176

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

July 28, 1916.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—July 24.
Coal Prices.

Mr. Anderson asked whether any arrangement had been
reached between the Board of Trade and the South Wales
coal owners whereby these owners are to 'be allowed to
advance prices beyond the limit fixed by the Price of Coal
(Limitation) Act; if so, by how much; whether this pro-
posal, before being ratified, was submitted to Parliament, or
to anyone except the coal owners themselves; and whether
it was the intention to allow increased prices to coal owners
in other parts of the country.

Mr. Harcourt replied that the Board of Trade had made
an Order under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act increasing
the standard amount in respect of the mines in the Mon-
mouthshire and South Wales district from 4s. to 6s. 6d. The
Order, which did not require the assent of Parliament, was
made after a careful examination of statistics relating to the
increase of working costs since the passing of the Act. The
only other application for an increase of the standard amount
at present before the Board was one recently made by the
Forest of Dean Conciliation Board.

Mr. Anderson asked who made the demand, whether the
Miners’ Federation had protested, and whether the South
Wales coal owners had been making more profit than any
other group in the country.

Mr. Harcourt said lie received a protest by deputation.
As to the comparative profits of coal owners, he would not
like to commit himself.

Mr. Outhwaite asked whether the consumers were con-
sulted. A negative answer was returned.

Mr. Harcourt, replying to Mr. J. Samuel, said he was
not in a position to give any information as to the increased
revenue from the sale of South Wales coal.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.

REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Albion Steam Coal Company Limited. — The directors
announce a payment c.f 1J years’ dividend on the preference
shares, making them paid up to June 30 last. The directors
will thus have paid 2J years’ preference dividends out of the
current year’s profits.

Arauco Company Limited.—A cable from Coronel gives
estimated profit for half-year to June 30 : Railway, £28,970;
mines, £49,450—total, £78,420.

Avery (W. and T.) Limited.—The directors recommend a
dividend of 121 per cent, for the year. Usually the dividend
is 10 per cent.

Bristol and South Wales Railway Wagon Company
Limited.—The directors have resolved to pay an interim divi-
dend of 3s. per share, being at the usual rate of 10 per cent,
per annum.

Consett Iron Company Limited.—The directors recommend
a dividend of 7s. 6d. per share on the ordinary shares, and
8 per cent, per annum on the preference shares. A dividend
of Is. per share is recommended to the meeting of the Consett
Spanish Ore Limited.

Gas Light and Coke Company Limited.—Dividend at the
rate of £4 4s. per cent, per annum, carrying forward to the
next account the sum of £480,512.

Knowles (Andrew) and Sons Limited.—The directors have
declared an interim dividend on account of the profits of the
current year at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, less income-
tax.

Mather and Platt Limited.—The directors have declared an
interim dividend on the ordinary shares of 5 per cent., actual,
less tax, for the half-year ended June 30.

Scottish Wagon Company Limited. — The directors
announce an interim dividend of 3j- per cent, less tax.

Tubes Limited.—The directors have intimated in a circular
that it has been found impossible to have the accounts of the
company to April 30 prepared for submission to the share-
holders at the usual time. They have, however, passed a
resolution for the payment of a further interim dividend of
15 per cent, (free of income-tax), making, with the interim
dividend paid in December last, a total payment of 20 per
cent, (free of tax) for the year ended April 30 last. The
directors also intend to increase the capital of the company
by the creation of a further 50,000 shares of £1 each, and
propose to provide for the payment of 10s. per share on the
now shares by declaring a bonus of 5s. per share, payable
out of the reserve fund, the remaining 10s. per share to be
called up when required.

Yryheid (Natal) Railway, Coal and Iron Company Limited.
—For the year net profits were £13,853, after providing for
debenture interest, and the surplus brought forward was
increased to £24,45il, which will be carried to the new
account.

Yorkshire Electric Power Company Limited.—The report
for the half-year to June 30 states that the net profits are
£13,550, against £9,873 in 1915. The dividend for the half-
year on the amount paid up an 6 per cent, cumulative pre-
ference shares will absorb £4,787, and will be paid as usual
on August 1. The directors have deferred the consideration
of a dividend on the ordinary shares until the end of the
year.

NEW COMPANIES.

