February 4, 191G.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

235

mortgage debenture stock of the Yorkshire Waste Heat Com-
pany Limited (in which the Power Company holds all the
shares) there is now only <=£19,205 left. This stock will be
repaid on December 31, 1937, by means of a sinking fund, in
which £2,672 has already been accumulated. The directors
desire to commend this excellent security to the proprietors in
the Power Company.

United States Steel Corporation Limited.—Quarterly divi-
dends of per cent, on the preferred stock, and 11 per cent,
on the common stock has been declared.

Watson (John) Limited.—The directors, after writing off
£10,000 for depreciation, and placing £10,000 to the reserve
fund, recommend a final dividend of Is. and a bonus of 4s.
per share on the ordinary shares, making 30 per cent, for
the past year, and carrying forward £31,474.

Yorkshire Railway Wagon Company Limited.—The report
for 1915 states that the gross profits, including the. balance
brought forward, amount to £55,953. The sum of £24,615
is required to pay interest on the debentures and loans, and
the directors recommend that the balance, £31,338, be dis-
posed of as follows:—Interim dividend (paid), £7,812;
further dividend of 2s. 6d. per share on 50,000 shares (£2
paid), and Is. 3d. per share on the 25,000 shares (£1 paid)
on February 10, £7,812 ; bonus of Is. and 6d. per share on the
above shares respectively, £3,125reduction of cost of free-
hold properties, £300; to be added to the reserve fund.
£10,000; leaving a balance to be carried to next account of
£2,288. The above addition of £10,000 will raise the reserve
fund to £160,000.

NEW COMPANIES.

Greensmith Alloys Limited. — Private company. Regis-
tered office, 4, Naval-row, Poplar, E. Registered January 28.
To acquire, take over, and carry on business now carried on
at above address as A. Greensmith, business of iron founders,
mechanical engineers, manufacturers of implements and other
machinery, brass founders, boiler makers, steel converters,
etc. Nominal capital, £2,000 in 2,000 £1 shares. First
directors and subscribers (one share each) :—A. Greensmith
and E. G. Hoather.

Haslam and Stretton (Bristol) Limited.—Private company.
Registered office, 11, Windsor-place, Cardiff. Registered
January 24. To acquire and take over the agency agreement
between Herbert Frood and Company Limited at Chapel-en-
le-Frith, and Haslam and Stretton Limited, Cardiff, and dis-
charge all debts, etc., of the said Haslam and Stretton Limited
relating exclusively to the Herbert Frcod Companv Limited;
and to carry on and continue and develop said business.
Nominal capital, £1,000 in 1,000 £1 ordinary shares. First
directors : S. B. Haslam, T. Stretton, and H. Frood.

London and Scottish Engineering Company Limited.—
Private company. Registered January 22. Nature of busi-
ness indicated by title. Nominal capital, £10,000 in 10,000
£1 shares. First directors : A. Macdonald, W. E. Berry,
and J. G. Berry.

This list of new companies is taken from the Daily
Register specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons
Limited, company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late
for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

Portsmouth, February 15.—The Tramways Committee
invite tenders for the supply of Welsh (or other) .steam coal
for use at the power station, Vivash-road, 'from April 1,
1916, to September 30, 1916, about 2,200 tons. The speci-
fication and form of tender may be obtained upon application
to the engineer, Mr. V. G. Lironi, M.I.M.E., A.M.I.E.E.,
engineer’s office, Vivash-road, Fratton, Portsmouth. Tenders
marked “ Tender for Coal for Power Station,” to be
delivered to the town clerk, Town Hall, Portsmouth, not
later than 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 15, 1916. The
form of tender must include .a declaration that the person
making the tender pays the rates of wages and observes
the hours of labour and conditions contained in the Corpora-
tion fair wages clause. The Committee do not bind them-
selves to accept the lowest or any tender. W. R. Spaven,
general manager.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Cairo.—320 metric tons of Newcastle coal for the
Egyptian Ministry of the Interior (Lunacy Division).*

Castlebar (Ireland), February 11.—400 tons of best
double-screened Wigan coal, at the District Asylum, for
the Committee of Management. Forms from Mr. J. F.
Higgins, clerk of asylum.

