668 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 7, 1916. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Allen (Edgar) and Company Limited.—The directors have declared a final dividend on 5 per cent, cumulative preference shares for half-year to March 31. British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Com- pany Limited.—The report for 1915 states that the net profit amounts to £176,752, plus £8,121 brought forward, making £184,873. This has been appropriated as follows :—Patents,, goodwill, etc., written off, £25,000; special depreciation of plant, machinery, etc., £35,241; additional reserve for employers’ liability, £5,000; dividend of 7-J per cent, on preference shares, £75,000; and carry forward, £44,632. There have 'been charged against revenue the usual expenses for maintenance of works, plant, etc., and, in addition, there has been applied to depreciation of the same items £87,150, which includes the special sum of £35,241 to' cover abnormal wear and tear of plant. Broomhill Collieries Limited.—The directors have decided to pay the two years’ arrears of dividend on the preference share capital of the company, less income-tax. Browett, Lindley and Company Limited.—The directors propose a drastic reduction of the capital. Under this scheme the preference shareholders would forego 14 years’ arrears of dividend, but receive in future 6 per cent, dividend and half of the profits remaining, 'until such extra dividends shall amount to £20,000. The ordinary.shares would be reduced to 15s. in order to discharge the debit balance. If adopted, the directors believe it possible to resume preference dividends this year. The net profit for the year is £14,010, reducing the debit to £7,696. Cammell, Laird and Company Limited. — The directors recommend the following final dividends in respect of 1915, namely :—2s. 6d. per share, or 2| per cent., on the preference shares, and 7s. 6d. per share, or 71 per cent., on the ordinary shares, both payable April 19 next, less tax. This makes the full dividend of 5 per cent, on the preference shares, and 10 per cent, on the ordinary shares for the year; £100,000 is carried to reserve, and £51,450 forward. Cynon Colliery Company Limited.—Interim dividend of 7J per cent., less tax, payable April 15. Forth and Clyde and Sunnyside Iron Company Limited.— The report states that, after providing £1,223 for deprecia- tion, and writing off the balance of goodwill, £3,057, there remains a balance of £4,568, which is carried forward. Ibbotson Brothers and Company Limited.—Interim divi- dend of 5 per cent, per annum (2s. per share), free of tax, for half-year. Iron Trades Employers’ Insurance Association Limited.— The report for 1915 states that the premium income was £380,332, which, with £17,7'19 dividends and interest, makes total receipts £398,051. The compensation paid and provided for, with incidental expenses, amounted to £214,594. After setting aside £250,000 for outstanding claims and depreciation in investments, there remains £120,652. The directors transfer £55,000 to reserve, £2,000 to staff pension and benevolent fund, recommend the application of £1,000 to special war funds, and propose to return to members entitled thereto a premium bonus at the rate of 15 per cent. Kinneil Cannel and Coking Goal Company Limited.— Interim dividend of 2J per cent., free of tax; last year, no interim dividend. New Monckton Collieries Limited.—An interim dividend of Is. per share, free of tax, has been declared on the ordinary shares. Ocean Coal and Wilsons Limited.—The directors state that the profits available for distribution amount to £302,653, and they recommend a dividend of 10 per cent, on the ordinary shares (free of income-tax), carrying forward £6,437. This dividend makes 16 per cent, for the year. Smith and McLean Limited.—The report for 1915 shows a profit, after providing for certain liabilities, directors’ fees, depreciation, and all charges, and including £13,262 brought forward, of £40,160. There has been placed to ordinary reserve £8,000, and a dividend on the ordinary shares of 14s. per share (free of tax) is proposed, carrying forward £18,006. South Durham Steel and Iron Company Limited. — The directors have declaired an interim dividend of 5 per cent. (Is. per share). Star Engineering Company Limited.—The report for the nine months ended December 31 states that the trading profit amounts to £32,614, the credit balance being £27,073. The directors propose a dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, less income-tax, for the nine months period, to place to reserve £15,000, increasing it to £30,000, and after paying directors’ fees, carry forward the balance. Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company Limited.—The directors recommend an interim dividend for the half-year ended February 29 last of Is. per share on the ordinary shares, less tax. Yorkshire Engine Company Limited. — The report states that after paying debenture interest and bank charges, the profit was £1,494. Of this sum, £359 will go towards reduc- tion of the debit balance. The works are under Government control. NEW COMPANIES. Allen (Marcus) and Sons Limited. — Private company. Registered March 29. To carry on business of mechanical, electrical, chemical, and manufacturing engineers, brass and iron founder, formerly carried on as Marcus Allen, at Vernon Engineering Works, Old Trafford, near Manchester. Nominal capital, £10,000 in 10,000 £1 shares. First permanent directors: M. Allen, V. M. B. Allen, and T. W. Allen. Qualification of directors, other than permanent directors, 10 ordinary shares. Associated Engineers Limited.-—Private company. Regis- tered office, Manor-row Chambers, Manor-row, Bradford. Registered March 31. Nature of business indicated by title. Nominal capital, £1,000 in 1,000 £1 ordinary shares. The subscribers to be first directors. Qualification of directors, 10 ordinary shares. Subscribers (one share each) : I. Rhodes and J. R. Pepper. Braithwaite Mines Limited. — Private company. Regis- tered March 29. . Nature of business indicated by title. Nominal capital, £15,250 in 15,000. £1 preference shares, and 20,000 3d. ordinary shares. First directors to be determined by subscribers. Subscribers (one share each) : G. F. Wallace and C. E. Currie. Cory Colliers Limited. — Private company. Registered office, 52, Mark-lane, E.C. Registered March 31. To pur- chase, hire, build, etc., steam and other ships and vessels, equipments, and furniture, and employ same for the convey- ance of passengers, mails, etc., ship owners, wharfingers, etc. Nominal capital, £300,000 in 300,000 £1 shares. First directors to be appointed by the signatories. Subscribers (one share each) : J. C. H.' Greig and H. G. Rudford. Danks (Alfred) Limited. — Private company. Registered March 29. To establish and carry on business of iron founders, mechanical, electrical, and general engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £2,000 in 2,000 £1 shares. First directors and subscribers (one share each) : A. Banks and E. H. Summers'. Harrison (J. B.) (London and Cardiff) Limited.—Private company. Registered March 29. To acquire, take over, and carry on business now carried on at Bute Docks, Cardiff, as J. B. Harrison, timber merchants, saw7mill proprietors, ship owners and managers, etc. Nominal capital, £25,000 in 2,500 £10 shares. First directors and subscribers (10 shares each) : O. C. W’ulfberg, J. B. Harrison, H. P. Pedersen, and W. H. Le Grand Chambers. Qualification of directors, £10. Lees (Archibald) Limited.—Private company. Registered March 27. To acquire and take over business of A. W. Lees, at Standard Works, Halifax, and carry on business of mechanical, hydraulic, and general engineers, iron founders, manufacturers of explosive material, etc. Nominal capital, £3,000 in 3,000 £1 shares. First directors and subscribers (one share each) : A. Lees and H. Wilson. Qualification of directors, 100 shares. Lester (W. M.) and Sons Limited. — Private company. Registered office, Bradford Iron Works, Bridgman-street, Walsall. Registered March 29. To purchase, etc., and carry on business of iron and steel manufacturers and merchants now carried on at above address, colliery proprietors, coke manufacturers, etc. Nominal capital, £6,000 in 6,000 £1 shares. First permanent directors and subscribers (one share each) : W. M. Lester, A. W. Lester, A. J. Lester, E. G. Lester, and H. L. Lester. Qualification of directors, 250 ordinary shares. Pyewood Colliery Company Limited. — Private company. Registered office, Pyewood Colliery, Darton, near Barnsley. Registered March 27. Nature of business indicated by title. Nominal capital, £25,000 in 25,000 £1 shares. First directors : A. Taylor and J. W. Bulmer. Qualification of directors, £500. Subscribers (one share each) : First directors and L. Taylor. Righton (Henry) and Company Limited. — Private com- pany. Registered office, 15, Coleman-street, E.C. Regis- tered March 27. To carry on business of iron founders, mechanical engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £1,000 in 1,000 £1 ordinary shares. First directors and subscribers (one share each) : A. H. Hughes, A. W. Johnson, and H. J. Shelley. Qualification of directors, 50 ordinary shares. Robb (Walter) Limited.