1092 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 8, 1917. 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. Tottenham, June ,19.—The Tottenham and Wood Green Joint Drainage Committee invite tenders for the supply of steam coal for six or 12 months from June 25. Particulars may be obtained on application to Maj. W. FI. Prescott, R.E., engineer of the Committee, at the Town Hall, Tottenham. Sealed tenders, endorsed “ Coal contract,” must be delivered by June 19 to Reginald C. Graves, clerk and solicitor of the Committee, Town Hall, Tottenham, N. 15. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Banbury, June 12.—Coal (12 months) for the Guar- dians. Forms from the master of the Institution, Neithrop, Banbury. Banbury, June 14.—Coal (12 months) for the Education Committee. Particulars from the town clerk. Barming Heath (Kent), June 18.—3,900 tons steam coal, 1,200 tons household coal, 800 tons gas coal, and 105 tons bakers’ coal, for Asylums. Forms from the clerk, Earm- ing Heath Asylum. Beccles, June 11. — Coal, smithy coal, and gas coke (three months). Forms from the Supply Depot, 1st Cyclist Brigade, Beccles Station. Belfast, June 11. — English house coal and Scotch, English, or Welsh steam coal (12 months) for Belfast Dis- trict Asylum. Forms from the clerk, Asylum, Belfast. Camberwell, June 13.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the offices, 29, Peckham-road, Camberwell. Cannock, June 14.'—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the acting-clerk, Union Offices, Cannock, Staffs. Colchester, June 13. — Best hard hand-picked steam coal for Sewage Works and Hospital; also smokeless steam coal, house and kitchen coal, and smithy nuts (12 months), for the Roads, and Drainage Committee. Forms from the borough engineer, Town Hall. Coventry, June 22.—Coal and coke for two schools. Forms from the clerk, General Charities Office, Coventry. Croydon, June 13.—Coal and coke (12 months) for the Town Council. Forms from the borough engineer, Town Hall. Edinburgh, June 23.—Coal for the Royal East Edin- burgh Hospital for Sick Children, and Convalescent Home, Gullane. Forms from the matron. Fulbourne (Cambridgeshire), June 18.—Coal for the County Lunatic Asylum, Fulbourne, near Cambridge. Forms from the steward. Glasgow, June 12.—Washed nuts (doubles or trebles), steam coal, and anthracite (doubles or trebles) for the School Board (three, six, or nine months). Forms (10s. 6d., returnable) from the School Board Offices (Pro- perty Department), 129, Bath-street, Glasgow. Gravesend, June 13.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 13, Victoria-place, Gravesend. Hadleigh (Suffolk), June 16. — Coal for the Cosford Guardians, ^orms from the clerk, Hadleigh. Hailsham, June 20.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 17, London-road, Hailsham. Haywards Heath, June 28.—Ten trucks good house- hold coal and 13 tons of coke for the Cuckfield Rural Dis- trict Council. Tenders to the clerk, Council Offices, Hay- wards Heath. Hebden Bridge, June 12.—9,000 tons of screened gas coal and nuts for the Gas Board. Particulars from T. H. Nield, Carlton-street, Hebden Bridge. Kingsclere (Berkshire), June 12.—Coal for the Guar- dians. Forms from the clerk, Kingsclere. Knutsford, June 20.—Steam coal (12 months) for the Bucklow Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, Knutsford. Lancaster, June 16.—Coal and slack (six months) for Properties Committee and Baths Committee. Forms from the borough surveyor, Town Hall. London, N.W., June 11.—Coal for Electricity Works and Baths (12 months) for St. Pancras Council. Forms from the Electricity Department, 57, Pratt-street, Camden Town. London, June 12. — Steam coal, household, coal, and coke (six or 12 months) for the Islington Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, St. John’s-road, Upper Holloway. London, E., June 14. — Coal and coke for the .Guar- dians of St. George-in-the-East. Forms from the clerk, Guardians’ Offices, Raine-street, London, E. London, S.W., June 18. — Coal (six months) for the Cancer Hospital, Fulham-road. Forms from the secretary. London, S.E., June 20.—Coal for North Surrey District School, Anerley. Forms from H. J. Chaldecott, 19, Edgware-road, London, W. Loughton (Essex), June 30. — Coal and coke for the Essex Education Committee. Particulars from H. J. Goodwin, Education Office, High-road, Loughton. Maidenhead, June 12.—200 tons of steam coal and 200 tons house coal for the Guardians. Particulars from the clerk, Park-street. Meriden (Coventry), June 12. — Coal for the Guar- dians. Forms from the clerk, 11, Priory-street, Coventry. Napsbury (St. Albans), June 16.