June 30, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1235 FRENCH MAXIMUM PRICES FOR IMPORTED COALS. Revised List. The following revised list of the maximum prices for coals imported into France has been issued by the Minister of Public Works, under date June 15. As in the former list (Colliery Guardian, June 23, p. 1202), the prices apply to best qualities, and are to be taken as the basis for calculating those of inferior quality or of kinds other than those specified. The president of the Central Committee appointed to draw up the list states, in his letter to the Minister, that at the time the committee received its. latest informaion no cargoes had arrived which had been purchased and transported at the rates resulting from the agreements limiting the freight and selling prices of coal in England from June 1. Owing to the difficulties of loading and unloading in the respective countries it is believed that the coals in respect of which importers have benefited by the new conditions will not play more than an unimpor- tant part in the sales during the second half of the month. In these circumstances the committee could not have taken into account, other than arbitrarily, the effect of measures too recent to influence the market situation for the time being. It is therefore proposed to INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES. India. Transport Difficulties.—The want of ships has quite disorganised coal traffic. Wagons which were in sufficient number to cater for the short-distance runs between the coal fields and Calcutta are quite unable to cope with the long distances they have to cover now that the mineral has to be carried by . rail all the way to Bombay and even to Karachi. All kinds of wagons are being pressed into the service, but still the congestion at the • collieries and the lack of fuel for bunkers and mills is very serious indeed. Africa. Coal Imports in 1915.—The tenth annual statement issued by the Union of South Africa shows a great decline in coal imports over the previous year. The United Kingdom supplied. 14,193 tons, India 3'06, Germany 976, Norway 45, and the United States 518—total, 16,038 tons, valued at £16,218, compared with 41,178 tons, valued at £30,230 in 1914. The only imports of coke were from the United Kingdom— 24,299 tons, valued at £31,915, compared with 26,586 tons, valued at £28,070 tons (in 1914. The patent fuel consumption increased. The United King- dom sent 26 tons, and Portuguese East Africa 600 tons, the total being valued at £929, compared with 269 tons, valued at about £2,000 will be devoted to the sinking of the shaft and exploration work. Steel Shortage.—In Melbourne a deputation from the employers and employees in the iron trade waited on the Assistant Minister for Defence and placed before him the serious position that had arisen owing to the shortage of steel, and suggested that the Government should seriously consider the question of establishing works within the Commonwealth that would obviate the dependence on importations from oversea. The Broken Hill Proprietary Company’s steel works at Newcastle have to supply the Commonwealth Government with 4,000 tons of rails monthly and 3,000 tons per month to the New South Wales Govern- ment. It is expected that at the end of the year the total production of the works will be raised to 11,800 tons of steel per month. The company has from 30,000 to 40,000 tons of pig iron on hand, and is not exporting any material, but keeping its products for Australia. Newcastle's Coal Export Trade.—In order to relieve the distress in Newcastle caused by the falling off of the coal export trade through lack of tonnage and the embargo enforced by the Commonwealth Government, the Minister for the' Navy has made a proposal to the colliery proprietors and employees to purchase, on behalf of the Commonwealth, 100,000 tons of coal, but the offer was not favourably received, it being pointed out that it would only afford temporary relief. One great cause of the slackness of the interstate trade is the refusal of the coal lumpers at Melbourne to work after 5 p.m., and if the Minister can induce the unions at Description. Lean coals (Welsh), 3-8 % volatile matter— Anthracite, large screened, 80% of large Do. Cobbles 50/80 mm o p O’ pH o P P 105 115 115 115 105 100 75 60 125 105 95 130 110 100 130 110 100 115 110 145 125 110 135 115 105 120 110 125 110 .tn fl O 105 115 115 115 105 100 75 60 125 105 95 130 110 100 130 110 100 115 110 145 125 110 135 115 105 120 110 125 a5 JO O w 105 115 115 125 105 100 75 60 125 105 95 130 110 100 130 110 100 115 110 145 125 110 135 115 105 120 110 125 -3 8 02 g phm fH EH ' 02 A 105 115 115 115 105 100 75 60 125 105 95 130 110 100 130 110 100 115 110 145 125 110 135 115 105 120 110 125 . • X V § p d P § Q Ph Ph 0) A 105 115 115 115 105 100 75 60 125 105 95 130 110 100 130 110 100 115 110 145 125 110 135 115 105 120 110 110 125 110 Ph a d A 105 