—Private company. Registered March 31. To acquire, take over, and carry on business of electrical engineer carried on at Wakefield as Walter Robb, mechanical, sanitary, general engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £10,000 in 10,000 £1 shares. First directors and subscribers (one share each) : W. Robb and H. F. Buttenshaw. Quali- fication of directors, £500. Smeeton and Brewer and Company Limited. — Private company. Registered March 31. To acquire business of Smeeton and Brewer, carried on at 56, Victoria-street, S.W., steel work plant manufacturers, iron founders, engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £1,000 in 1,000 £1 shares. First life director, J. A. Smeeton. Steel Belts Limited. — Private company. Registered March 25. To carry on business of engineers, tool and boiler makers, electrical and water supply engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £3,000 in 3,000 £1 ordinary shares. Quali- fication of directors, £200. Subscribers . (one share each) : G. A. Eyre, G. Portens, and W. G. Kitson. Walker (J. G.) and Son Limited. — Private company. Registered March 30. To carry on business of manufac- turers of and for the sale of chains for cranes, mining engi- neering, and other purposes. Nominal capital, £25,000 in 25,000 £1 shares. First directors and subscribers (one share each) : R. Player, C. C. G. Corbett, and W. H. H. Walker. Qualification of directors, other than permanent directors, £500. Walsall District Iron Company Limited. — Private com- pany. ’Registered office, Walsall District Iron Works, Birchills-street, Walsall, Staffordshire. Registered March 29. Nature of business indicated by title. Nominal capital, £20,000 in 20,000 £1 shares. First permanent directors and subscribers (one share each) :—W. M. Lester, A. W. Lester, A. J. Lester, E. G. Lester, and H. L. Lester. Qualifica- tion of directors, other than permanent directors, 250 ordinary ■shares. 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 Charge Against a Coal Exporter. — The charge against Adolph Carl Christian Markham, coal exporter, Fenchurch- street, and Thomas William Gimbert, clerk, under the Official Secrets Act, was further heard at the Mansion House on Friday last. The allegation was that Gimbert, who had been employed as a temporary shorthand typist at the Exhi- bitions Branch of the Board of Trade, communicated to Markham particulars of requirements for war purposes by the Italian, Russian, and French Governments. Markham is the son of a German, and changed his surname of Schultz to Markham in 1914. The accused were remanded on bail. A Question of Freights.—Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company, of London, recovered £96 damages from Messrs. Withington and Everett, ship owners, of Newcastle, in an action last week relating to the difference between coal freights chartered under a contract on April 5, 1914, and the higher amount paid by plaintiffs for substituted tonnage. It appeared that the defendants, “ as agents or owners,” con- tracted with plaintiffs to carry 6,500 tons of coal for Admiralty purposes, and now- urged that the exception clause relating to ‘‘restraint of princes ” freed them from obligation to carry a consignment of 1,500 tons ordered in September 1914. Some steamers, of which the defendants were owners or agents, were requisitioned or chartered by the Government, but Mr. Justice Bailhache decided that defendants, as agents, were free to charter from anybody, and must pay the damages for failing to carry out the contract. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE. For Contracts Advertised tn this issue received too late for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last White pages. Abertillery, April 14.—The District Council invite tenders for the supply of 8,000 tons of gas coal, delivered at the Great Western Railway Sidings, Abertillery, in such quantities as may be required from April 1, 1916, to March; 3’1, 1917. Full particulars and analyses to accom- pany, the tenders. The Council retain the power of sub- dividing the quantity of coal required into two or more contracts, .and do’not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any tender. The person whose tender is accepted will have to enter into a contract and bond, with approved sureties, for the due performance of the contract. Tenders endorsed ‘‘ Gas coal,” must be received by William Gait, clerk, Council Offices, Abertillery, on or before April 14, 1916. Birmingham, April 14.