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THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

April 27, 1917.

valley as to the difficulty of obtaining coal, even the work-
men themselves being subject to delay, chiefly on account
of the lack of hauliers with their horses and carts.
Collieries on the Admiralty list are, it is stated, only
allowed to supply house coal to those who were their
customers before the war; and this creates yet another
difficulty. In the rural areas far distant from the coal
field purchasers are said to obtain their fuel at a lower rate
than it is now being sold in the Rhondda itself.

At Swansea Police Court on Tuesday, Mr. W. H.
Edwards (the proprietor of the Duffryn Steel and Tin-plate
Works at Morriston), with his nephew, Mr. B. A. Edwards
(manager of the works), answered 17 summonses issued
against them by the Director of Public Prosecutions for
alleged breaches of the Defence of the Realm Regulations
in respect of steel manufacture. Defendants were charged
with failing to obey directions given by the Ministry of
Munitions with regard to work to be carried on in their
premises, and also with making false statements in returns
regarding steel. The hearing was adjourned.

The action in which a blacksmith at Llwynypia Colliery
claimed damages against the checkweigher for interfering
with him and preventing his employment, was once again
in the Chancery Division on Tuesday. All proceedings are
to be stayed. The plaintiff is to be paid <£400 towards his
costs and in full satisfaction of all claims against the defen-
dant or the lodge. Endeavours are to be made to secure
for the plaintiff reinstatement in his former'employment.

There has been a distinct improvement of late in regu-
larity of work at the steam coal pits, and shipments have
been steady, with a consequent rise in price; but they are
nevertheless still very much below what they were at this
time last year.

Cardiff Chamber of Commerce decided on Wednesday to
form a register of individuals or firms willing to assist
other firms which suffer from depletion of staff or calling up
of the principals; and the names of firms requiring aid will
also be registered.

Northumberland and Durham.

Colliery Assessments — Miners' Organisations — Fatalities
from Falls of Stone.

The Bishop Auckland Assessment Committee has decided
to revise the assessment of the local collieries on the follow-
ing basis :—Each colliery, together with all necessary
plant, machinery, and accessories for the preparation of
coal for the market, together with necessary private
sidings and railways and tramways, to be assessed in one
sum, based upon a tonnage rate according to the output, as
follows—the tonnage rate to be 7^d., 6^d., and 4^d. per
ton on coal, according to quality, and 5^d. per ton on clay,
with no deduction for ratable value; coal worked in other
unions and drawn to bank in that union is to be assessed
at Ijd. for first- and second-class coal, and l^d. for third-
class coal and clay ; coal worked in that union and drawn
to bank in other unions is to be assessed at 5Jd., 4|d., and
S^d. per ton, according to quality, with clay at 4d. per ton,
no deduction to be made for ratable value. The ratable
value of the union has declined by <£‘2,607 on the year, the
reduction being due to a falling-off in the output of the
collieries, consequent upon the number of enlistments.

Figures presented to the Tyne Improvement Commission
meeting at Newcastle last week showed that during March
732,950 tons of coal as cargo, 79,861 tons of coal as bunkers,
and 57,399 tons of coke were shipped from the Tyne, a
decrease of 193,778 tons and 32,336 tons and an increase of
494 tons respectively, when compared with the figures for
March 1916. During the first three months of the year the
shipments were: Coal as cargo, 2,220,943 tons, a decrease
of 433,087 tons when compared with the shipments for the
corresponding period of last year, and of 1,960,418 tons
when compared with the corresponding period of 1913 (the
last full pre-war year); coal as bunkers, 259,086 tons,
decreases of 93,769 tons and 252,784 tons respectively; and
coke, 158,205 tons, a decrease of 19,847 tons and an increase
of 89,623 tons respectively. The Commission has decided
to revert to the dues charged 21 years ago on coal exported
from the Commissioners’ docks—namely, 2d. and Id. per
ton respectively.

The quarterly statement of the Northumberland Miners’
Association shows that, out of 25,191 full members, 225
have sought exemption from payment of the political levy,
a decrease of 41 on the quarter. Eltringham heads the list
with 97 members exempted, although this figure is a
decrease of 31 on the quarter; South Tyne comes second,
with 70 members; and Bomarsund third, with 34. Sixty-six
of the collieries in the county are without a single exempted
member, and four others have only one each.

The annual council meeting of the Northumberland
Colliery Mechanics’ Association, held at the Burt Hall,
Newcastle, adopted a report showing that during the year
the membership had increased by 158. The payments had
included <£8 for out-of-work benefit, the lowest unemployed
benefit ever paid by the association, <£155 in death duties,
<£93 to charities, <£41 to the Northumberland Aged Mine
Workers’ Homes Association, and <£148 for superannua-
tion. The association’s funds showed an increase of .£540
on the year. Mr. M. H. Lowery was re-elected president,
and Mr. J. M. Gillians treasurer.