Darlington, February 17.—Steam coal and anthracite,
to the waterworks and sewage farm, for the Corporation.
Forms from the borough surveyor and waterworks engineer,
Town Hall, Darlington.

Huddersfield, February 16.—Coal, for the Corporation.
Forms from K. F. Campbell, borough engineer and surveyor,
1, Peel-street.

Leeds, February 15.—About 3,500 tons of best screened
steam nuts, and about 25 tons of hand-picked seconds, for
the Sewerage Committee of the Corporation. Forms from
the sewerage engineer, G. A. Hart, Gt. George-Street, Leeds.

London, N.W., February 8.—Coal and coke, for the
Willesden District Council. Forms from O. C. Robson,
Municipal Offices, Dyre-street, Kilburn, N.W.

Preston, February 12.—Coal, for the Corporation.
Forms from the borough treasurer, Town Hall, Preston.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be
received.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, &c.

Ashborne, February 9.—Borehole.—Sinking a borehole
of 15 in. diameter to a depth of 200 ft., for the Ashborne
Urban District Council. Specifications from J.‘ W. Twigg,
waterworks inspector, Derby-road, Ashborne.

Leigh (Lancs), February 18.—Turbo-Alternator.—One
2,000 kw. alternator, 6,600 volts; one surface condenser; one
set of pumps for water supply; one 1,000 kw. rotary or motor
converter switchgear, for the Corporation. Specifications
from A. T. Smith, Electricity Works.

* Specifications, particulars, etc., may be seen at the
Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade,
73, Basinghall-street, E.C.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

Stemming difficulties both at South Wales and the North-
East Coast have been no less pronounced during the past
week than has been the case recently, and this fact very
largely explains the smallness of the list of fixtures arranged.
At the North-East Coast particularly, however, there has
been the additional obstacle of shortage of coal, and not only
have cargoes been scarce, but bunkering supplies have been
and still are exceedingly difficult to secure. Wtih many
collieries out of the market for coals for early shipment, the
demand for tonnage is intermittent, and at no time during
the past week has assumed large proportions. Supplies have
come forward rather more freely, however, with the result
that the long-wanted fall in rates has taken place—at least,
in a small way. From the Tyne, prices for cargo space
show an almost general decline. Coasting is the only
exception, the tone of this section of the market being firm,
with rates based on 15s. to London. For North France, the
enquiry for coal and coke tonnage has fallen off considerably
during the week, and, whilst a fair volume of business has
been possible of transaction for Rouen and Dunkirk,
merchants’ requirements have not been nearly so large as
has been the case recently. At the time of writing, Rouen
is worth no more than 29s. 6d., a reduction of from 6d. to
Is. 6d. on the week, whilst Dunkirk has been done at 28s.,
a fall of 3s. on the prevailing rate last week. The week
commenced with a firm tone in the Bay market, but, latterly,
rates have shown something of a slump, for Rochefort, which
was done early on in the week at 46s., has been fixed for
at 40s. Bordeaux and St. Nazaire are now quoted at a
similar figure, but the last fixtures were arranged at 45s.
A very marked absence of orders for the Mediterranean has
had the effect of bringing down owners’ ideas very rapidly.
The only fixtures recorded for Genoa, are at 87s. 6d. and 90s.,
but present quotations rule on the basis of 77s. 6d. to 80s.
for that port. Other Mediterranean destinations are corre-
spondingly lower. Loading turns are still the great bar
to business at Cardiff, .and, as there is no glut of cargoes
on offer, chartering has been confined to very small limits.
For North France, rates are down to the extent of from 6d.
to Is. 6d. to Rouen. The Bay is weaker at a reduction of
1 fr. to Nantes or Bordeaux, and the tone at the time of
writing is by no means strong. Mediterranean-w.ards,
Italian ports are neglected, with Genoa showing a decrease
of from Is. 3d. to 3s. on the week’s work. Marseilles has
fallen from 90 fr. paid earlier in the week to 82} fr. It is
not unlikely that further reductions will be recorded shortly.
The River Plate is a shade firmer at 40s. 6d.

