), Mr. J. W. Guise (clerk to the Verderers), Mr. C. E. Machen, Mr. Tudor Crawsbay (Lightmoor Colliery), Mr. H. Johnstone (H.M. inspector of mines), and Mr. Jos. Hale (Crump Meadow Collieries). In proposing the toast of “ The Coal Trade and Kindred Industries of the Forest of Dean,” the chairman said he thought that the main lesson we might learn from this war from a commercial point of view was that this country in the future ought to be made as self supporting as its resources would allow. With regard to the local trade, it continued in a condition of prosperity. There was a few weeks ago a fear that the new Bill of limitation of prices was going to interfere with its prosperity, but he was hopeful that the able speeches and cogent arguments advanced by the representatives of that district who interviewed Mr. Runciman would have removed any fear of interference by the Act. He was glad to be able to say that the output for the past six months showed an increase on the previous half year of 32,000, and on the corresponding half year of last year of 48,889 tons. Mr. T. H. Deakin, who first responded to the toast, dealt chiefly with the Government action relating to the limitation in the price of coal. He held that it was not fair to tie all districts to one flat rate of increase in the price, one of the chief reasons being the cost of getting coal in one district was so much more than another; sometimes as much again, and indeed even more than that. The deputations of the owners and workmen respectively of the Forest of Dean had already waited upon the President, and applied for exemptions. They had a good and patient hearing, and were hopeful of good results.—Mr. M. Maclean also responded. Other toasts were “ H.M. Forces,” proposed by Sir Francis Brain and responded to by Mr. J. W. Guise, and “ The Mines Inspectors,” proposed by Mr. Tudor Crawshay and replied to by Mr. H. Johnstone. Scotland. Developments at Thornton and Whitburn—Association of Shale Mine Managers—Glasgow Retail Scheme — Lanarkshire Miners' Visit to the Fighting Line— Housing Accommodation in the Girvan District. For several years past the Fife Coal Company Limited have been testing the coal field in the vicinity of Thornton, and have decided to work the same by means of surface mines. The mines, three in number, will be driven fork- wise in the Seven-foot coal, the lowest workable seam of the series. Overlying this seam is a band of argillaceous iron- stone, about 2 ft. thick, of exceptionally good quality, the coal itself being a prime household. The whole of the sur- face arrangements will be electrically driven, power being supplied by the Fife Power Company, whose lines are in the vicinity. Good progress is being made at the new pits at Rigg- house Farm, Whitburn. The stack, 162 ft. high, has now been finished, and the workmen are now engaged in build- ing in quick steaming boilers. The engine seats are finished, and large store rooms built. The building of the pit head is being commenced by Messrs. Dixon and Mann, who are sparing nothing to make the enterprise a success. The shafts, 20 ft. in diameter, will be built with brick all the way, but are at present only 15 ft. down, awaiting the erection of the boilers and machinery. The coals intended to be worked are the upper measures, which rest on the mill- stone grit. A meeting of the under-managers connected with the shale mines was held at Broxburn on Saturday, for the purpose of forming an association. The following office bearers were elected:—President, Mr. Wm. Wilson; secretary, Mr. Samuel D. Ross; committee, Messrs. J. Barr, W. Watt, R. Frame, and W. J. Wilson. Second-Lieut. J. Ellis, 7th .Gordon Highlanders (T.F.), reported wounded in France on August 7, is a son of Mr. John Ellis, of the firm of Messrs. Ellis and M'Hardy, coal merchants, Aberdeen. The employees of Messrs. Robert Addie and Sons’ No. 3 pit, Rosehall'Colliery, Coatbridge, have presented Mr. David Forsyth, their under-manager, with a handsome marble timepiece, with inscription, and ornaments to match, on the occasion of his leaving the colliery to take the position of manager at Machan Colliery, Larkhall. The Glasgow Corporation have decided to take action with a view to regulating the price of household coal so that small consumers may be protected against inflated prices during the coming winter. A committee was appointed to investi- gate the situation in Glasgow, and to suggest remedies. Recently three of the Lanarkshire miners’ leaders were conducted on a tour through the British lines in France and Flanders, and were afforded full opportunity of studying the conditions of life at the front. The three officials con- cerned were Mr. John Robertson, vice-president of the Scottish Miners’ Federation; Coun. James Tonner, vice- president of the Lanarkshire Miners’ County Union; and Coun. Joseph Sullivan, Harthill. All three have rendered excellent service in connection with recruiting among the miners of the county. The value of the miner in trench warfare cannot easily be exaggerated. Lavish praise has been bestowed on soldiers from the pits by officers of all ranks. The visitors have on their return expressed surprise at the men’s improvement in appearance as a result of their Army training. Mr. Robertson and his colleagues have also referred to the part which labour had to play at home. Incidentally they mentioned that the Lanarkshire miners in the trenches knew of the present demand in Scotland for higher wages for the men, and showed as keen an interest in