During the last week or two, from whatever cause, the
number of fatalities from falls of stone in the mines of
Durham county was exceptionally great, and the character
of many such falls has been extraordinary. Thus, when
enquiring into the circumstances attending the death of
Matthew Smith, hewer, who was killed by a fall of stone
at Springwell Colliery on April 16, Mr. Coroner Graham
remarked that the stone, which weighed between 50 and 60
tons, constituted the largest fall ever known in Northum-
berland or Durham. The stone fell in the travelling way,
afid, owing to the place “working” and the danger of
more stone falling, the place where deceased lay had to be
covered three times with timber before he could be got
out.—At an inquest touching the death of John Jos.
Gladders, hewer at Morrison North pit, who was killed by
a fall of stone on April 11, it was stated that the stone
weighed over 20 tons, and was the largest that had fallen
in that district. The place was well timbered. The
coroner (Mr. Graham) asked the mines inspector (Mr.
Ashley) whether he thought the extraordinary weather and
rapid changes in temperature could have anything to do
with the series of stone falls. Mr. Ashley replied that he
did not know, but that these things would not account for
the fall under investigation. Mr. Graham remarked that
he was anxious to blame someone or something—to place
his finger on something that could be remedied. It was
humiliating in the extreme that, in spite of advanced
science and extreme care, they were still perfectly helpless

as to suggesting anything that could prevent a recurrence
of such accidents. Human science could not’ after all,
entirely control the forces of Nature. It was almost invari-
ably the case that careful men, who obeyed the excellent
timbering rules, were the victims.-—At a third inquest at
which Mr. Graham officiated, touching the death of Thos.
Dunn, hewer, who was killed by a “slippery jack” at
Beamish Colliery (Mary pit) on April 5, the coroner
remarked that such accidents would probably occur until
all those terrible stones were passed by. The coal seams
in the North of England were troubled by two dangerous
stones—cauldron and horseback stones. The backs of such
stones were vitrified like glass; there was nothing to hold
by at all. When the coal that supported it was removed,
down the stone came; or it might hang in the roof for a
while, and then drop—too often on a good man.

Judge Bonsey found against William Wales, rolleyway-
man at New Herrington Colliery, who claimed compensa-
tion at Durham County Court from the Lambton and
Hetton Collieries Limited, because, leaving work in the
dark on December 27, he slipped and fell on ice-covered
ground at the colliery railway sidings, and injured his right
arm so much that he was still off work. His Honour
agreed with the contention of Mr. Meynell, for the respon-
dents, that the accident did not arise out of or in the course
of the man’s employment. The man had given up his lamp
and fell because of the ice and not because of the rails. He
might have fallen anywhere. The case was a test case,
and will probably dispose of several similar compensation
claims.

Mr. T. H. Cann, general secretary of the Durham Miners’
Association, announces, in his latest circular to the mem-
bers, that his health has become so precarious that his
medical advisers have insisted upon him going away for
three months’ rest. The executive committee granted him
leave of absence.

Yorkshire.

At Wakefield on Monday, the Flockton Colliery Com-
pany Limited were fined <£50 for keeping mixed explosives
in an unauthorised place.