Homewards, the River Plate displays a firm tone and,
whilst Government 'agents have fixed tonnage at 135s. to
137s. 6d. to United Kingdom, outside merchants have to
pay up to 145s., at which rate a large boat has been fixed
for Lisbon from Bahia. For grain from the .States, 16s. is
obtainable from the Northern Range for the Bristol Channel,
with 18s. 6d. for the French Atlantic, and from 22s. to
22s. 6d. for West Italy. For coals for West Italy, 110s. is
still offered without response. The Eastern market is quiet,
but rates are well maintained on the basis of 135s. from
Kurrachee on scale terms, and about 145s. on d.w. from
Bombay. For March-April, Burmah has paid 175s., and
Saigon is worth up to 220s. for February. Australia con-
tinues on Government basis of 110s. for wheat.

Later.—Since the above was written, Tyne freights have
fallen in remarkable fashion. Marseilles has been done at
65s., and for Genoa 75s. is the highest rate asked, many
owners quoting .as low as 70s. Other quotations are :—
Porto Vecchio, 70s.; Bordeaux, 37s. 6d. ; and Rouen, 28s. 6d.

Tyne to Bayonne, 1,600, 46s. 6d.; Boulogne, 2,000, 28s.;
Barcelona, 2,000, 50s.; Bordeaux, 2,500, 45s.; 1,800, 45s.;
Caen, 1,200, 29s.; Chantenay, 1,600, 40s. ; Calais, 2,800,
28s.; Dieppe, 350, 42s. 6d., coke; 1,000, 42s. 6d., coke;
Dunkirk, 1,000, 30s.; 2,800, 28s.; 2,100, 31s.; 400, 42s. 6d.,
coke; Genoa, 3,000, 90s. ; 2,000, 90s. ; 4,500, 87s. 6d. ; 3,500,
90s.; 3,000, 87s. 6d.; Havre, 2,500, 28s. ; 1,500, 27s. 6d.;
Leghorn, 4,500, 87s. 6d.; London, 1,300, 15s.; La Pallice,

2.500,	45s.; La Rochelle, 2,500, 45s.; Marseilles, 1,800,
77s. 6d.; 1,000, 77s. 6d.; 3,300, 77s. 6d.; 2,700, 77s. 6d.;
Malaga, 2,000, 60s.; Oran, 800, 55s. ; 4,000, 52s. 6d. ; Porto
Ferrajo, 4,500, 82s. 6d.; Porto Vecchio, 5,000, 90s. ; Rouen,

1.500,	30s.; 3,500, 35s.; 2,100, 30s.; 2,000, 29s. 6d..; Roche-
fort, 1,500, 46s.; 2,800, 40s.; St. Nazaire, 1,400, 45s.;
Savona, 4,500, 87s. 6d. ; 2,000, 85s.; 2,500, 87s. 6d.; 3,000,
87s. 6d. ; Spezzia, 4,500, 87s. 6d.; 3,000, 87s. 6d.; 2,500,
87s. 6d.

•Cardiff to Alexandria, 6,700, 87s.; Brest, 1,100, 27s. 6d.,
coke; Barcelona, 2,000, 55s.; 1,400, 55s.; Bordeaux, 2,600,
44 fr. ; 4,800, 44 fr. ; Cape Verdes, 5,000, 42s. 6d., Feb.;
Campana, 3,500, 42s.; Caen, 900, 23s. 6d. ; Dunkirk, 3,500,
27s.; 1,100, 28s.; Dieppe, 2,200, 23s.; 1,100, 27s. 6d., coke;
Genoa, 2,600, 75s.; 5,500, 78s. 9d.; Gibraltar, 1,400. 38s. 6d.;
Havre, 900, 23s.; 900, 23s. 6d.; Lisbon, 3,900, 33s., 500;
Malaga, 1,500, 50s.; Marseilles, 3,800, 90 fr.; 2,800, 90 fr.;
5,000, 90 fr.; 1,800, 90 fr. ; 4,600, 87} fr. ; 2,800, 87} fr. ;
2,000, 87} fr.; 3,300, 85 fr. ; 4,000, 82} fr. ; 2,700, 84 fr. ;
Naples, 3,800, 78s. 6d., 800; Nantes, 3,200, 42 fr. ; Oporto,
1,200, 36s.; River Plate, 4,000, 40s. 6d.; Rouen, 1,300,
24s. 6d. ; 1,700 , 24s. 3d. ; Santos, 6,000, 50s., 1,000, fuel, Rio
de Janeiro terms ; Spezzia, 2,300, 75s. ; St. Nazaire, 2,100,
42 fr.; St. Malo, 800, 19s. 6d.; 1,400, 19s. 6d. ; Villa Con-
stitucion, 3,500, 42s.

