38

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 7, 1916.

of assistant or deputy checkweighers is subject to the afore-
going regulations also. The executive committee suggests
that, in order to get over the trouble and expense of
periodical elections, checkweighers should be appointed for
an indefinite period, subject to so much notice from either
side. In future, the committee will not be a party to any
proceedings being taken against any person for his share of
the payment to the checkweigher’s fund unless the afore-
going requirements have been complied with.

Cleveland.

The Middlesbrough Coke Oven Gas Scheme.

About 18 months ago the Middlesbrough Corporation Gas
Committee began to take about a million cubic feet of gas
per day from a new battery of Otto regenerative coke ovens at
the Newport works of Sir B. Samuelson and Company
Limited; and for the last eight months the gas supply of
the town has been entirely obtained from this source, and
the whole carbonising plant at the Corporation works has
been cold. As a matter of precaution, part of the retorts
were kept going for six months, and the whole maintained
in working order, but the carbonising plant was shut down
altogether in March last, and since then the supply of gas
?rom the coke ovens has been wholly relied upon.

Yorkshire.

'Tousing Enquiry at Bentley—New Railway in Lincolnshire
District.

The Yorkshire coal and coke trades’ wagon representatives,
•;ho have usually had a very enjoyable annual dinner,
uve intimated their decision to postpone this function
nee again, in view of the war. The dinner was not
:eld last year, but the year before it took place at Sheffield.

The Urban District Council of Adwick-le-Street, who have
been looking to the Brodsworth Colliery Company to help
ffiem out of their difficulties in regard to arranging a water
supply for the district, will presumably now have to look
elsewhere. A scheme, estimated to cost £1,376, had been
arranged, the colliery company to supply the water; but at
last week’s meeting of the Adwick Council it was reported
the colliery company could not supply the Witter in the
absence of a reservoir, as by so doing their own mains would
be drained. If the Council had had a reservoir built the
water could have been supplied. The water scheme has,
therefore, had to be hung up till after the war.

Very interesting points were raised in a claim under the
Workmen’s Compensation Act, which came before Judge
Benson at last week’s sitting of the Botherham County Court.
A miner named Godfrey Colley, of Darnall, claimed from
the Bothervale Companies Limited, compensation for an
accident from the use of the “ Paddy Mail.” Mr. Ellison,
barrister, who represented the colliery company, pointed out
there was no evidence that it was part of the contract of
employment that applicant should travel by the train; it was
perfectly optional, and there was no obligation. The
respondents, he said, were prejudiced through the absence
of notice at the time. Mr. Shepherd, barrister, for the
applicant, contended that the latter had the right to travel
from a junction to the pit without payment, and that the
accident happened on the company’s premises. His honour
reserved judgment.

The importance of town planning the South Yorkshire
coal field, particularly in the new colliery area around
Doncaster, was emphasised at a Local Government Board
enquiry at Bentley last Friday. The enquiry concerned an
application by the Bentley Urban District Council for per-
mission to prepare a town planning scheme for the district.
It was stated the land included in the scheme comprised
•5,067 acres. The population had grown from 8,000 in 1912
to 13,000 in 1915. Bentley was conveniently situated for an
industrial population composed principally of miners. Very
few estates had been properly linked up with the adjoining
ones, and if this was to be altered it could only be done by
a town planning scheme. Mr. Oldham applied to exclude
the Great Central Bailway from the scheme. They were,
he said, widening their line from Doncaster to Thorne to cope
with the additional traffic which was going to Immingham
and the East Coast. After hearing other objections on
behalf of railway companies and private owners, the enquiry
was closed.