Coventry Piston Ring Company Limited. — Private com-
pany. Registered July 19. To carry on business cf manu-
facturers of and dealers in piston rings and other engine
parts, nuts, bolts, and screws, and other articles. Nominal
capital, £100 in 100 £1 shares. Subscribers (one share
each) : W. A. Oubiwgr and W. N. Lindley.

Cyclops Stamping Company Limited. — Private company.
Registered July 20. To acquire an invention by E. R.
Sutcliffe and T. G. Hirst for improvements relating to the
treatment of metal scrap (application No. 3455). Nominal
capital, £10,000 in 10,000 £1 shares. Directors (500 pre-
ferred ordinary shares each) : E. R. Sutcliffe, T. G. Hirst,
R. Greenhough, W. J. Smith, and one other. Qualifica-
tion of directors, £300.

Moses (John) (Newport) Limited. — Private company.
Registered office, 32, Ruperva-street, Newport, Mon. Regis-
tered July 18. To carry on business cf colliery owners, coal,
coke, and fuel merchants, timber merchants, and dealers in
iron ore, pit wood, bricks, etc. Nominal capital, £10,000 in
10,000 £1 shares. Director, J. A. Muller. Qualification
of directors, £500.

Pollard and Company (Bradford) Limited. — Private com-
pany. Registered office, 50, Sunbridge-road, Bradford.
Registered July 17. To carry on the business of colliery pro-
prietors, coal exporters, colliery agents, etc. Nominal capital,
£10,500 in 10,000 £1 preference shares and 500 £1 ordinary
shares. Directors and subscribers (500 shares each) : J. W.
Pollard, R. W. Dodson, and G. Honey ford. Qualification
of directors, 500 shares.

Thermal Metal Separation Limited.—Private company.
Registered office, Cross Keys House, 56, Moorgate-street,
E.C. Registered July 19. To acquire the business of
mechanical engineers, iron founders, and manufacturers of
all kinds of machinery and tools. Nominal capital, £2,000
in 1,900 £1 ordinary shares, and 2,000 Is. deferred shares.
Subscribers (one share each) : D. J. Truscott and G. J.
Hunt.

Widnes Refineries Limited. — Private company. Regis-
tered July 20. To carry on business of coal and tar refiners,
manufacturers and dealers in benzol and other products of
coal tar, dealers in petrol and other products of crude oil,
paints, varnishes, etc. Nominal capital, £20,000 in 20,000
£1 shares. Directors : Sir Charles Follitt, S. Pearce Pellatt,
J. Atherton, and A. Pereno. Qualification of directors, £200.

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.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Abergavenny, August 9. — Good house coal up to
October 15, 1917, for 25 schools in the Abergavenny group.
Tenders to F. B. Gabb, clerk.

Barnstaple, August 5.—Best Lydney coal, also coke, for
all the elementary schools in the borough for six months.
Tenders to G. W, F. Brown, The Strand, Barnstaple.

Clacton-on-Sea, August 2.—5,000 tons of best screened
gas coal during 12 months, for the Clacton Urban District
Council. Forms from the engineer, Town Hall, Clacton-on-
Sea.

Gosport, August 10.—Coal and coke for the Alverstoke
Urban District Council. Forms from the surveyor, Town
Hall, Gosport.

Great Yarmouth, August 1.—300 tons of coal for the
House, for the Guardians. Forms from the Offices.

Hambledon (Surrey), July 31.—'Steam coal for use with
steam roller and tractor plants for year, for the Hambledon
Rural District Council. Forms from S. B. Hasel], Surveyor’s
Office, Bramley, Guildford.

Inverness, August 10. — Aitken diamond ell dross,
Fordell rough dross, English rough dross, Aitken chirls,
Lindsay chirls, English coal (screened), gas coke (screened),
at per ton for three, six, nine, and 12 months, for the Inver-
ness District Asylum. Forms from the house steward.

Nottingham, July 31. — Hard house coal and good
screened cobbles, for the Finance Committee. Forms from
the town clerk.

Poole, August 21.—Coal and coke for the Education Com-
mittee for 12 months. Tenders to the town clerk.

Sligo, August 7.—400 tons of Scotch or other good steam
coal, certified fresh wrought and screened, for the Sligo Dis-
trict Lunatic Asylum Committee.

Stratford-on-Avon, August 3.—400 tons of coal suitable
for steam and household purposes,* for the Guardians. Forms
from 20, Guild-street, Stratford-on-Avon.

