March 23, 1917.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

593

the North British Bailway Company and the Fife Coal Com-
pany against Alex. Birrell, of Tyrie, Fifeshire, to have it
declared that he has no title to object to the North British
Bailway Company letting to the Fife Coal Company 17 acres
of land at Seafield, Kirkcaldy, for the purpose of sinking a
new pit. The defender is proprietor of the land adjoining
the ground in question, and contended it was ultra vires of
the railway company to grant the lease in question. In the
Outer House, Lord Cullen granted decree craved, with
expenses. The Division recalled that judgment, and dis-
missed the action with expenses.

The mining students from the county centres of Stirling,
Falkirk, and Kilsyth, paid a visit to Barrochnie Collieries,
Baillieston, belonging to the Mount Vernon Coal Company
Limited. The party numbered 130, and was under the
leadership of Mr. McNeill, county mining lecturer. The
electrical power is obtained from the Clyde Valley Power
Company at extra high pressure, 10,000 volts, and trans-
formed down to a medium pressure of 440 volts. The fan is
of the Ulster type, 10 ft. in diameter, and circulates 100,000
cu. ft. of air per minute at 3 in. water gauge. The air
current is easily reversed in case of emergency, such as
underground fires or explosions. The winders are each
operated by a direct-current motor, three-phase alternating
current being converted by means of self-containing con-
verters in each winding house. The electrical equipment of
these winders is of special interest. Each is designed to
deal with an output of 480 tons per eight hours from a depth
of 180 fms. An automatic arrangement is fitted to prevent
overwinding, operated by means of tappets from the depth
indicator, which is of the vertical screw type. The winders
closely resemble the ordinary steam-driven winding engine
in construction, with all the advantages of electric winding.

Interest has been aroused in mining centres throughout
Scotland by the decision of the Army Council to commence
a voluntary recruiting compaign among miners, with a view
to securing by voluntary enlistment the 20,000 miners whom
the Home Office had agreed to release for service in the
Army.

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, March 26. —Coal for the Monmouthshire
Asylum. Forms from the clerk, Asylum, Abergavenny.

Amesbury, March 28.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the clerk, 12, Bridge-street, Salisbury.

Barnard Castle, April 11.—Coal for the North-Eastern
County School. Forms from the bursar.

Barnsley, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the Union Offices, Pitt-street.

Barnstaple.—Coal for the North Devon Infirmary. Forms
from the acting-secretary.

Belper, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from
the Workhouse master.

Berkhampsted , March 26. — Coal for the Guardians.
Forms from the Workhouse.

Birkenhead, April 3. — Gas coal, house coal, screened
steam coal, rough slack, and coke breeze (12 months) for
the Corporation. Total quantity about 110,207 tons. Forms
for gas coke, from the engineer, Gas Works; for screened
steam coal, from the ferries manager, Woodside Ferry; for
slack and coke breeze, from the electrical engineer, Craven-
street ; and slack or small coal, from the water engineer, 52,
Balls-road.

Bournemouth, March 26. —■ Coal (six months) for the
Finance Committee. Forms from the borough surveyor.

Brampton (Cambridge), March 28.—Coal for the Guar-
dians. Forms from the Union Workhouse, Brampton.

Canterbury, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the clerk, 80, Castle-street, Canterbury.	41

Chatham, March 30. — House coal (two months), for
Barracks. Forms from the Officer Commanding, A.S.C.,
Southill Barracks, Chatham.

Croydon, March 26.—Coal and coke for the Guardians.
Forms from the Union Offices, Thornton Heath.

Edgware, March 29.—Coal for Hendon Guardians.
Forms from the Union Offices, Edgware.

Dorchester, March 24. — Coal for the Dorset County
Hospital. Forms from the Hospital, Dorset.

Dover, April 3. — Household coal, fine coal, and 1,500
chaldrons of coke from Yorkshire coal. Forms from the
town clerk, 69, Castle-street, Dover.

Easington (Durham), March 28. — Coal for the Guar-
dians. Forms from the Workhouse master, Basington.

Fareham, March 29. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the clerk, 97, West-street, Fareham.

Hqlbeach, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the clerk, Workhouse.

