400 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 23, 1917. recommend a dividend (free of tax) for 1916 at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum on the ordinary shares, and, after placing £1,000 to reserve, there is £868 to be carried forward. Having regard to lighting restrictions, increased expendi- ture, and other difficulties caused by the war, the directors consider the results are satisfactory. Fife Coal Company Limited. — The report states that, including the sum brought forward, the profits amount to £428,307. The directors recommend a dividend of 25 per cent, on the ordinary shares, making 35 per cent., free of tax, for the year, carrying forward £126,396. Graham’s Navigation (Merthyr) Collieries Limited.—The directors’ report for the year 1916 States that on capital account the sum of £1,775 was expended during the year on x plant and machinery, of which £1,456 for renewals has been ' written off. The quantity of coal raised was 125,993 tons, against 113,263 tons in 1915, and 94,584 tons in 1914. The accounts, after payment of debenture interest, show a profit of £23,358, making, with the balance of £5,040 to the credit of profit and loss account brought forward from last year, and the transfer of £4,000 from reserve fund, £32,399. The directors propose a final dividend (subject to obtaining the sanction of the Board of Trade) at the rate of 20 per cent, per annum (making 15 per cent, for the whole year), £3,000, less income-tax, and carry forward the balance of £15,899. The sum of £3,044 has been paid on account of excess profits duty, and provision is made for further payments that may be due up to December 31, 1916. Leeds Forge Company Limited.—The report for 1916 sho>ws a trading profit of £84,720, .and £10,491 was brought in. The directors propose that the amount shown at the credit of profit and loss account for 1916 (£82,948) shall be disposed of as follows (after providing for debenture interest ’and the interim dividend on the preference shares) :—In writing off land, buildings, patents, machinery, and plant, etc., for depreciation, £30,000; dividend on the preference shares for year ended December 31, 1916, at 7 per cent., less tax (less interim dividend already naid), £3,150; dividend on the ordi- nary shares for year ended December 31, 1916, at 10 per cent, (free of income-tax), £15,000; directors’ remunera- tion, £2,500; in carrying forward to next account, £28,938. Mather and Platt Limited.—The directors have declared a dividend on the ordinary shares for 1916 at the rate of 17J per cent., less tax, as compared with 12-£ per cent, for 1915. Merry and Cuninghame Limited. — The accounts show that, including £55,801 brought forward, the net profit amounts to £184,514. The directors have placed £20,000 to depreciation account and £10,000 each to sinking fund for redemption of debentures and suspense account No. 2, and recommend a dividend of 10 per cent, on the ordinary shares, carrying forward £113,264 to meet excess profits, etc. Middleburg Steam Goal and Coke Company Limited.—The directors have declared an interim dividend on the ordinary shares for the half-year ended December 31 last at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. National Boiler and General Insurance Company Limited. —The report for the year ended December 31 states that the results of the year’s working have been satisfactory. The directors propose to dispose of the £20,038 standing to the credit of the profit and loss account as follows :—Dividend at 13s. per share, £9,750 (less tax at 5s., £2,437), £7,312; reserve for excess profits duty, £3,000; add to reserve fund, £3,000; investment reserve, £5,000; carry forward, £1,726. Normanby Iron Works Company Limited.—Interim divi- dend of 5 per cent., less tax, payable February 26. Last year, 3 per cent. North Central Wagon Company Limited.—The directors have declared an interim dividend for the half-year to December 31 at the rate of 13 per cent, per annum. South Hetton Coal Company Limited. — The directors announce a dividend of 12s. 6d. per share, free of income- tax, on ordinary shares for half-year, payable March 10, making 20s. per share fot year, £8,000 for income-tax, £2,709 for fluctuation of securities, £8,947 written off the Ship- perdson and Pemberton estates from revenue, and £6,053 from the revenue of the estates, leaving their book value at £70,000; £24,349 forward. Witbank Colliery Limited.