The North Lindsey Bailway Company have received
authority for the raising of additional capital required in con-
nection with the construction of important new lines to serve
the South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coal and iron ore dis-
tricts. Under an Order, bearing the title of the North ’
Lindsey Bail ways (Amendment) Order, 1915, the railway
company is authorised to raise additional capital to an extent
not exceeding .£70,000, and the company is also granted
further borrowing powers for sums not exceeding in the whole
one-third of that amount. Another provision gives power to
the Great Central Bailway Company to subscribe to the share
capital of the North Lindsey Bailway Company moneys up to
£70,000, in addition to the sum of £130,000, which they were
authorised to subscribe under a previous enactment. It may
be of interest to recall that the North Lindsey Bailway Com-
pany was incorporated in 1900, and some 14J miles of line
was then sanctioned. The railway is now virtually a part
of the Great Central system, the two; companies having entered
into an agreement in 1907, under the terms of which the Great
Central operate the line and provide the rolling stock. The
lines now in working consist of about 10 miles, and commence
at a junction with the Great Central system at Frcdingham,
and extend to Winteringham, on the southern bank of the
Humber, whilst a branch also extends to Whitton, about two
miles westward. At the southern junction, in the district of
Frodingham, are important surface ironstone workings, and
at other points along the route of the railway sites for works
are now being developed. At the northern end, at Winter-
ingham, access is obtained to 'the shipping facilities of the
Humber. Two additions are authorised, one being an exten-
sion from Winteringham to Barton-on-Huinber,’and the other
from Whitton to Alkborough. The first of these will com-
mence at a junction with the existing railway at Winter-
ingham, and run parallel to the Humber, to Barton. This
section will be about 6f miles in length, and it will effect a
junction with the Barton branch of the Great Central Bailway.
The other line will commence at a junction with the North
Lindsey Bailway at Whitton, and extend for a distance of
about If- miles to Alkborough. It is not, however, expected
that any definite commencement with the constructional work
will be made until the termination of the war.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

A correspondent learns that certain colliery firms in the
Manchester and Bolton areas are introducing more com-
pressed air coal-cutting machines.

The Health Committee of the Tyldesley District Council
has taken legal opinion with regard to alleged nuisances
caused by the emission of smoke from local colliery chimneys,
and it has now been decided to -ask the Local Government
Board to approve a by-law dealing with the question.

North Wales.

Railway Freightage to Collieries.

A concession of importance has just been made by the
Board of Trade in reference to railway freightage facilities
to collieries. Hitherto, pit timber has been loaded from
vessels into trucks belonging to the railway company, and
when the consignment arrives at its destination the work of
unloading usually has.to be deferred until Sunday, in conse-
quence of the shortage of labour arising from enlistment. A
North Wales colliery actually received a claim for
demurrage, but the absurd! tiy of the position will be appre-
ciated when it is pointed out that the props could have been
forwarded in the colliery’s own trucks, which are always
returned empty. Here is an instance of unnecessary
aggravation of the famine in railway wagons, which has at
length been remedied through an agitation on the part of
the North Wales Goal Owners’ Association. In response to
their urgent representations, the coal owners have now
been informed that in future pit props may be loaded in the
empty trucks belonging to the consignee. The effect of this
decision will be to release for other work thousands of
railway wagons, for demurrage of the same kind must have
been taking place at every colliery in the United Kingdom.

Notts and Derbyshire.

Duties of Checkweighmen: Interesting Point.

Mr. James Mein, one of the founders and managing
director of the South Normanton Colliery Company, has been
appointed a magistrate for Derbyshire.

In the list of officers mentioned in the despatch from Sir
John French for gallant and distinguished conduct is Lieut.-
Col. G. A. Lewis, who at the outbreak of war was secretary
of the Midland Counties Institution of Mining Engineers.
Second-Lieut. Noel E. Webster, who was awarded the
Military Cross three months ago, is a son of Mr. B. M.
Webster, of Nottingham. He was formerly assistant manager
at the Alfreton Pit of the Blackwell Colliery Company, and
enlisted as a private soon after the outbreak of war, being
granted a commission in February last. Mr. H. Dennis
Bayley, mentioned for his services with the British Bed Cross
Society, is a well-known colliery proprietor of Nottingham.
He organised the fund which resulted in the splendid gift of
motor convoys from the mine owners and miners of Notting-
hamshire and Derbyshire. .