Tewkesbury, August 2.—60 tons of coal (kitchen nuts)
for the Workhouse, Tewkesbury. Tenders to H. A. Badham,
junr., clerk, Tewkesbury.

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

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

Aberdare, August 2, September 6.—Stores.—Powell
Duffryn Steam Coal Company Limited. Forms from the
stores manager, Abera man.

London, August 2.—Tyres, etc.—Steel tyres for loco-
motives and rolling stock, and locomotive duplicate parts, for
the South Indian Railway Company Limited. Specifications
and forms of tender obtainable at 91, York-street, West-
minster.

Manchester, August 3.—Fireclay Goods.—Fireclay and
silica goods required during next season at their several gas-
works, for the Gas Committee.

Melbourne, September 27.—Tyres.—Locomotive engine,
tender, carriage, and wagon tyres for the Victorian railways.
Forms from Messrs. J. Coates and Company Limited, 115,
Victoria-street, Westminster.

Rochester, September 5.—Materials, etc.—For the
supply of materials for the 12 months ending September 30,
1917, for the corporation. Forms from the superintendent,
Gas Offices, Manchester.

Sydney (N.S.W.), September 20-October 11.—Crane,
etc.—Electric overhead travelling crane for the Zarra Sheet
Power House, Newcastle. Tenders to the chief commis-
sioner for railways, Phillip-street, Sydney, by September 20.
Also a motor-driven air compressor. Tenders by October 11.
Forms from the electrical engineer, 61, Hunter-street,
Sydney.

The Leeds Education Committee invite applications from
teachers prepared to undertake evening classes in mining
and in the auxiliary mathematics, machine drawing, science,
and surveying adapted for coal-mining students, for the
session commencing September 25. Application forms can
be had from Mr. James Graham, secretary for Education,
Education Offices, Leeds.

Grimsby Coal Exports.—In. the week ended July 21, the
following quantities of coal were exported from Grimsby : To
Esbjerg, 308; Gothenburg, 1.200; Dieppe, 106; and Dunkirk,
1,610 tons—a total of 3,224 foreign, against 6,899 tons
foreign and 1,902 coastwise during the croresponding week
of last year.

OBITUARY.

We regret to announce the death, at the age of 64, of Sir
William Ramsay, who was commonly regarded by European
scientists as the founder of a distinctively British school of
chemistry. His record is one of brilliant success in research.
He and Lord Rayleigh, working in conjunction, traced the
gas argon, and succeeded, independently, in isolating it. Not
less noteworthy was his discovery of helium as one of the
earth’s constituents, and his detection, in company with
Dr. Travers, of the new gases, neon, zenon, and krypton.
As a pioneer in the discovery of radium, he added to his
many laurels. In recognition cf his services to chemistry he
was awarded a Nobel prize. On many occasions in this
paper we have referred to his valuable researches, although
we were at variance with his views on the possibility of
coking coal in the seam.

Mr. Thomas E. Dodgson, director and general manager
of the Parkgate Iron and Steel Company Limited, died on
July 25, at the age of 62. Nearly half a century ago he
commenced his service with the company, and in 1911
became general manager. Under his guidance, questions of
wages and conditions were amicably settled, and the busi-
ness made marked progress.

Information was received in Whitehaven on Monday
evening that Capt. R. C. R. Blair, D.S.O., of Richmond Hill,
Whitehaven, of the 5th Battalion Border Regiment, had
been killed in action on July 21. Capt. Blair, who was a
native of Whitehaven, was 39 years of age. He was the
eldest son of the late Mr. John Blair, of the Wythemoor
Collieries.

M. G. S. Leon, chairman of the recently-formed French
Coal Committee, died suddenly from heart disease in London
on Monday. He was Chief Engineer of Mines in France,
and was lately appointed Inspector-General. Previous to the
war he was domiciled at Arras, and he took an important
share in the work of his Government after the great explo-
sion in the Courrieres coal mines, near Lens, in 1906, when
1,230 miners were killed. Since last September, when he
came to London on behalf of his Government, M. Leon was
charged with the supply of coal to France, and worked inde-
fatigably in the cause of our Ally. He was at his office until
eight o’clock on Saturday evening last, and was taken ill
on the following day.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