At the Doncaster Guardians meeting on Saturday, the
annual report of the Assessment Committee was pre-
sented. It stated that Messrs. Hedley and Sons had made
their annual re-valuation of the collieries in the union for
the year ended December 31, 1916, and supplemental
valuation lists assessing the collieries at their new values
had been signed. There are now 15 collieries within the
union area, having 48 assessments, affecting 26 parishes.
One of last year’s assessments has been cancelled, no coal
having been worked; and three new ones have been made.
There are increases in 26 assessments, amounting to
<£16,687 ; and decreases in 15 assessments, amounting to
<£12,573. The total ratable value of the collieries amounts
to £243,677, as against £239,563 last year, an increase of
£4,114. Against this increase in the revised ratable values
of the collieries, the assessable values of several large pro-
perties which have been partially closed, have been reduced
in consequence.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Colliery firemen’s certificates have been awarded to the
following candidates recently examined by the Wigan and
District Mining and Technical College, under section 15
of the Coal Mines Act :—J. H. Armistead, Hindley; T.
Aspey, Orrell; R. Banks, Pemberton; W. Barker, Orrell;
H. Barnes, Ghorley; J. Barnes, Wigan; J. Barton, Wigan;
T. E. Barney, Chorley ; R. Bennison, Wigan; J. E. Ben-
son, Upholland ; J. T. Beresford, Chorley; F. F. Brown,
Bolton; R. Brown, Bamfurlong; H. Cartwright, Ashton;
P. Cartwright, Hindley ; J. Clark, Platt Bridge; F. W.
Cliffe, Bamfurlong; J. Crinigan, Bamfurlong; G. Cromp-
ton, Westhoughton; H. Cunliffe, Abram; C. Cutts,
Coppull ; C. Dagnail, Rainford; R. Dobson, Coppull; J.
Edwards, Skelmersdale; T. Fairhurst, Wigan; J. E. Finch,
Lower Ince; R. Fisher, Coppull; P. Fleming, Wigan; J.
Fowler, Ince; F. Grundy, Bamfurlong; J. Hill, Adling-
ton ; G. Hindicliffe, Higher Ince ; J. Holland, Coppull; H.
Hulme, Orrell; H. O. Ince, Ashton; J. L. Jones, Rain-
ford; C. Knight, Atherton; W. Leyland, Standish; J. W.
Lilley, Coppull; H. Lowe, Westhoughton; C. Lymn, Lower
Ince; W. Martin, Atherton; J. Martindale, Pemberton;
R. Molyneux, Bamfurlong; J. Morley, Platt Bridge; H.
Norris, Bolton; J. O’Malley, Pemberton; W. Park, Los-
tock Junction; J. Prescott, Leigh; R. B. Rawes, Rain-
ford ; T. Rimmer, Rainford; R. Roocroft, Coppull; J.
Rylance, St. Helens; R. Shacklady, Skelmersdale; W.
Sharratt, Coppull; R. Silcock, Orrell; R. Silcock, Orrell;
W. Smalley, Haydock; J. Smith, Wigan; R. Snape, Coppull;
H. E. Speakman, Leigh; A. Starkie, Skelmersdale; T.
Stockley, Standish ; J. Stott, Adlington; T. Taylor, Pem-
berton; C. Tenant, Wigan; W. S. Tong, Horwich; T.
Topping, Platt Bridge; R. Tomlinson, Lower Ince; J.
Unsworth, Pemberton; J. Walker, Platt Bridge; T. D.
Watson, Earlestown; M. Webb, Wigan ; J. Weir, Lower
Ince; N. Whittle, Wigan; R. White, Bolton; R. Williams,
Bamfurlong; J. W. Wilson, Orrell; J. Wilson, Wigan;
W. Witter, Bolton; J. Worswick, Bryn.

Notts and Derbyshire.

Notts Miners’ Association recommend that Whit Monday
and Tuesday shall be a holiday.

The Midlands.

An advance in the membership and a lower call on the
funds were the features of last year’s working of the Mid-
land District Miners’ Fatal Accident Relief Society. At
the 34th annual meeting on Tuesday, it was reported that
on December 31 there were 50,108 members on the books,
an increase on the year of 6,420, and that since that date
790 new names had been enrolled, making the present total
50,898. . The deaths during the year numbered 64, bring-
ing the total in respect of which provision had been made
since the formation of the society up to 1,134. The death
rate per 1,000 members at risk was 1-320, which was in
excess of the society’s average annual experience to the
date of the last quinquennial valuation in December 1912.
During the society’s existence, 705 widows and 1,453
children had received benefits aggregating over £134,000.
The year’s income amounted to £14,231, an increase of
£1,569 ; while the expenditure was £8,192, a decrease of
£2,350. The amount written off last year was £8,526,
reducing to £83,515 stock which originally cost £116,339.

Kent.

The bricking of the No. 2 pit at Snowdown Colliery
having now been completed to a point a few feet below the
4 ft. 5 in. seam of coal recently opened out, sinking has
now been suspended, and no further exploration work
regarding the deeper coal seams will be carried out whilst

the war continues, the whole energies being devoted to coal
raising. The official report made by Mr. E. 0. Forster
Brown, the well-known mining expert, on the new seam is
of a very satisfactory character. He says :—“ The seam is
4 ft. 5 in. thick. VVith the exception of some traces of
iron pyrites at one or two points, it is free from bands of
dirt or other foreign matter, and is a clean, bright looking
coal. It parts readily from the roof and floor. Different
parts of tne seam vary in hardness. It is not a hard coal
comparable with coal from the Midlands, but is a very
much harder coal than that of the Beresford seam at pre-
sent being worked at the colliery. The roof immediately
above the seam consists of 1 ft. of fairly soft grey and
black shales, and above that there is a bed of strong shale.
The floor consists of hard fireclay. The evidence I saw at
the surface consisted of a number of large blocks of coal
from the seam, obtained in sinking the shaft through it,
samples of the roof and floor, and a fire made with the coal
burning in a grate. Judging from the behaviour of the
coal in the fire, it is a hot coal, and much livelier than coal
from the Beresford seam in an ordinary grate. It has a
distinct coking tendency, and there is little doubt that it
will make a good coke. Taking into consideration the
thickness and nature of the roof and floor, and the quality
of the coal, I formed the opinion that this seam should be
of great economic value.”