—4,000 tons (or less) large hard steam coal, 800 tons large screened house coal, and 800 tons gas coke, for Middlesex County Asylum, Napsbury. Forms from the clerk to the visitors. Narborough (Leicester), June IT.—Coal for the Guar- dians. Forms from the clerk, 1, Friar-lane, Leicester. Neath, June 19. — 8,000 tons of gas coal for the Gas Committee. No forms. Particulars from the manager, Gas.Works, Neath. Newport (Mon.), June 19. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Queen’s-hill. North Cheam, June 12.—Coal for Croydon and District Joint Smallpox Hospital Board. Forms from the clerk, Town Hall, Croydon. Norwich, June 11. —Coal for the Guardians of St. Faith’s. Forms from the clerk, 1, Redwall-street, Norwich. Oakham, June 30.—Coal and coke for Schools. Parti- culars from the County Education Office, Oakham. Oldham, June 18.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the master, Poor Law Institution. Oxford, June 30. —-500 tons of coal for the Oxford Education Committee. Tenders to the town clerk Town Hall. ; Paddington, June 25.—Coal and coke (12 months) for the Borough Council. Forms from the town clerk. Portsmouth, June 13. — Coal and coke for the Royal Sailors’ Home, Portsmouth. Forms from the manager. Ripon, June 19.—5,000 tons of coal or nuts for Corpora- tion Gas Works. Particulars from the manager. Romford, June 19. — Coal for the Isolation Hospital. Forms from the clerk, 16a, South-street, Romford. Salford, June 13.—About 6,300 tons best screened fur- nace coal and 25 tons best house coal for the Corporation. Particulars from the borough engineer, Town Hall. Salisbury, June 15.—220 tons Derby cobbles and 200 tons coke for Salisbury Infirmary. Forms from the secre- tary. Salisbury, June 20.—120 tons best house coal and 300 tons Welsh steam coal (smokeless) for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, Crown Chambers, Salisbury. Shipston-on-Stour, June 16.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from W. E. Coe, clerk. Southwark, June 14.—Coal and coke (three, six, or 12 months) for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, 50-51, Ufford-street, Blackfriars, London, S.E. Spilsby, June 13.—40 tons best Barrow Silkstone and 60 tons best Bolsover Top Hards for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, Spilsby. Staines, June 21.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from F. Hutchinson, clerk, Ashford, Middlesex. Stockport, June 18.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Shaw Heath, Stockport. Stranorlar (Ireland), June 11. — Eighty tons best double-screened Cumberland coal and 25 tons best Glasgow splint, delivered free at station, Stranorlar, for the Guar- dians. Tenders to the Board-room, Workhouse. Stretford, June 12.—Coal (four months’ supply) for the' Gas Company. Particulars from the engineer, Gas Works, Stretford. Thakeham (Sussex), June 12.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. .Forms from P. Ayling, clerk, Storrington. Woolwich, June 14.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Workhouse, Plumstead. York, June 11.—17,000 tons of coal (beans, pea slack, rough slack, or small peas) for Electricity Committee, delivered free on siding. Tenders to the city electrical engineer. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, &c. Dublin, June 16.—Stores. — Iron bolts, nuts, engine packing, wagon covers, cast and spring steel, shovels, coal baskets, etc., for the Cavan and Leitrim Railway Com- pany. Forms from the secretary, 19-20, Fleet-street, Dublin. Keighley, June 12.—Castings.—Iron castings. Par- ticulars from the borough engineer. Manchester, June 12.—Stores.—Bolts, brass castings, iron, steel, lead, packing, pickshafts, pitch, creosote, etc., for the Gas Department. Forms from the superintendent, Gas Department, Town Hall. OBITUARY. Mr. R. H. Shearer, secretary of the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company Limited, who has died after a somewhat prolonged illness, at the age of 33 years, had been in the service of the company for several years, coming to it from the Cramlington Collieries some years ago. The death took place on May 31, at Algiers, where he had resided for some time, of Mr. William Orme Johnson, mining engineer, of the Abram Coal Company Limited, near Wigan. Mr. Johnson, who was 64 years of age, was well known and highly respected in Lancashire coal trade circles. From 1893 to 1895 he held the presidency of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Owners’ Association, and was also vice-president of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Owners’ Defence Association. Lance-Corpl. F. Rodriguez, Durham Light Infantry, who has been killed in action, was the only son of Mr. Manuel Rodriguez, of the Newcastle coal exporting firm of Messrs. Downing, Rodriguez and Company. National Gas Council of Great Britain and Ireland.