Holbeck, March 26. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the Poor Law Offices, Holbeck, Leeds.

Hyde, March 27.—Engine slack (six or 12 months) for the
Stores Committee. Forms from the borough surveyor, Town
Hall.

King’s Lynn, March 30.—Best Portland hards or other
good engine coal for the Magdalen Drainage Commis-
sioners. Tenders to the clerk, W. D. Ward, King’s Lynn.

Kirkham, March 27. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the master, Institution, Wesham, near Kirkham
Station.

Lichfield, March 29. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the clerk, 6, Breadmarket-street.

Littlehampton, March 28.—Coal (best hard steam) for
the Urban District Council. Forms from the engineer.

Liverpool, March 26.—Coal for the Select Vestry. Forms
from the clerk, Parish Offices, Brownlow-hill, Liverpool.

Llanelly, March 29.—Coal (six or 12 months) for the
Corporation. Forms from the town clerk or surveyor.

Manchester, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the Union Offices, All Saints’, Manchester.

Manchester, March 26.—Foundry coke and gas coke (12
months) for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bailway. Forms
from.Mr. Waring, Stores Department, Osborne-street, Man-
chester.

Melton Mowbray, April 2.—Coal for the Melton Hos-
pital. Forms from the Hospital.

Meriden, March 26.—Coal for the Meriden Guardians.
Forms from the clerk, 11, Priory-street, Coventry.

Nottingham, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the clerk, Poor Law Offices, Shakespeare-street,
Nottingham.

Plympton St. Mary (Devon), March 29.—Coke for the
Guardians. Forms from the Workhouse.

Quakers Yard (Glamorgan), March 29. — Coal for the
South Wales and Monmouthshire Truant School. Forms
from the superintendent.

Bosslynlee (Scotland), March 30.—Coal for the Mid-
lothian and Peebles District Asylum. Forms from the clerk,
19, Heriot-row, Edinburgh.

Stockport, March 27.—House coal and engine slack (six
months), for Stockport Infirmary. Forms from the secretary.

Stockton, March 27.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the clerk, Union Offices, Nelson-street.

Tarvin (Chester), March 29.—Coal for the Guardians.
Forms from the clerk, Westminster Buildings, Chester.

Uxbridge, March 28.—Coke for the Guardians. Forms
from the clerk, 38, High-street, Uxbridge.

Whitechapel, March 27. — Coal for the Guardians.
Forms from the clerk, 74, Vallance-road, E.

Wigan, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the Poor Law Institution, Wigan.

Wrexham, March 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms
from the master, Workhouse.

Yeovil, March 30.—Coal for steam roller. Forms from
the clerk, The Chantry, Yeovil.

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

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

Dundee, March 28.—Stores.—Electrical stores, etc., for
the Corporation (12 months). Forms from the Electricity
Department, Dudhope Crescent-road, Dundee.

Hornsey, April 2.—Boilers.— New sectional cast-iron
boilers, with piping, for the Town Council. Forms from
the engineer, Town Hall.

Hyde, March 27.—Various.—Cast iron pipes, castings,
etc. (six or 12 months), for the Stores Committee. Forms
from the borough surveyor, Town Hall.

Manchester, March 26.—Stores.—Chains, iron, screws,
signal fittings and wires, silica bricks, steel sheets, tubes,
wire rope, etc. (12 months) for the Lancashire and York-
shire Bailway. Forms from Mr. Waring, Stores Depart-
ment, Osborne-street, Manchester.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.

REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Addie (Robert) and Sons Limited.—The directors recom-
mend a dividend for the year of 6 per cent., less tax, on the
ordinary shares. After providing for depreciation, excess
profits duty, and income-tax reserve funds, and placing
£5,000 to special reserve fund, £12,826 is carried forward.
For the previous year the ordinary shares received a similar
dividend, while .£12,917 was placed to special reserve account,
and £16,546 carried forward.

Arrol (Sir William) and Company Limited.—The report
for the year ended December 31 states that the gross profit
amounted to £122,143, and after deducting income-tax on
profits, preference dividend, etc., there remains a balance of
£85,356, to which there falls to be added the balance from
1915 of £54,856, making a total of £140,212. The directors
recommend the following appropriations : Depreciation
fund, £12,000; reserve fund, £13,378; fund for equalising
dividends, £10,000; dividend of 10 per cent, on ordinary
shares, free of income-tax; leaving a balance to be carried
forward of £84,834.