—The directors have declared a dividend of 12J per cent. (2s. 6d. per share) for the six months ending 28th inst., payable to holders registered on that date. NEW COMPANIES. Associated British Machine Tool Makers Limited.—Private company. Registered office, 31, Victoria-street, West- minster. Registered February 14. Nature of business indi- cated by the title. Nominal capital, £100,000 in 100,000 1 shares. Directors : W. F. Clark, J. W. Scancliffe Asquith, S. H. March, and A. H. Baldwin. Brinkburn Coal Company Limited. — Private company. Registered February 16. Nature of business indicated by the title. Nominal capital, £9,000 in 9,000 £1 shares. Directors : G. M. Wheater, B. Morris, and S. Jacobs. Chatteris Engineering Company Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered office, 139 'and 140, Gresham House, E.C. Registered February 15. Nature of business indicated by the title. Nominal capital, £50,000 in 25,000 £1 cumula- tive preference shares and 25,000 £1 ordinary shares. Directors : N. Clayton, J. Esson, and D. Francis. Quali- fication, £500. Deptford Steel and Iron Works Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered February 15. Nature of business indi- cated by the title. Nominal capital, £20,000 in 10,000 £1 preference ordinary deferred shares and 10,000 £1 deferred ordinary shares. Directors to be 'appointed by the sub- scribers. Subscribers : S. Cole and H. H. Marriott. Fairley (James) and Sons Limited. — Private company. Registered office, 9 and 10, Shadwell-street, Birmingham. Registered February 9. To carry on business as iron masters, steel makers, steel converters, steel founders, iron founders, etc. Nominal capital, £60,000 in 60,000 £1 shares. Directors : J. F. Fairley and F. Impey. Gas Developments Limited. — Private company. Regis- tered February 13. Nature of business indicated by the title. Nominal capital, £20,000 in 20,000 £1 shares. Directors : G. R. Ridsdale, J. Thompson, A. E. Jenks, T. A. Smith, F. Bayliss, and E. B. Maxlid. Qualification, 50 shares. Leeds Tool and Manufacturing Company Limited.— Private company. Registered office, 121, Elland-road, Leeds. To take over existing business. Capital, £20,000 in £1 shares. Maxwell Brothers and Company Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered office, 91, Fore-street, E.C. Registered February 16. To carry on the business of iron masters, colliery proprietors, etc. Capital, £2,000. Directors to be appointed by subscribers (J. Sheward and Gladys D. Sheward, London). New Marc Howell Colliery Company Limited.—Private company. Registered February 14. Nature of business indicated by the title. Nominal capital, £5,000 in 5,000 £1 shares. Directors and subscribers : W. D. Jones and G. L. David. Qualification, 100 shares. Tinogen Products Company Limited.—Private company. Registered February 16. To carry on business of mine or colliery owners, iron or steel founders, mechanical engi- neers, etc. Nominal capital, £24,000 in 24,000 £1 shares. Directors shall be appointed by the subscribers. Sub- scribers : J. Morison and H .Kelly. 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 OPEH FOR COAL ARD 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. Bridlington, March 5.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Bridlington. Bromley (Kent), March 2.—Coal and coke for the Joint Hospital Board. Forms from the clerk, Park House, Bromley. Clitheroe, March 3.—Coal (12 months) for the Police Department. Forms from the Chief Constable. Darlington, March 15.—Anthracite (6 or 12 months) for the Corporation Waterworks. Forms from the borough surveyor, Town Hall. Dorchester, March 8.—Coal (six months) for the County Asylum. Forms from the clerk. Dunmow, March 1.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices. Earl’s House (Durham), March 19.—Coal and coke (six months) for the Industrial School. Forms from the Educa- tion Committee’s Offices, Shire Hall, Durham. Falmouth, February 28.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 43, Church-street, Falmouth. Gainsborough, March 3. — Coal (12 months) for the Urban District Council. Forms from the engineer. Greenwich, March 15.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Offices, East Greenwich. Hammersmith, February 28. — 100 tons best Derby bright® (or similar) for the Borough Council. Forms from the surveyor, Town Hall, Hammersmith. Lambeth, February 27.