An application of an unusual character was made to the
Mansfield magistrates on December 30, when Mr. T. E.
Ellison, barrister, on behalf of Mr. P. F. Day, manager of
the Bentinck Pit of the New Hucknall Colliery Company,
sought to obtain the issue of a summons against Mr. Peach,
checkweighman of the Low Main seam, to show cause why
he should not be removed from his position.—Mr. Ellison
explained that the application was made under section 13 of
the Coal Mines Begulation Act, 1887, which defined the duties
and responsibilities of checkweighers. A' checkweigher
occupied a somewhat anomalous position, inasmuch as he "had
a statutorv right to be on the premises of the coal owners,
although he was not in the service of the owner. In conse-
quence, the Legislature, in giving these powers, had jealously
guarded by its provisions against any possible chance of the
working of the colliery being upset, and strict regulations had
been made to prevent the checkweighman having any word
in the management of the mine. As a result of a certain act
done by Mr. Peach, a complaint had been made against him,
and the owners desired his removal, on the ground that he
had impeded the working of the colliery. The complaint was
that Mr. Peach unlawfully interfered with certain workmen,
and interfered with the management of the mine in contra-
vention of the Act. On Wednesday, November 3, a tub of
bad coal was sent out by a stallman named Gore and others
working with him, and, as a result of that, in accordance
with the usual practice, the men were told to see the manager.
In this particular pit no reduction was made for bad coal, and
workmen were paid for everything they sent out, whether the
coal was bad, good, or indifferent; but if the offence of send-
ing out bad coal was repeated, the offenders were not allowed
to continue working. On November 3 this complaint of send-
ing out bad coal was sent to the manager, and on the following
dav Gore was told he would not be allowed to work until he
had seen the manager. He, however, declined to go to see
the manager, and he was allowed to take his tools out of the
pit. When he and his fellow stallman (a man named Dudley)
got to the pit top, thev were seen talking to Mr. Peach, the
check weighman. Peach stopped Mr. Ward, the under-
manager, and said. “ I told these men not to see the manager:
if you don’t let them go to work, I will call a pit head
meeting, and stop the pit.” In consequence of that, on the
two following davs the nit was stooped working altogether.__

The Bench considered that a primd facie case had been made
out, and granted the summons. The hearing of the case
is to take place on the 13th inst.

The Midlands.

Colliery Drainage in December.

A considerable increase in the rainfall, which .at present
has not reached the pumps, is recorded in the monthly reports
of the engineers to the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage
Commission. Mr. Edmund Howl (general manager) in his
report as engineer for the Tipton district, states that the
rainfall for the five weeks was 4-68 in. The pumping had
been 9,823.900 galls, per 24 hours, as compared with
10,226,000 for the previous month, and 8,462,000 galls, in
the corresponding period last year, or a decrease of about
400,000 galls, compared with November, and 1,362,000 galls,
compared with the corresponding month last year. The
decrease during the month had been in the Moat pound, and
was due to water being held up at Tibbington by-pit of
Empire Colliery, rendering it unnecessary to work Moat oM
engine or Gospel Oak engine, until the water breaks through.
The water at the Bradley engine had increased about 100,000
galls, a day during the month, but was still less than 2|
million galls, per day, full speed being four millions.
The new engine at Deepfields was alone keeping the water
down to bottom coal at about three quarters full speed.

There was little change at Leabrook, Crown Meadow, or
Park Lane. The underground level men had been engaged
in repairs to Park Lane engine shaft between thick coal
and heathen coal. The surface drainage engineer (Mr.
S. B. Priest) reports that the surface pumps had been
maintained in good order, .and had worked when necessary.
An electrically driven surface pump had been put to work
at Havacre Colliery, Deepfields. Boggy Arm course was
still being swagged by mining on down-stream side of Gospel
Oak-road, and was being raised. Clearing had been con-
tinued on Coneygre and Oakham courses. Mining damage
on Shaws End course was being repaired, and repairs to
Withymoor culvert, at joint cost with Dudley Corporation,
had been continued. The engineer for the Old Hill district
(Mr. W. B. Collis) reports that the water has slightly
increased at the Windmill End pumping engine, owing to
increased rainfall. The Buffery engine was still idle, while
there was still a good deal of mud to clean out of the Buffery
level. The height of the water at Saltwells .and Waterfall
Lane pounds remained as usual.

Kent.

Mr. J. M. Fells on the Suspension of Operations.

It is worthy of note that simultaneous up- and down-cast
cages for use in the No. 1 pit at Tilmanstone Colliery have
been made in the workshops there by members of the staff,
under the supervision of Mr. H. J. Wroe, the manager of the
colliery. Difficulties and delays regarding delivery of various
machinery required at the colliery caused this experiment to
be tried, and it has proved quite a success. The weekly
output of the colliery is being well maintained.