Baldwins Limited. — The directors declared an interim
dividend for the half-year ended December 31 of 2j- per cent.,
free of income-tax, payable on April 7, on the amounts
paid up on the ordinary shares, but exclusive of the new
issue of ordinary shares, the dividend on which is governed
by the terms of the issue.

British Aluminium Company Limited. — The profit for
1916, after making all necessary provisions, including deben-
ture service, was £215,169, compared with £180,058. The
depreciation allowance has been advanced from £50,000 to
£60,000, and the appropriation to reserve from £70,000 to
£75,000, making the funds £310,000 and £325,000 respec-
tively. The dividend is 10 per cent., and the forward
balance £26,927.

Coalite Limited.—The report for the year ended Dec. 31
states that further patents for improvements in the coalite
process have been taken out in all the principal foreign
countries, thus maintaining the strength of the company’s
position in respect of the patent rights. The company’s
arrangements with the Barnsley Smokeless Fuel Company
Limited and British Coalite Company Limited) secure for it
the benefit of all new inventions, plans, and drawings for
the erection of low-temperature plants. The plant of the
Barnsley Smokeless Fuel Company is now on the eve of
completion as to the first series of retorts, serious delays
having occurred in the delivery of materials, owing to the
existing stringent war conditions. The retiring director, Mr.
W. J. Fisher, offers himself for re-election.

Cortonwood Collieries Company Limited. — The 34th
annual report for the year ending December 31 last states
that the net profit, after making provision for excess profits
duty, is £133,689, to which is added the balance brought
forward, £11,849, making £145.539. Dividends have been
paid amounting to £78,750, and there has been transferred
to reserve £65,625, leaving a balance of £1,164 to carry for-
ward. The amount of £7,385 expended on capital account
includes new wagons, additional sidings, and further
amounts paid on account of the new reservoir. Serious
difficulties and delays have been experienced in obtaining
goods essential for the efficient working of the collieries, coke
ovens, and by-product plant.

Firbeck Main Collieries Limited. — The fourth annual
report for the year ended December 31 last states that “ in
consequence of the decision of the Board of Trade that it
was not desirable at the present time to construct the railway
or the contractors’ line to the site of the proposed colliery,
and in view also of the strong desire of the Ministry of

Munitions that labour and materials should not be expended
upon work which would not be productive for several years,
sinking operations have not yet been commenced.”

Fletcher, Russell and Company Limited.—The report for
1916 states that the profit amounted to £17,771, and £5,929
was brought forward. The directors recommend a dividend
of 5 per cent, on the ordinary shares, together with a bonus
of 5 per cent., placing £4,885 to reserve, and carrying for-
ward £5,814.

Forth and Clyde and Sunnyside Iron Company Limited.—
The report for 1916 states that, after fully providing for
depreciation and writing down investments to the value as
at December 31, and providing for income-tax, the profits
amount to £8,031, and with the balance brought forward
there is a total of £12,599. After providing for the prefer-
ence shares dividend, the directors recommend a dividend
of 10s. per share on the ordinary shares, together with a
bonus of 2s. 6d. per share, both free of tax, carrying for-
ward £5,099. A year ago the total dividend was 10s. per
share, free of tax.

Hatfield Main Colliery Company Limited. — The sixth
annual report for the year ending December 31 last states
that the sum of £77,850 has been expended on capital
account, making a total expenditure since the formation of
the company of £273,091. No. 1 shaft reached the Barnsley
seam of coal on August 14 last, at a depth of 857 yds., and
the thickness and quality of the coal is satisfactory. A
limited amount of headway is being driven from the shaft.
No. 2 shaft is now 851 yds. deep. The progress made during
the year has been satisfactory, although the war has caused
a shortage of labour, and the prices of machinery and
material are abnormally high owing to the same cause. The
Government has decided to allow the development of the
colliery to proceed. The Treasury has sanctioned the issue,
to the existing shareholders only, of further capital to the
amount of £130,000, and a resolution to create this addi-
tional capital will be submitted to the meeting.