— The executive committee’s report states that the committee had taken every opportunity to urge the adoption, where- ever possible, of the system of washing gas with oil for the production of benzol and toluol. This action had been much appreciated by the Ministry of Munitions. It was satisfactory to know that there had been a substantial increase in the number of oil washing plants in use the past few months. Numerous representations had been made to the Board of Trade relative to difficulties caused by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. A deputation to the Board of Trade protested against the application of certain Northumberland collieries for an increase in the standard price. The increase had not been granted. It was suggested that the gas industry should be represented on the Coal Advisory Committee. This was not conceded, but the committee were promised that they would be con- sulted on any matter affecting the interests of the industry. Subject to power of cancellation by the Coal Controller, coal contracts were now allowed for the usual periods, instead of the proposed three months. The council had received a Government request for an increased use of water gas, and also for an increased use of unscreened coal. Negotiations with the Ministry for an advance in the price of benzol and toluol (on account of the higher cost of production) were unsuccessful. The question of the market for benzol after the war was receiving the careful attention of the executive committee, who hoped shortly to publish a standard specification for benzol as a motor spirit. Replies to enquiries showed that the industry was not yet in a position to decide on a course relative to co-operative distillation by gas undertakings. Suggestions were under consideration regarding profit-sharing arrangements with a combination of tar distillers. A committee had been appointed to deal with proposals for the better utilisation of gas in order to reduce the consumption of coal. A com- munication regarding original research on behalf of the gas industry and the general question of education after the war had been sent to the Board of Education. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Canadian General Electric Company Limited.—Quarterly dividend of 2 per cent, for three months to June 30, being at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, on common stock, payable July 2. Gwaun-cae-Gurwen Colliery Company Limited. — The directors have decided to pay an interim dividend for the half-year ended March 31 at the rate of 7^ per cent, per annum, less tax, subject to the consent of the Controller of Coal Mines, to whom application is being made. Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon and Finance Company Limited.—The net profit for the year ended March 31, including the amount brought forward, was £544,851. The ordinary dividend is 15 per cent.; £150,000 is added to reserve, and £161,264 carried forward. It is proposed to increase the capital to £3,675,000 by creating 1,000,000 new ordinary shares of £1, and that the sum of £1,424,712, form- ing part of the undistributed profit and reserve funds of the company, be capitalised by the distribution among the holders of the ordinary shares at the rate of one such new ordinary share for every one ordinary share of the com- pany held by them, and that the directors may offer at par 150,576 new ordinary shares to such of the directors, officials, and employees of the company, and in such pro- portion as the directors may from time to time determine. Midland iron Company Limited.—The directors announce an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum (Is. per share), free of tax. Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited. — The report for 1916 states that the liability under the Finance Acts is not yet ascertained, and until this and other minor finan- cial questions are adjusted, the position cannot be defi- nitely determined. A very satisfactory revenue has been derived from overseas investments. Being satisfied that the profits when finally adjusted will permit of it, the directors recommend a final dividend of 10 per cent, and a bonus of 5 per cent., both free of tax, on the ordinary, making 15 per cent, for the year, in addition to the bonus. Pease and Partners Limited. — The report for the year ended April 30 states that the working profit, after pro- viding for special taxation, income tax, etc., is £490,149, which with the undivided profit of the previous year makes £573,390. The directors recommend dividends of 25s. per share on the ordinary shares, and 25s. per share on the deferred shares, making, with the interim dividends, 17-J> per cent, for the year on both classes of shares, carrying- forward an undivided profit of £94,839. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in arriving at the company’s liability for special taxation under the Government’s various war measures. The demand for coals, coke, and limestone has been good throughout the year; in the case of ironstone, during the earlier months the demand was not sufficient to absorb even the reduced output, but recently the demand has been fully equal to the supply. Whitehaven Hematite Iron and Steel Company Limited. —The profits for the year ended March 31 were £20,900, after providing for liability under the Finance and Muni- tions Act. It is proposed to add to the depreciation account £7,000, and to the reserve £2,150. An interim dividend of 4 per cent, has been‘paid, and a final dividend of 7 per cent, is proposed. NEW COMPANIES. British Haematite Iron Mines Limited. — Private com pany. Registered office, 30, Bush-lane, London. Regis- tered May 26. To acquire any mines, mining rights, and metalliferous land in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Capital, £1,000 in 10,000 2s. shares. Director: H. E. Oldham. Fulwood Steamship Company Limited. — Registered office, 52, Gracechurch-street, London, E.C. To carry on the business of ship owners, dealers in coal and other pro- duce, etc. Capital, £19,200 in 16,000 preference shares of £1 and 64,000 deferred shares of Is. each. Directors: S. W. Oakley, H. E. Borradaile, and F. Christopher. Qualification, £100. Garallan Coal Company Limited. — Private company. Capital, £30,000 in £1 shares. Subscribers: Alexander Agnew, coal master, Glasgow; and Charles E. Allan, engi- neer, Belfast. Sandberg Sorbitic Steel Company Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered office, Palace Chambers, 9, Bridge- street, Westminster. Registered May 18. To acquire Letters Patents, brevets d’invention, concessions, etc. Capital, £25,000 in 24,500 £1 preference shares and 10,000 Is. ordinary shares. Directors: C. P., C. F. A., and N. P. P. Sandberg, and P. Wheeler. Simpson Trust Limited.—Private company. Registered May 23. To carry on business of iron founders, mechani- cal engineers, etc. Capital, £1,000 in £1 shares. Directors: W. S. Simpson and D. N. Blair. Vivian (H. C.) and Company Limited. — Private com pany. Registered May 25. To carry on all or any of the trades or businesses of colliery owners, coal and coke and fuel merchants, and factors, etc. Capital, £50,000 in 5,000 £10 shares. Director, F. R. Cratchley. 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. Recovering Coal from the Sea.—A report from Copen- hagen states that at Nyberg, in the Great Belt, divers are at work endeavouring to recover a cargo of 1,200 tons of coal from the bottom of the sea, where it has lain for nearly 35 years, having sunk with the steamer “Dorka.” Only the present high price of coal justifies the attempt to recover the coal, which is known to be quite fit for use. Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau.—By direction of the War Cabinet, Dr. Addison, the Minister of Munitions, has made arrangements for the appointment of an Inter-Depart- mental Committee to prepare a scheme for the establishment in London of an Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau (a) to collect information in regard to the mineral resources and metal requirements of the Empire, and (b) to advise what action, if any, may appear desirable to enable such resources to be developed and made available to meet requirements. The Committee consists of Sir James Stevenson, Bart, (chairman), Mr. C. L. Budd, Sir A. Duckham, K.C.B., Prof. W. R. Dunstan, C.M.G., Mr. C. W. Fielding, Mr. J. F. N. Green, Right Hon. Lord Islington, G.C.M.G., Mr. L. J. Kershaw, C.I.E., Sir T. Mackenzie, K.C.M.G., Hon. Sir G. H. Perley, K.C.M.G., Mr. W. S. Robinson, Right Hon. W. P. Schreiner, C.M.G., K.C. The secretary is Mr. Oswald C. Allen, Ministry of Munitions, Whitehall-place, S.W. 1.