Swansea to Civita Vecchia, 2,900, 77s. coal, 77s. 9d. fuel;
Bordeaux, 1,600, 45 fr., fuel.; Alicante, 1,400, 50s.; Honfleur,
930, 23s.; 850, 23s. 3d.: Treport, 550, 25s.,'tin-plates, free
in and out; Rouen, 1,800, 24s.; 650, 24s. 6d.; 1,800,
24s. 4}d. ; 850, 24s. 9d.; Barcelona, 1,800, 55s. ; St. Brieux,
550, 2~3s. coal, 23s. 9d. fuel; Marans, 900, 43} fr. ; Dieppe,
2,000, 23s. 6d. coal, 24s. 3d. fuel; 1,700, 23s. coal, 23s. 9d.
fuel; Almeria, 850, 50s.; Nantes, 2,400, 43 fr. ; Dublin. 350,
10s. 3d.; Caen, 900, 23s. 6d. ; Havre, 950, 22s., tin-plates,
free in and out; 900, 23s. 6d. ; Castellon, 800, 54s.; Nantes,
2,400, 43 fr.

Newport to Gibraltar, 1,400, 38s. 6d.; Dublin, 470, 12s.;
Dieppe, 2,200, 23s. 6d. ; 1,100, 27s. 6d., coke; Brest, 1,100,
27s. 6d., coke; Naples, 2,100, 60s., 1,000; St. Nazaire, 2,100,
42 fr.; Bordeaux, 2,000, 44 fr.; 2,000, 42 fr.

East Coast port to Halmstad, Uddevalla, or Helsingborg,
sail, 600, 21 kr.

Grimsby to Gothenburg, 2,200, 23 kr.

Port Talbot to Tarragona, 1,350, 50s.; Rouen. 1,180, 24s.;
2,100, 24s. 6d. ; 1,600, 24s. 6d.: St. Nazaire, 1,100, 42 fr.;
1,700, 42 fr.; Nantes, 1,700, 42} fr.

Hartlepool to Marseilles, 2,500, 76s.

Ssaham Harbour to Treport, 1,500, 29s.

Burryport to Guernsey, 330, 21s. 6d.

Wear to Bordeaux, 1,300, 46s. ; Marseilles, 3,000, 77s. 6d. ;

Havre, 900, 28s.

Blyth to Malaga, 1,500, 60s.; Rouen, 2,500, 30s.

Glasgow to Genoa, Savona, or Leghorn, 2,200, 82s.; 85s.;

Bordeaux, 2,000, 55} fr.

Neath Abbey to Havre Canal, 850, 24s.

Hull to Gothenburg, 2,200, 23 kr. ; Rouen, 1,800, 30s.

CATALOGUES AND PRICE LISTS RECEIVED.

The General Electric Company Limited (67, Queen
Victoria-street, London, E.C.) forward a catalogue of their
Robertson carbon-filament lamps, both for low and high
voltage, 2} to 50 candle-power. Those lamps are made of
British materials and by British labour, at the Osram-
Robertson Lamp Works, Hammersmith, and the Lemington-
on-Tyne Glass Works.

Messrs. Yislok Limited (3, St. Bride’s House, Salisbury-
square, London, E.C.) have issued a catalogue dealing with
the “ Gauge All ” expansible boring cutter, the outstanding
feature of which is a soft metal alloy centre, the compression
of which, by a light blow from a hammer, expands the cutter
to its original length, so that the cutter will bore about 100
holes, true to gauge, as compared with about eight holes by
old-style cutters.