Outward chartering of coal tonnage has been rather more
active this week, especially for French Atlantic ports, at the
restricted rates. Tonnage supplies, although still leaving
much to be desired, by reason of irregularity, are decidedly
improved. In this connection, it is satisfactory to learn
that new discharging appliances at Elie Island, near Rouen,
are now in operation and are dealing with about 2,000 tons
of coal per day. It is expected, too, that this quantity of coal
will soon be doubled—a circumstance which should tend to
relieve considerably the congestion at this very important
port. On the north-east coast rates have generally receded
on the week, but at the time of writing the fall appears to
have been checked, and there is a stronger undertone per-
ceptible. Mediterranean business has been done at unaltered
figures from Tyne to Genoa, but with a fall of 5s. to Algiers,
7s. 6d. less to Civita Vecchia, and 2s. 6d. lower to Savona.
There is a better demand for Mediterranean tonnage now,
and figures tend to advance. Coasting rates are stronger at
from Ils. 6d. to 12s. to London. The inquiry for collier
vessels for French northern and Bay ports is very healthy.
Baltic business is represented by 34 kr. to Gefle and 31 kr.
to Gothenburg. At South Wales, the supply of tonnage has
not been by any means so satisfactory as on the north-east
coast. Vessels are finding Tyne freights to western French
ports more profitable than those from the Bristol Channel.
It is complained by Welsh coal shippers that the scheduled
rates decidedly favour their north-eastern competitors, and
that this is recognised is proved by the fact that, from
June 1 to July 16, 290 vessels went to the Tyne and only
190 to Bristol Channel ports. The whole question is being
discussed by the French exports executive in London, and
the outcome may be some revision of the rates probably in
the direction of increasing the Welsh rates of freight rather
than in any reduction of north-east coast figures. Mean-
while, the scarcity of tonnage and the activity of the demand
has resulted in a very general increase of Cardiff rates on
the week. This is especially true of Mediterranan fixtures,
Genoa and Gibraltar figures showing an advance of 5s.,
Seville of Is. 6d., and Leghorn and Savona of 6d., whilst
Marseilles, curiously enough, has been done at a reduction
of Is. on the previous week’s lowest rate. South American
figures are lower, Villa Constitucion having been arranged
for at a reduction of 7s. 6d. There is no abatement in the
general enquiry for tonnage.

Homewards, the Eastern market is fully steady, but
chartering is quiet owing to the dearth of tonnage, and
charterers are being compelled to wait for the arrival of
released vessels. Bombay is quoted at from 93s. 9d. to 95s,
Kurrachee at from-80s. to 81s. 3d. scale and Madras Coast at
155s., all rates which show an appreciable rise on the week.
Calcutta merchants have chartered for two ports United King-
dom at about 138s. 9d. on d.w. The Mediterranean ports
are active at late rates for mineral cargoes. Deals from
Archangel are being arranged for at 350s. to east coast United
Kingdom with Drammen done at 140s. for props to the east
coast. American grain freights are dull. For August
and August-September shipment, several vessels have been
arranged for for the United Kingdom at about Ils. from the
Northern Range, whilst Range to Spanish Mediterranean is
quoted at 27s. 6d. Gulf to United Kingdom, similar loading,
has been done at 12s. 6d., with 13s. 6d. done for a month
later. From Gulf to French Atlantic, the rate is about 13s.,
but there is nothing doing. Marseilles or Cette, however,
has been done at 25s. 6d. Collier tonnage is in some small
request, and for August-September about 67s. 6d. would pro-
bably be a fair rate for River Plate destinations. Net
form makes 84s., New York to French Atlantic and lumber
is quoted at 450s., Gulf to United Kingdom. For British
tonnage from the River Plate, the rate has eased to a
maximum of 152s. 6d. United Kingdom, with 150s. actually
done from down-river ports. Up-river ports are worth about
5s. more. Neutral tonnage is offered at 165s. to United King-
dom, and has been taken up at 162s. 6d.

Tyne to Algiers, 2,000, 45s.; Bay range, 1,900 , 35s.; Bor-
deaux, 2,500, 1,900, 40s.; 5.200, 3,200, 2,800, 4,000, 39s.;
Brest, 950 , 40s., coke; Civita Vecchia, 3,500, 72s. 6d.;
Channel range, 1,200, schedule; 1,200 , 26s.; Caen, 1,600,
1,000, 26s. 6d.; Calais, 900, 41s., coke; 1,400, 1,800, 27s. 6d.;