At the annual meeting of the Kent Collieries Limited on
Thursday of last week, Mr. J. M. Fells (chairman of the
company) said the directors were very much disappointed
that the bore at the 1,810 ft. proved only 1ft. 10 in. of coal,
instead of the thicker coal that had been anticipated from
previous bores, and from other indications. This was one of
the deciding factors with the technical directors in coming to
the conclusion they did—that it was desirable, at this stage
at any rate, to suspend the getting of coal. Another factor—■
perhaps almost as important—was the difficulty of getting
labour. Since the commencement of the war, some 55 or 58
per cent, of the employees of the company have either gone
on active service or been engaged in war work. During the
year further attention had been , given to the development of
the ironstone. .The ironstone bed had proved to be 16ft.
thick, and samples taken and 'analysed made at each foot
averaged, for the lower 15 ft. of the 16-4 in. metallic contents
of 32-94 per cent. The Channel Collieries Trust had now
come to the conclusion to which the directors came at the
beginning of the war—that it was desirable, at any rate, to
suspend operations for a time. Beplying to questions of the
shareholders, the Chairman said the pumps had been with-
drawn, and the water had risen to within 200 ft. of surface.
He did not think they should assume that the Channel
Collieries Trust would absolutely abandon the coal, and the-
shareholders should remember that that concern had advanced
to the company £274,000, and he had no doubt they would
do what was just if thev were approached in the right way.
—The report was carried unanimously.

Scotland.

Colliery Developments—Return'of Enlisted Miners.

Electric plant is presently being installed at Newton
Collieries, Lanarkshire, belonging to Messrs. James Dunlop
and Company Limited, and expectations .are held out that
the new installation will materially augment the output.

Mr. Wm. Beid, under-manager at No. 13, Bosehall
Colliery, Lanarkshire, has been presented by the officials and
workmen there with a purse of soverigns and a gold-
mounted umbrella, suitably inscribed. Mr. Beid is leaving
to take up an appointment in the Shettleston district.

The contributions for the “ Thick Black ” tobacco fund for
soldiers at the front—a fund which has been splendidly
organised by Mr. John Bobertson, of the Lanarkshire
Miners’ Union—are mounting rapidly, and the total is
approaching £600. Practically every firm of coal owners in
Scotland has contributed liberally to the fund.

During the past year important developments and improve-
ments have been carried out at most of the collieries in the
Lanarkshire district. At Dykehead' Colliery, belonging to
the Summerlee Iron Company, extensive additions have been
made. A new round shaft has been sunk to the Virtuewell
seam, new engines have been erected, while a pithead frame,
screening and washing plants, have all been installed. In
the Landward part of the parish, the Cornsilloch Colliery,
belonging to the Darngavil Coal Company, installed new
electric plant during the year. The new plant at Woodside
Colliery was completed during the year, and the colliery is
now capable of handling a. much larger output.

Bather, a curious situation has arisen at Gadder Collieries,
Bishopbriggs, and one which undoubtedly will be of interest
to coal masters and miners all over the Scottish coal fields.
Because of enlistments, the output at No. 17 pit, Cadder
Collieries, has been considerably decreased since the outbreak
of the war. Ironstone is the principal mineral worked,
although coal is also included in the output. It
seems that the demand for ironstone for war purposes
was so great that permission was readily acceded to the
men-to work six days per week. Even with this the output
was not sufficient to cope with the demand, and so the firm
made application to the Government for the return of some
miners. The War Office acquiesced in the request, and a
number of soldiers have now arrived at the colliery. These
are employed under the same conditions as the civilian
miners, being paid the tonnage rates common to the pit. It
turns out,.however, that the employers are by no means
satisfied with the men who have been sent. Although they
have all been miners before joining the Army, only two of
them have worked ironstone. The contention is, and it is
supported both by the colliery company and the miners
themselves, that as there are still in Britain a large number
of ironstone workers who, prior to their enlistment, worked
at Cadder Colliery and resided in the village, they ought to
have been given the preference of returning to the mines. A
conference has taken place between representatives of the
firm, and those of the miners, and it has been decided that
a joint representation should be made to the Government,
asking that the latter should arrange, if possible, for the
return of a sufficient number of the men who were formerly
employed at Cadder before enlistment, and who are still
located at the various war and military stations in Britain.
Cadder is not the only colliery centre in Scotland to which
miners may be sent back from the Army, and it is con-
sidered desirable that these enlisted men, particularly those
of them who are married, should be restored, where possible,
to the spheres of labour they vacated.