Messrs. Willans and Robinson Limited (Rugby) forward
an illustrated booklet of their Willans-Oddie direct-acting
steam pumps, describing the Willans-Oddie valve gear as
applied to simplex and compound boiler feed pumps,
hydraulic pumps, and service pumps. Among the advantages
claimed for this valve are that the unbalanced parts are
exposed to exhaust steam only, the valve thus becoming truly
balanced; that for reversal, the movement of the valve admits
full-pressure steam to one end of the valve, and opens the
other end to the exhaust; that, in reversing, the valve is
being moved in a rotary direction by the pump, and therefore
has not to be started from rest; that full advantage is taken
of the expansive force of the steam to complete the stroke;
and that the distribution enables the pump stroke to begin
and end slowly, thus preventing shock to the valves.

We have received from Messrs. Samuel Denison and Son
Limited (Hunslet Foundry, Leeds), a catalogue of their
numerous types of weighing machines and weighbridges,
comprising, inter alia, “ Tandem ” weighbridges for weigh-
ing long and short w^agons on a mixed train without
uncoupling; self-contained railway weighbridges; self-indi-
cating automatic weighbridges for trains in motion; motor
and road wagon weighbridges; 6-beam furnace charge weigh-
ing machine; pit bank weighing machines, enabling both
weighmen to see the net result at once; pit bank turntable
weighing machine, with tare indicator; self-indicating
apparatus for pit bank machines; tramwey weighing
machines, for counting and recording the number of trucks
weighed; an automatic hopper scale wuth tipping hopper; self-
registering and equal-weight weighing machines for retail
coal and coke traders and gas werks, etc., etc. The catalogue
is handsomely got up and illustrated.

Messrs. Mayer Brothers and Company (Mankato, Minne-
sota, U.S.A.) have forwarded catalogues of their “ Little
Giant ” power hammer, provided wfith a combination die for
making and sharpening pick and chisel points, or with special
dies for forging and sharpening pick points for mining
machines, the 501b. hammer being capable of turning out
2,000 points or re-pointing 2,500 old bits per diem. Three
sizes of hammer are made : 25 1b., 501b., and 1001b. (repre-
senting the weight of the steel ram), the smallest forging
stocks up to l}in. square or 2 in. round, and the largest up
to 3 in. square or 4 in. round. The maximum floor space
required is only 28 in. by 42 in., and a 3 horse-power motor
suffices to operate the 1001b. size. The hammer is w-orked
by a treadle, which throw’s a friction pulley into contact with
the belt pulley, thus transmitting pow-er to the crank shaft
operating the ram. From the numerous testimonials received
from coal owners in the United States, the “ Little Giant ”
hammer wnuld appear to be a very useful adjunct to the
colliery workshop.

An ordinary meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers
will be held at Great George-street, Westminster, S.W., on
Tuesday next, at 5.30 p.m. The following paper : “ Notes
on the Working of a Rack Railway,” by William T. Lucy,
M.Inst.C.E., will be submitted for discussion.

The war has had a cumulative effect in checking the for-
mation of newr companies. From information supplied by
Messrs. Jordan and Sons Limited, the number of new^ com-
panies registered during 1915 wTere : England, 3,749; Scot-
land, 217 ; and Ireland, 97—making a total of 4,063.’ Of this
total, 205 were public companies, 3,798 private, 59 limited
by guarantee, and one unlimited company. The gross
nominal capital wus £53,347,656. The capital of new coal
and fuel companies was £1,666,800, as compared wfitli
£3,482,550 in 1914, and £6,644,383 in 1913.

Scientific Research.—Sir Philip Magnus, in Parliament
last week, asked the Prime Minister whether he would
consider the desirability of appointing >a Committee of
members of the House of Commons, and of other persons,
to enquire into the present organisation of education in this
country, .and to report as to wfliat changes it might be
thought advisable to introduce into the national system of
education, w-ith a view^ to establishing, without unduly
interfering wuth other aims, a closer connection between
commercial and industrial requirements and the teaching
provided in the ^everal educational institutions, and in order
to secure such further development as might be found neces-
sary of existing facilities for scientific research. Mr.
Asquith, replying, said that last year a scheme of educational
development was reconsidered in the light of existing con-
ditions and the probable requirements of the country after
the war. This scheme, to which partial effect had been
given, wuis concerned with the special scientific and
industrial interests. In the circumstances he did not think
it would be desirable to. set up the Committee suggested in
the question.