—The Coal Purchasing Committee invite tenders for the supply of 100,000 tons of small steam coal (nuts, beans, peas, screenings, and slack) to the follow- ing Corporation Electric Supply Stations, for delivery during the six, nine, or twelve months commencing May 1, 1916 :— Water-street Electric Supply Station (delivered by canal), Chester-street Electric Supply Station (delivered by canal), Summer-lane Electric Supply Station (delivered by canal), Nechells Electric Supply Station (delivered by rail or canal). The committee are prepared to entertain offers for coal for delivery by rail on to the private sidings of the Electric Supply Department, Washwood Heath, M.R. Particulars from Mr. A. W. Smith, Coal Purchasing Committee, Gas Department Offices, Council House, Birmingham. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Bridge of Allan, April 15.—About 3,000 tons screened and unscreened nuts for the Town Council. Particulars from Mr. J. Tait, gas works manager. Bristol, April 29. — Anthracite and house coal, for schools. Forms from the Secretary for Education, Guildhall, Bristol. Glasgow, April 11.—Fuel for depots and power station, for six or twelve months, for the Tramways Department. Particulars from the general manager, 46, Bath-street, Glasgow. Leeds, April 11.—Coal, for hospitals. Forms from the town clerk, Leeds. Newport (Fifeshire), April 11.—Cannel, gas coal and nuts, for the Council gas works. Tenders to Mr. John Scrim geour, town clerk. Southampton, April 12.—Welsh steam coal. Forms from the waterworks engineer, French-street, Southampton. Spilsby, April 19.—50 tons, for the workhouse. Forms from the deputy clerk, Union Offices, Spilsby. Weston-super-Mare, April 13.—25,000 tons screened gas coal and nuts, for the Gaslight Company. Particulars from Mr. J. Taylor, engineer, gas works, Weston-super- Mare. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEM FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, Ac. Glasgow, April 11.—Stores.—Steel axles, tyres and wheels; bolts and nuts; chilled iron brake blocks, iron castings, malleable iron castings, steel castings; engineers’ furnishings; iron and steel bars, sheets, etc.; steel (bright drawn and tool), etc., for the Corporation Tramways Depart- ment. Particulars from the general manager, 46, Bath- street, Glasgow. Halifax, April 17.—Coke hoists, etc.—Coke hoists, screens and bunkers, for the Corporation gas works. Particulars from Mr. W. B. McCluskey, engineer. Miners’ Wages : Lord Coleridge’s Decision.—In a letter to the joint secretaries of the Coal Conciliation Board for England and North Wales, accompanying the decision for a 5 per cent, advance in wages, Lord Coleridge, the indepen- dent chairman of the Board, writes :—“ In sending you my • decision on the question submitted to me, I desire to add the following comments : (1) I have arrived at my decision after careful consideration of the facts and figures submitted to me, and I think it would be a guide to both parties if I were to say that the figures down to the end of December 1915 were necessary to enable me to form my opinion, but that the figures for January 1916 were not necessary to such forma- tion. (2) That, in my opinion, the form of the resolution only justifies the payment of increased wages to those who had earned such wages, and in proportion to their earnings.” The advance represents an addition of from 2d. to 4|d. per day on the wages of the different classes of work, and the “ reasons ” given by Lord Coleridge make it clear to both coal owners and miners that the advance is given on the selling prices for December. Spanish Ore Carrying in War Time.—In the Commercial Court of the King’s Bench Division on March 30, Mr. Justice Bailhache delivered his reserved judgment in the two cases in which Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Company Limited, Middlesbrough, and the North-Eastern Steel Company, Middlesbrough, sued the Compania Min era de Sierra Minera, of Bilbao, to recover damages for non-fulfilment of contracts to supply iron ore from their mines in Spain. The claim by Bolckow, Vaughan and Company related to a contract dated November 4, 1914, for 50,000 tons, at 13s. 6d. per ton, and it was said that only 6,968 tons were delivered. The North- Eastern Steel Company’s action related to a contract dated December 1914, for 50,000 tons, and only 3,646 tons were supplied. In each case the defendants alleged the right To suspend deliveries because of the North Sea war conditions, and it was also said that the mines had had to close down because of inability to get the necessary labour. In giving judgment for Bolckow, Vaughan and Company, his lordship held that the contract could have been fulfilled, but was broken because of the freight being unprofitable. In the action by the North-Eastern Steel Company, his lordship said his decision on liability was also for plaintiffs, but it was limited to the first contract, and did not affect a second one. The matter of the damages payable to the plaintiffs stood over in both cases for consideration.