115 115 115 105 100 75 60 125 105 95 130 110 100 130 110 100 115 110 145 125 110 135 115 105 120 110 125 £ d M ® A 105 115 115 1L5 105 100 75 60 125 105 95 130 110 100 130 110 1(0 115 no 145 125 no 105 115 105 120 no no 125 no fl p A nd P d s p o Ph 105 115 115 115 105 100 75 60 125 105 95 130 no 100 130 no 100 115 no 145 125 no 135 115 105 120 no 110 125 no p Q cp p M 100 no no no 100 95 70 - 55 120 100 90 125 105 95 125 105 95 110 105 140 120 105 130 no 100 115 105 105 120 105 ci P o rH ■ EH 100 no no no 100 95 70 55 120 100 90 125 105 95 125 105 95 110 105 140 120 105 130 110 100 115 105 105 120 105 CO o 3 CQ P o O nd P ■ d P d O 95 105 105 105 95 90 65 50 115 95 • 85 120 100 90- 120 100 90 105 100 135 115 100 125 105 95 no 100 95 115 95 h p o £ <® O 95 105 105 105 95 90 65 50 115 95 85 120 100 90 120 100 90 105 100 135 115 100 125 105 95 110 100 95 115 95 o S o 95 105 105 105 95 90 65 50 115 '95 85 120 100 90 120 100 90 105 100 135 115 100 125 105 95 no 100 115 g £o ^7? p O O J ft fl o 'gWfl S _|j &£i A 'O 90 100 100 100 90 80 60 45 no 90 80 no 95 85 115 95 85 no 95 130 no 95 120 100 90 105 95 90 no 90 A £ g d ft P fl « P 03 Ph fl o AO 100 no no no 100 90 70 55 120 ICO 90 125 105 95 125 105 95 110 10.5 140 120 105 130 110 100 115 105 105 125 100 1 ’ £ i d N S - □2 100 no no no 100 90 70 55 120 100 90 125 105 95 125 105 95 110 105 140 120 105 130 110 100 115 105 105 125 100 g fl ta Ph£ P t» ® 02 ?H -d nd P fl d fl & 100 no no no ioo 90 70 55 120 100 90 125 105 95 125 105 95 110 105 140 120 105 130 110 100 115 105 105 125 100 nd P Sfl p^ o £ CO 2d 02 Ph <72 h-h tn XL o A 100 110 no no 100 i 90 70 55 120 100 90 125 105 95 125 105 95 110 105 140 120 105 130 110 100 115 105 105 125 100 fl d fl G> Q tn PdPS P £p g fl.&pp pi ® A d fl Ph o d A 100 no no no 100 90 70 55 120 100 90 125 105 95 125 105 95 no 105 no 120 105 130 no 100 115 105 105 125 100 o Q rP Q O 100 no no no 100 90 7o 55 120 100 90 125 105 95 125 105 95 no 105 140 120 105 130 no 100 115 105 105 125 100 1 d o & p o 100 no no no 100 90 70 55 120 100 90 125 >05 95 125 105 95 no 105 140 120 105 130 no 100 115 105 105 125 100 o nd • ofl •FH pH 3 £h Qj to £ J & H i—1 oW £ 105 115 115 115 105 95 75 60 125 105 95 130 no 100 130 110 100 115 no 145 125 no 135 115 105 120 no 130 g h p £ o O P nd O P P fl fl HQ no 120 120 120 no 100 80 65 130 no 100 135 115 105 135 115 1 5 120 115 150 130 115 140 120 no 125 115 115 135 no £^ q-l rn tn o flH nd tn s g si cn -P 155 165 165 165 155 145 125 110 165 145 135 170 150 140 170 150 140 155 150 185 165 150 175 155 115 160 150 150 170 145 2 a o £ P o IS o o Ph-p rfl N d ® S Ph »£ m 170 180 180 180 170 160 140 125 180 160 150 185 165 155 185 165 155 170 165 200 180 165 190 170 160 175 165 185 Do. French nuts, 30/60 Do. Stove nuts, 25/50 Do. Beans, 12|-25i Do. Peas, 6i-12i : Do. Smallcobbles(rubblyculm) Do. Duff Semi-coking Grgras) (Cardiff-Swansea), 9-13 % volatile matter— Large screened, 50-70 % large Through-and-through, 30-35 % large Small cobbles . Coking coals (i-gras) Cardiff-Swansea), 14-18 % volat ile matter— Large screened, 50-70 % large Through-and-through, 30-35 % large Small cobbles Bituminous coal (Newport), 19-28 % volatile matter— Large screened, 60-70 % large Through-and-through, 30-35% large Small cobbles Durham gas, 29-32 % volatile matter— Through-and-through small, 15-20% large ... Small cobbles Bituminous (Northumberland or similar)— Large screened, 70-80 % large Through-and-through, 30-35 % large Small cobbles Dry, flaming coals (Scotch or similar) - Large screened, 70-80 % large Through-and-through, 30-35 % large Small cobbles Smithy coals (Durham, Yorkshire, &c.)— Nuts ... Small Briquettes— Manufactured in French ports Imported Ovoid 1 Note.—All prices in francs. reduce by 10 fr. per ton the prices fixed by the previous Decree, and to correct certain anomalies which have formed the subject of justifiable criticism. These prices cannot prejudice any commercial operations, and though they will prevent excessive advances in price, they will still be higher than the rates obtaining in the majority of instances. The committee hopes shortly to bring forward proposals which, without slackening importation, will be more closely in accord with the actual state of things when the stocks purchased before June 1 will have ceased to constitute the principal element in coal transactions. A firm of agents and (importers of electrical material at Brescia wishes to secure the agencies of United Kingdom manufacturers of electrical plant and machinery, measuring instruments and gauges, apparatus and material for elec- trical plant, and insulating material in general (reference No. 202). United Kingdom manufacturers of the goods mentioned, and exporters of United Kingdom goods, desir- ous of appointing agents in Italy, may obtain the names and addresses of the respective enquirers on application to the Commercial Intelligence Branch. Trade Openings Abroad.