The report of the Chislet Colliery Company (who have
been sinking colliery shafts near Canterbury), which will
be presented at the annual meeting in London on May 1,
says :—As the chairman mentioned at the last general
meeting, provision of sufficient capital would have to be
made to enable the shafts to be carried down to the coal,
and in the middle of last year a scheme for raising £75,000
by short term notes, to be secured on the colliery under-
taking, was arranged. Of this sum, £43,500 was sub-
scribed for and allotted, but only half of this amount,
viz., £21,750, has actually become payable and been
received. The notes bear interest at 7 per cent., free of
income tax, with a bonus of 10 per cent, on repayment.
The holders are further entitled to call for an allotment at
par of ordinary shares of the company equal to the notes in
nominal amount. Since the last general meeting work in
connection with the sinking and equipment of the colliery
was proceeded with until tiie beginning of this year, when
notice was served upon the company to discontinue. Leave,
however, was obtained to carry the North pit down through
the chalk, subject to certain restrictions, and a limited
period was given in which this was to be done. Unfor-
tunately, owing to the bad weather and difficulties with
regard to obtaining men, it was found that the sinking
could not be got through in the limited time, and conse-
quently further negotiations at the date of this report have
been entered into, in order to see if the company can be
allowed to proceed so as to make the pit safe. The North
pit has been sunk to a depth of 572 ft. 6 in., and the South
pit remains at the depth mentioned in the last report, viz.,
193 ft. The process of cementation, which was adopted for
the purpose of dealing with the water known to be present
in the chalk, has, so far as operations have gone, been quite
successful. The building of the engine houses and the
erection of the boilers and engines have been practically
completed, and all the plant necessary for sinking
installed. Buildings have been put up for the accommo-
dation of sinkers, and the contract for sinking has been let,
so that unless operations are interfered with, coal ought
to be reached by the end of the year, or sooner if sufficient
men are available.

Scotland.

New Appointments — Wellesley Colliery Baths — Boiler
Explosion Judgment—Burntisland Trade.

Mr. R. Rankin, under-manager at Loanend Colliery,
belonging to Messrs. Archibald Russell Limited, has been
appointed by the Lothian Coal Company Limited manager
of Polton Colliery, near Edinburgh, in succession to Mr. J.
Rodney, who, as stated in a recent issue, has gone to take
over an important appointment in the Hamilton district.
Mr. Rankin’s successor at Loanend is Mr. A. Anderson, a
mining official well known in the Slamannan district.

A special committee appointed by the Fifeshire Miners’
Association to visit the colliery baths at Wellesley Colliery,
belonging to the Wemyss Coal Company, Fife, have issued
their report, in which they strongly approve of what has
been done by the Wemyss Coal Company in the way of
providing bathing accommodation for the workmen.

Birkenshaw Colliery, which has been closed down for a
large number of years, has been re-opened.

The Commissioners appointed by the Board of Trade to
enquire into the circumstances attending the explosion of
a boiler at Riddochhill Colliery, Bathgate, have delivered
their judgment. The Commissioners state that the boiler
was inspected in December 1916, and that while the inspec-
tion was neither careless nor hurried, the exact condition
of the boiler was not discovered. The corroded condition
was due to the use of pit feed water, and the use of soda
crystals to counteract the chemical action of the water was
discontinued, and an ineffective boiler mixture substituted.
The Commission found that the explosion was due to the
thinning of the plates of the boiler by the chemical action
of unsuitable feeding water; and while it was not a case
of gross carelessness, they did not regard the explosion as
one which could not have been prevented by wholly dis-
continuing the use of pit feed water, or by having had it
more frequently analysed. The Commissioners found that
the colliery owners, Gavin, Paul and Sons Limited, and the
Scottish Boiler Insurance Company, Glasgow, were to
blame, and they were ordered to pay £30 each towards the
cost of the enquiry.

Burntisland export trade continues very uncertain, and
big returns cannot be looked for under present conditions.
The shipments for the past week aggregated 3,112 tons of
coal, as against 7,290 tons in the preceding week, and
26,180 tons in the corresponding week of last year. The
amount sent coastwise was 1,451 tons.

The shipments of Scotch coal for the year show a large
decrease, as compared with shipments for a similar period
last year—April 14. The aggregate for 1917 is 1,914,609
tons, a decrease of 759,084 tons. The Clyde has shipped
1,289,996 tons, Fife 345,460 tons, and Forth ports 279,158
tons. .

.The institute .at Kirkconnel, built by the Sanquhar and
Kirkconnel Collieries Limited for their employees, was for-
mally opened by Mr. J. I. McConnel, of Eliock, lessee of
the collieries. The building is of two storeys, and is a
handsome structure, comprising library, reading, billiard,
and recreation rooms, with caretaker’s home and offices.