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Offices, Brook-street, Kennington. Lanchester, February 28.—Coal (three months) for the Guardians. Forms from W. H. Bitson, clerk. London, N.W., March 6.—Coal dust and ganister (6 or 12 months) for the Great Central Bailway Company. Forms from the stores superintendent, Great Central Bailway, Gorton, Manchester. London, S.E., March 8.—Coal and coke for the Wool- wich Guardians. Forms from the Workhouse, Plumstead. Maesteg, March 5.—Coal (six months) for the . Urban District Council. Forms from the surveyor, Municipal Offices. Manchester, February 26.—Coal (12 months) for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, All Saints, Manchester. Mansfield, February 28.—Coal (12 months) for the Cor- poration. Forms from the borough engineer, Market-street, Mansfield. New Hunstanton, February 27.—1,800 tons large double- screened gas nuts (Monckton Main or equal), delivered 200 tons monthly. No forms. Ponteland, March 7.—Coal for Castle Ward Guardians. Forms from the Workhouse master, Ponteland. Bochford (Essex), March 12.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 40, Clarence-street, Southend-on- Sea. Southend-on-Sea, March 6.—Coal (six months) for Isola- tion Hospitals. Forms from W. H. Boberts, 40, Clarence- street, Southend-on-Sea. South Shields, March 3.—Coal and coke (12 months) for the Corporation. Forms from the borough engineer, Municipal Buildings, South Shields. Strood, March 7.—Best Nottingham haird steam coal (12 months) for the Council. Forms from the clerk, Council Offices, Strood, Kent. Twickenham, March 2.—Steam coal, house coal, rough slack, and coke (12 months) for the Urban District Council. Forms from the surveyor, Council Offices. Walsall, March 13.—Coal (12 months) for the Council. Forms from the surveyor, Council Offices. Warminster, March 12.—Best double-washed anthracite nuts and steam coal for the Urban District Council. Forms from the surveyor, Council Offices. Woodford (Essex), February 27.—Coal and coke (12 months) for the Urban District Council. Forms from the surveyor, Council Offices. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, 4c. Bedwas (Mon.), March 8.—Stores.—Iron and steel, cast- ings, bolts, nuts, fittings, colliers’ tools, steel rails, etc., for the Bedwas Navigation Colliery Limited. Forms from the offices, Bedwas. Clitheroe, March 3.—Various.—Steam tubes, wrought iron, etc. (12 months) for the Corporation. Forms from Gas Works manager. Darlington, March 15. — Various. — Cast iron pipes, nails, castings, refined tar, etc., for the Corporation. Forms from the borough surveyor, Town Hall. Dublin, February 26.— Wheels, etc.—150 pairs wagon wheels and axles for the Great Northern Bailway Company. Forms from the secretary, Amiens-street Terminus. Harrogate, March 5.—Plant.—By-product steam boiler, overhead coal bunker, coal conveyor, and structural steel work. Specifications (£2 2s., returnable) from the Corpora- tion Electricity Department, 33, Swan-road, Harrogate. London, N.W., March 6.—Stores.—Carriage and wagon fittings, fireclay, tubes, iron sheets, lamps, screws, signal materials, castings, wire ropes, etc. (6 or 12 months) for the Great Central Bailway. Forms from the stores superin- tendent, Gorton, Manchester. London, March 7.—Stores.—Iron, bolts, nuts, colliers’ tools, steel girders, brattice cloth, wire ropes, etc., for the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company. Forms from stores manager, Aberaman offices, near Aberdare. Tenders to 101, Leadenh all-street, London. London, W.C., March 8.—Stores.—Cast iron pipes, castings, packings, ferrules, valves, weighing apparatus, etc., for the Metropolitan Water Board. Forms from the Board’s Offices, Savoy-court, Strand. Manchester, March 7. — Conveyors. — Coal conveying plant and suction ash plant. Forms from F. E. Hughes, Electricity Department, Town Hall. Pontypridd, February 26.—Pipes.—Cast iron pipes, fire hydrants, etc., for the Joint Water Board. Forms from the superintendent, Waterworks Engineering Office, 27, Gelli- wastad-road, Pontypridd. Southport, March 10.— Various.—Castings, iron, steel, galvanised iron, picks, hammers, bolts, nuts, etc., for the Corporation. Forms from the borough engineer. Woodford (Essex), February 26.—Boiler.