—Enquiries which are being made through the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73, Basinghall-street, E.C., include one from a manu- facturers’ agent in Sydney, who wishes to secure sole agencies for bolts, nuts, hammers, machine tools, drills, etc. (reference No. 194). Pit Wood Freight Rates.—On the question of regulating pitwood freights South Wales importers appointed a com- mittee, which includes Mr. W. Harry (chairman), Mr. W. H. Williams, Mr. M. Wideman, Mr. Blane, and Mr. Kelly, who visited the Ministry of Munitions in London on Wednes- day to discuss the matter. £2,244 in the previous year, when the shipments were principally from the United Kingdom. The statistics relating to Southern Rhodesia specify that the exports totalled 66,057 tons, valued at £26,223, com- pared with 78,477 tons, valued at £31,828 in 1914. Included in the total were the exports from the Belgian Congo, 41,981 tons; Portuguese East Africa, 3,053 tons; Union of South Africa, 12,412 tons; and Northern Rhodesia, 8,611 tons. Coke and patent fuel exports aggregated 19,906 tons, valued at £25,072, practically all of which (with the excep- tion of 449 tons from Northern Rhodesia) were exported from the Belgian Congo. In the previous year the exports totalled 14,890 tons, of the value of £23,373. Australia. The oversea trade is stagnant, only 8,182 tons being sent abroad during the first week in May; 4,482 tons to India; 689 tons to Chili; and balance to three other countries as bunkers. The coal mines in the South Coast district have been working full pressure, and the coke industry is steadily increasing, owing to the progress of the steel works and the smelting industry. There is a probability of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company’s Steel Works at Newcastle undertaking the work of producing plates and other material required in the con- struction of ships for war purposes. The Minister for the Navy has been conferring with the manager on this subject, and it has been decided that negotiations shall be entered into in order that the industry may be started, and Australia be rendered self reliant in the building of warships. Bureau of Science.—The Federal Government appointed an advisory committee to formulate proposals for a Common- wealth bureau of science and industry. At its first meeting the committee concerned itself chiefly with details of its constitution. State Coal Mine.—Matters are progressing with regard to the State coal mine at Lithgow. Parliament has voted £30,000 for the preliminary work. About £12,000 will be required for the construction of a railway to the shaft, and Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany, and Fremantle to quicken the discharge of coal cargoes by working three shifts, vessels would be enabled to make far more trips to Newcastle, which would considerably ease the situation. Canada. Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company.—Advices from Nova Scotia state that the earnings of the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company are over 500,000 dels, per month, and that the company atythe present time have 14 million dollars’ worth of orders on hand. The keel of a 2,000-ton steamer is to be laid in New Glasgow for the above company, which vessel is intended to form the nucleus of a fleet of steam craft to be built in the province. New Goal Mining Regulations in British Columbia.—A measure has been introduced by the Minister of Mines to prevent the unauthorised use of certificates of competency issued under the Coal Mines Regulation Act. In many of the coal mines workers who have not passed the necessary examination and received the proper certificates of compe- tency, have nevertheless secured such certificates by unlawful means and have worked under them. Under the Act it is provided that whenever a complaint is made to the Minister of Mines or he has reason to believe that in any colliery in the province unqualified persons are improperly holding or using certificates of competency as coal miners, he may authorise a board of investigation, to consist of a judge of the Supreme Court and two other persons, one of whom shall be appointed by the Minister of Mines and the other by the employees of the colliery. Coal Mining in A lberta in 1915.—The output of lignite coal in Alberta during the year 1915 was 1,682,922 tons, the out- put of bituminous coal 1,626,237 tons, and the output of anthracite coal 125,732 tons—a total reduction of 386,788 tons below the output for the year 1914. The total output from the province during the year 1915 was 3,434,891 tons, while that of the year 1914 was 3,821,739 tons. There were 23,826 tons of coke and 83,190 tons of briquettes produced during the year 1915. The output from the Crow’s Nest Pass district was 919,383 tons, from Cargary 943,897 tons, Leth- bridge 719,728 tons, and from the Edmonton district 851,883 tons. There were employed underground during the year