254

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

August 11, 1916.

113 tons only from England. It is worthy of note that
the coal shipments from Germany to Bordeaux have
increased 100 per cent, in five years, and that the above-
mentioned figure of shipments from Germany during
1914 covers a period of six months only of that year.
The advance made by German coal owners is attri-
buted to their method of obtaining contracts—they study
purchasers’ requirements, offer suitable classes of coal,
and give advice how to obtain the best results; also they
submit up-to-date analyses.

It will be of interest here to refer to the question of
coal freights. During 1913 the average from Glasgow,
Hull, and Newcastle was 5s. 8d., and from Cardiff
6s. 4d.; during the first half of the year 1914 the average
figure was reduced to 4s. 9d. from Glasgow, 4s. 6d. from
Cardiff, and 5s. 2d. from Hull and Newcastle. In the
latter half of 1914, however, the effect of the war was to
increase the freights to 17s. 3d. from Glasgow, 17s. from
Cardiff, and 17s. 8d. from Hull and Newcastle.

As regards the re-shipments and export of coal from
Bordeaux, during 1914, 158,600 tons were consigned to
the French colonies and Switzerland. It may also be
mentioned that pitwood is largely exported from Bor-
deaux to this country, the shipments for the year 1914
amounting to 415,320 tons, and during the year 1913,
454,245 tons. The pre-war freight for pitwood was
5s. 6d., but increased to 14s. 6d. in the latter part of
last year. The number of vessels from this country
which entered the port during 1914 was 345, of which
only 5 were without cargo, whereas only 56 vessels
from the United States entered with cargo. These figures

North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers.

Annual Meeting.

Mr. T. Y. Greener presided over the annual meeting
of members of the North of England Institute of Mining
and Mechanical Engineers, held in the lecture theatre of
the Wood Memorial Hall, Westgate-road, Newcastle-on-
Tyne, on Saturday afternoon last.

The Late Mr. J. G. Weeks.

Moving a vote of condolence with the relatives of the
late Mr. J. G. Weeks, Mr. Greener recalled the fact that
Mr. Weeks was for many years a member of the council
of the institute, and had been president. He might, had
he thought proper, have been president of the federated
institution, for that position was offered to him, but he
did not accept it. He was very well known in the coal
trade, and occupied high positions in connection with
the Northumberland Coal Owners’ Association and
similar bodies. He did, and did well, a very large
amount of work in connection with these bodies, and
also in connection with the institute. Next to Mr.
Douglas and one or two others, including, probably, Dr.
J. B. Simpson, Mr. Weeks was the oldest member of the
institute. His loss would be greatly felt throughout the

printing, stationery, prices for papers and library cata-
logue. The balance of income over expenditure was
£23. Adding to that the amount of £1,101 from the
previous year, and deducting £500 invested in the
1925-45 4-1 per cent. War Loan left a credit balance of
£624, not exceeding £500 of which the council had
arranged to invest in Government securities. The names
of 40 persons had been struck off the membership list for
non-payment of subscriptions and £214 had been
written off, of which £116 was for sums due for the year
1915-16 and £98 for arrears. It was probable that a
considerable proportion of that amount would be
recovered and credited in future years. Of the amounts
previously written off, £45 was recovered during the
past year.

The President moved the adoption of the financial
statement, which, he thought, was very satisfactory
taking into account the war, the difficulty there was in
raising money, and the dearness of everything that had
to be bought.

The report was adopted.

The Council’s Report.

The council’s annual report opened with a reference
to the loss sustained by the death of Mr. J. G. Weeks,
who, elected a member in 1865, served on the council
continuously from 1877, and was elected president in

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Fig. 2.—Transporters and Storage Bins Viewed from
the Riverside.





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Fig. 3.—Overhead Ropeway Receiving Stages on the Loading
Sidings of the Paris-Orleans Railway Company.





COAL DISCHARGING EQUIPMENT AT THE PORT OF BORDEAUX.

serve to indicate the importance of our maritime
commerce through the port of Bordeaux.