the question as though they themselves were directly concerned. “ We are always on the workmen’s side,” says Mr. Robertson, ‘‘ and we are fighting for the very best conditions possible and the highest wages possible, but we think that under existing circumstances, a very big matter of principle would require to be at stake before we could do anything to jeopardise in any way the position of the Army in the defence of the nation at the present time. We have to get our men at home to remember what those at the front are doing for us, and we are asking the men in the mine .and in the workshop to do their bit here.” The miners’ leaders, he remarks, know local circumstances, and the men were not above being talked to. If there were any cases of pits with a bad record for absenteeism, to take an example, he thought the men would take a lecture from their union leaders when they might resent advice from other quarters. As to the question of extending the working week to six days in the mines, that question had been before the men’s leaders. The latter were quite willing to recommend the extension if the Government thought it necessary. But there were some matters to be arranged. Facilities must first be assured. There must be co-operation between miners, owners, and railway companies. There was also the employers’ view. He had heard employers state that they could get as much out of the men in five days as they could in six days, and the five-day arrangement left the employers with the week-end free to undertake repairs at the colliery. All such labour questions, Mr. Robertson thought, could be readily solved if employers would make it clear that any speeding-up which took place now for national purposes was not to be regarded as a basis for future conditions. The South Ayrshire Collieries Limited, Glasgow, are erecting 24 houses at Bourtree Hall, Girvan. The company are engaged in developing the coal pits in the Girvan Valley, recently acquired by them, and in consequence of the increased number of men likely to be employed, housing accommodation is being provided. A row of 23 houses has just been completed. These houses are mainly of one room and kitchen, but several two-room and kitchen houses are also provided. OBITUARY. Mr. John Bigland, who died at his residence, Henknowle, Bishop Auckland, late on Wednesday of last week, was for nearly 30 years manager of Messrs. Pease and Partners’ collieries in the Bishop Auckland district. Mr. Bigland, who was 82 years of age, was born at Maryport, and had been resident in the Auckland district since leaving school. He served an apprenticeship at the Shildon sheds, and afterwards became associated with mining under the late Mr. John Graham, the then manager for Messrs. Pease's collieries. His first appointment was as manager at Bowden Close, following which he was promoted to the position of manager or check viewer of the Adelaide, St. Helen’s, Tindale, and Windlestone collieries. He retired in 1889, but, for some time afterwards did a certain amount of work as a consultant on mining engineering. Mr. Bigland was one of the best known Quakers in the district. Second-Lieut. Geo. Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, who has been killed in action in Flanders, was the eldest son of Mr. J. G. Dixon, of Bellingham, Northumberland, and, prior to the outbreak of war, was a colliery manager at Nottingham. Previous to going into the Midlands, he was trained for his profession under Mr. Weeks, of Bedlington. Mr. Dixon enlisted in the Coldstream Guards, among whom he went through some of the stiffest of the earlier fighting. In April last, in recognition of his good work in the field, he was given his commission. Mr. Robert Gibb, master mariner, who for many years held commands in the fleet of collier steamers owned by the Londonderry Collieries Limited, died last week at Seaham Harbour at the age of 71 years. Mr. Gibb “ followed the sea ” for 56 years, trading from Blyth in the earlier part of his career, and latterly from Seaham. Sir John Storey Barwick, Bart., who had been connected with the coal and iron trades since he was a boy, died on Thursday of last week at his residence at Thimbleby Hall, Northallerton, at the age of 75 years. His career had been somewhat remarkable. Born at Sunderland, he commenced work in the offices of the Ryhope Coal Company, and was all his life prominently associated with that Wearside town, retaining his connection with the Ryhope Company for the whole of that period, and, at the time of his death, held the position of fitter. A man of exceptionally keen judgment and great business ability, he was for many years closely associated with the late Lord Furness in numerous commer- cial enterprises. Sir John was chairman of the Broomhill Collieries Limited, the Easington Coal Company Limited, and the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company Limited; vice-chairman of the Cargo Fleet Iron Company Limited, and the Seaham Harbour Dock Company Limited; and a director of the Wingate Coal Company Limited, the Euro- pean Petroleum Company Limited, the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company Limited, the North-Eastern Banking Company Limited, and The Mail and Leader Newspapers Limited*. He was for a number of years a member of the River Wear Commission, during which time he was an ardent supporter of the progressive policy which has lately been characteristic of the Commission’s work. He retired from that body in 1912, but retained his membership of the