—Steel ver- tical cross-tube boiler for the Urban District Council. Forms from the surveyor, Council Offices. THE FREIGHT MARKET. A week ago it seemed as though the number of fixtures recorded in the outward freight market must be the smallest possible, without an absolute stoppage of transactions. That was not so, however, for, for fewmess of boats taken up, the record is field by the week under review. Thus, Tyne fix- tures number eight, as against 13, and those from Cardiff two, as against three; whilst the total number reported is 17 as against 19. What few fixtures there are show, as might be expected, an exceedingly firm and rising market. North French coke rates for Tyne loading have advanced to 52s. 6d. to Dieppe, as against 45s. last week; the Baltic is represented by the very high rate of 90 kr. to Gothenburg; and Gibraltar has been done at 70s. A 1,500-ton vessel is stated to have been engaged to take coke from the Tyne to West Italy at 150s. At Cardiff, the only business done has been the engagement of two vessels for Biver Plate dis- charge at from 95s. to 100s. Hopes are entertained that the reported settlement of the dispute with Norway, whereby coal shipments in that direction have been suspended since the beginning of the present year, will, when considered alongside of the very tempting rates now offered for neutral steamers trading between this country and our Allies, result in a large influx of Norwegian tonnage, thereby giving an impetus to the British export coal trade. In the homeward market, the Biver Plate is inactive at about 125s. from down-river, and 130s. from up-river ports. At the United States, Virginia to Biver Plate with coal is quoted at fully 100s., an increase of from 2s. fid. to 7s. 6d. on the week, but even at this improved price there is little tonnage on offer. Heavy grain rates from Northern Bange to United Kingdom are 2s. 6d. dearer, being up to 30s. Net charter business is quoted at 155s. to France, from 160s. to 162s. 6d. to Liverpool, and 180s. to Italy from the Northern Bange. Eastern trades are very firm. Saigon or Haiphong to France is mentioned at from 280s. to 290s. Kurrachee on scale to United Kingdom is quoted at from 175s. to 180s. ; Bombay to United Kingdom is 5s. dearer, at 215s. ; Calcutta on jute basis to French ports is weaker, at 28s.; and Madras with kernels to Marseilles is from 10s. to 15s. advanced, at from 370s. to 375s. Mediterranean ore business is firm, and rates tend to increase. Alexandria is paying from 100s. to 102s. 6d. per 60 cu. ft. Tyne to Calais or Dunkirk, 550, 45s., coke, British vessel; Dieppe, 750, 52s. fid., coke, neutral vessel; Gibraltar, 2,400, 70s., neutral vessel; Gothenburg, 1,200, 90 kr.; London, 2,300 and 2,000, 18s.; North French Bange, 500, 45s., coke, six voyages, British vessel; West Italy, 1,500, 150s., coke, reported. Cardiff to Buenos Ayres, 95s., Feb.-Mar.; 4,900, 100s. Neath Abbey to Cork, 400, 17s. 6d. Hull to Cette, 2,300, 97s. 6d., neutral vessel. Bristol Channel to Cork, 450, 17s. fid. Tees to Dunkirk, 500, 43s. 9d., general cargo. Wales to Buenos Ayres or Biver Plate, 95s., two steamers, Feb.-Mar. ; 5,000, 100s., end Feb. £500 for a Lamp.—The London Goal Exchange subscrip- tion list in connection with Lady Markham’s safety lamp has totalled £500 17s., and, in the casting of the lots, the lamp was won by Messrs. Bradbury, Son and Company. The whole amount is to be devoted to the Wounded Allies’ Belief Fund. Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces dissolution of the partnership of A. Hentsch (who con- tinues the business) and J. H. Hentsch, trading as C. F. Hentsch and Sons, iron, steel and machinery merchants, 169, Dudley-road, Wolverhampton; also the partnership of E. H. Bichards (who continues the business) and H. W. Bichards, trading as Bichards and Company, coal, coke and scrap merchants, Dudley-road Wharf, Tipton. Claim for Royalties on Output.—In the Chancery Division on Tuesday, Mr. Justice Neville had. before him a court summons in the matter of the Labuan Coal Fields Company Limited. Mr. Bichardson, for the liquidator, said this was a matter involving £20,000, under an agreement dated October 18. Certain persons advanced £20,000 to the com- pany in consideration of a royalty of fid. per ton, and in the event of winding up were entitled to repayment of the £20,000. The court held that the royalty owners were entitled to claim as creditors for the amount mentioned.