Notwithstanding the developments referred to in the
equipment of the port, there has been a further demand
for quayage owing to congestion causing excessive
delays; and it is estimated that some £40,000
demurrage was paid during the year 1914. To improve
these conditions 435 yds. of extra quays were recently
constructed down the river at Bassens, and a further
275 yds. there are now in course of completion. These
quays are connected with the sidings of the Paris-Orleans
Railway Company, and the equipment now includes 16
cranes, each of 3 tons capacity, the number of which
will shortly be doubled. Still further down the river, at
Blaye, two more berths have been provided and
equipped, which are served by the State railway; whilst
at Pauillac, still further down the river, on the opposite
bank, about 820 yds. of quayage have been constructed,
and equipped with 18 hydraulic cranes of from 25 cwt.
to 3 tons capacity.

It must not be overlooked that the French Powell
Duffryn Company has an organisation at Bordeaux, and
a large fleet of lighters for bunkering there.

The development of the Port of Bordeaux may be said
to be principally due to the local Chamber of Commerce,
which has provided the equipment and controls the
working. A capital sum of about £80,000 has been
expended on the special coal-handling installation
described, which, together with the increased extent of
quays and crane equipment, tends to make Bordeaux a
favoured port for coal discharging as well as general
^hipping.

country. He was a man of very strong character, indi-
viduality, uprightness, good feeling and general excel-
lence, and the speaker, who had known him for thirty
years, felt his loss very much.

The motion was seconded by Col. W. C. Blackett,
and assented to by the members rising.

The Institute’s Finances.

Mr. R. T. Guthrie presented the Finance Committee’s
statement for the year ended June 30 last. This showed
an income of £2,393, of which £21 was for subscriptions
in advance and £2,372 as ordinary income, the latter
sum comparing with £2,655 for the previous year. There
had been received £1,792 as ordinary subscriptions and
£203 for arrears, as against £1,967 and £195 respectively
in the previous year. Sales of Transactions amounted to
£2 16s. 6d., as against £8 17s. 5d., and interest on
investments to £417, as against £397. There had been
received £500 from the executors of the late Mr. George
May, with which to found the George May Prize Fund.
This sum had been invested in 1916-1921 Exche-
quer Bonds, pending the making of arrangements in
respect of the prize. The expenditure, including £200
voted to the Motor Ambulance Fund raised by Mr.
Dennis Bayley, was £2,370, as against £2,271 in the
previous year. Increases were shown in salaries and
wages, insurance, rent, rates, taxes, heating, lighting,
water, postages, travelling expenses and reporting, and
decreases in contributions to the Institution of Mining
Engineers, furniture and repairs, library purchases,

1900. The council also deplored the deaths of Lord
Ninian Edward Crichton-Stuart, and Messrs. R. R.
Blair, Geo. Dixon, Oscar Earnshaw, E. M. Gregson,
T. J. Muse, and G. H. II. Scott, killed in the war, and
of the following :—Members : Messrs. P. F. B. Adams,
Thos. Arnold, Thos. Bailes, David Burns, J. W, Fryar,
A. E. Hale, Wm. Harle, T. R. Lonsdale, and Marshall
Nicholson. Associate members : Messrs. C. A. Ferguson
and Jas. Kirkley. Associate : Mr. Wm. Pattison.

For the sixth successive year the membership showed
a decrease. For the year ended August 1 last it was
1,162, as against 1,214 in 1915; 1,242 in 1914; 1,273 in
1913; 1,298 in 1912; and 1,342 in 1911. The council
was compiling a list of members serving with H.M.
Forces at home and abroad, and, in order that it should
be made as complete as possible, desired the names of
members so serving. Dr. J. B. Simpson had presented
portraits of Sir Efumphry Davy, Dr. W. Reid Clanny,
George Stephenson, John Buddle, Nicholas Wood, and
the Rev. John Hodgson, and also a steel mill used in a
pit. The library had been maintained in an efficient
condition, and had been added to by 400 bound volumes
and 28 pamphlets, reports, etc. It now contained about
15,709 volumes and 585 unbound pamphlets. Members
would render useful service to the institute by the pre-
sentation of books, reports, plans, etc., for reference.
In addition to the institute’s contribution of £200, mem-
bers had subscribed £619 towards a motor ambulance, to
be called “The North of England Institute of Mining and
Mechanical Engineers ’ Ambulance, ’ ’ which had now been
in France for some months. Exchanges of Transactions
had been arranged during the year with the Royal