Jessop (William) and Sons Limited.—A circular to share-
holders states that as the final figures for 1916 from some
of the branches abroad have not yet been received, and as
the amount of taxation liability has not yet been ascertained,
the directors are obliged to postpone the presentation of the
annual balance-sheet until the accounts are in a state of
completion. The directors, however, feel justified in recom-
mending a dividend of 10s. per share on ordinary, free of
tax, making 15 per cent, for year, the same as for each of
the three preceding years.

Marbella Iron Ore Company Limited.—The directors
recommend a dividend of 4s. per share, less tax, absorbing
£3,875, and to carry forward £5,746.

Mirrlees Watson Company Limited. — The accounts for
1916 show a credit balance, after providing for depreciation
and directors’ fees, of £30,695, to which falls to be added
£3,465 brought forward, leaving at the credit of profit and
loss £34,161. The directors recommend that £9,700 be
applied in payment of a dividend of 10 per cent., less tax,
and that £17,500 be transferred to general reserve, leaving
£6,960 to be carried forward.

Nantyglo and Blaina Iron Works Limited.—A dividend
of £3 per share, payable on April 13, less tax, is announced,
on account of arrears of preference dividends.

Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Company Limited.—
The directors announce an interim dividend of 3s. 6d. per
share (3J per cent.) on the ordinary shares—the same as a
year ago.

Robey and Company Limited.—Trading profits for 1916
were £38,745, and £13,402 was brought forward. Deprecia-
tion absorbs £9,840, and debenture interest £7,662, leaving
£32,843 for appropriation. A dividend of 6 per cent, is pro-
posed, carrying forward £15,122.

Scottish Iron and Steel Company Limited.—Dividend of
4 per cent, on the ordinary shares for last year.

Steel Company of Canada Limited. — The directors have
declared a dividend of l'| per cent, on preferred shares, and
a dividend of Idol., with a bonus of 50c., on ordinary for
quarter ending March 31.

Wankie Colliery Company Limited. — Further interim
dividend of 5 per cent., less tax, on account of year to
August 31, 1917, payable March 30, to holders registered
March 13.

Yorkshire Iron and Coal Company Limited. — The net
profits for 1916 were £11,257, after providing for debenture
and other interest. The sum of £5,012 has been added to
the redemption fund, and the adverse balance of £30,798
brought from the previous account reduced to £24,553.

NEW COMPANIES.

Clydach Engineering Company Limited. — Private com-
pany. Begistered office, Clydach, Swansea Valley, Glam.
Begistered March 10. To carry on the business of colliery,
mining, marine, motor, aerial, electrical, mechanical, and
general engineers. Nominal capital, £1,000 in 1,000 £1
shares. Directors : H. B. Jones, J. Arnold, and D. O.
Williams.

Don Steel and Tool Company Limited.—Private company.
Begistered office, 73, Bridge-street, Sheffield. . Begistered
March 10. To carry on business of general, mechanical,
and constructional engineers, tool makers, etc. Nominal
capital, £1,000 in 1,000 £1 shares. Director, A. T. Padget.

Lees (T. and R.) Limited.—Private company. Registered
office, Park Iron Works, Hollinwood, Oldham. Begistered
March 9. To carry on business of mechanical engineers and
iron founders. Nominal capital, £50,000 in 50,000 £1
shares. Directors : R. Lees, senr., W. Lees, W. Lees,
R. Lees, junr.

Reader (E.) and Sons Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered March 14. To carry on business of engineers, founders,
tool makers, metal workers, etc. Nominal capital, £20,000
in 20,000 £1 shares. Directors shall be appointed by the
subscribers. Subscribers : A. Ogilvie, S. H. Pearce, and
H. Spencer.

Wright’s Havelock Foundry Company Limited.—Private
company. Registered March 12. To carry on business of
an iron and brass founder and engineer now carried on by
the'vendor to the company in Havelock-street, Leicester.
Nominal capital, £6,000 in 3,000 6 per cent, cumulative pre-
ference shares of £1, and 3,000 £1 ordinary shares.
Directors : F. Fielding, T. P. Shearer, and W. H. Wright.
Qualification, £250.

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,