138 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN January 18, 1918. MILITARY SERVICE BILL, 1918. The following is the text of the Military Service Bill, 1918, introduced by Sir Auckland Geddes on Monday. The Bill is backed by Mr. Bonai* Law, Mr. Hayes Fisher, the Solicitor-General, and Mr. Beck :— A Bill to repeal subsection (3) of section three of the Military Service Act, 1916, and to provide for the cancellation of certificates of exemption from military service granted on occupational grounds. k j Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:— 1. Subsection (3) of section three of the Military Service Act, 1916, as amended by section six of the Military Service Act, 1916 (Session 2), is hereby repealed, and accordingly the Military Service Acts, 1916 and 1917, shall, as respects any man whose certificate of exemption for any reason ceases or has ceased (whether before or after the passing of this Act) to be in force, have effect as though the provisions repealed by this section were not included in those Acts. 2. —(1) The Director-General of National Service may at any time by order withdraw any certificate of exemption from military service to which this section applies as from such date, not being less than fourteen days after the date of the order, as may be specified in the order, and as from that date any certificate to which the order applies shall cease to be in force. (2) This section applies to any certificate of exemp- tion from the provisions of the Military Service Acts, 1916 and 1917, whether granted before or after the passing of this Act, and whether granted by a tribunal or under the authority of a Government Department, where the certificate was granted on occupational grounds, and also applies to any certificate so granted on such grounds to a man who has voluntarily attested, notwithstanding that the certificate has not statutory force. (3) An order under this section may be made applicable either to individual certificates, or to certi- ficates granted to any class or body of men specified in the order (whether or not dependent on the obtaining by those men of individual certificates), and as respects any class or body of men may be made applicable only to men falling within such limits of age or fulfilling such other conditions as may be specified in the order, and may contain such exceptions and supplemental provisions as the Director-General thinks fit. An order under this section may be revoked, extended, or varied, by a further order of the Director-General, as occasion requires. (4) Where and so long as an order under this section is in force, then (a) no application shall be entertained for the grant of a certificate, and no certificate shall be granted, where the certificate, if it had been operative at the time at which the order was made, would have come ■ within the terms of the order; and (b) no application shall be made by or in respect of a man whose certificate comes within the terms of the order for the renewal of the certificate except on grounds which are not occupational, or for the grant of any certificate on occupational grounds. (5) For the purposes of this section a certificate shall be deemed to have been granted on occupational grounds which was granted wholly or partly on any of the grounds specified in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section Two of the Military Service Act, 1816, or (in the case of voluntarily attested men) on any similar grounds or which in either case was granted by or under the authority of any Government Department; and if any question arises whether a certificate was granted on occupational grounds, the question shall be referred to the Director-General, whose decision thereon shall be final. 3. This Act may be cited as the Military Service Act, 1918, and the Military Service Acts, 1916 and 1917, and this Act shall be construed together and may be cited together as the Military Service Acts, 1916 to 1918. THE FREIGHT MARKET. Even the few fixtures arranged in the outward chartering market during the previous week were in considerable excess of those arranged during the week under review, for the latest list is almost near zero. Thus, on the north-east coast, the only business reported is a fixture for Trouville at scheduled figures, and three for Swedish ports, which latter have been arranged at 182^ kr. to Gothenburg (a rate which shows a little greater firmness in that direction), and from 195 kr. to 197^ kr. to Stockholm, an advance of 2^ kr. on the week. Orders for most neutral destinations are plentiful, but the scarcity of tonnage, which has been added to by the very severe spell of winter, prevents the acceptance by ship owners of the highly-tempting prices on offer for cargo space. The Spanish Mediterranean is quoted at 180s. for Bilbao or Santander from-the Tyne, Portugal is represented by 115s. to Lisbon and 125s.. to Oporto, the coaling stations by 100s. to Gibraltar and 200s. to Port Said, and the Spanish Mediterranean by 300s. to Barce- lona. In none of these directions has any chartering been done in recent weeks, and the rates are therefore nominal. When tested by actual transactions, they may be found to be “ out of it ” to some extent. At Cardiff, the only busi- ness done other than for French Atlantic ports has been the taking up of a 5,000-fon vessel for Huelva at 220s., and a vessel of similar capacity for Gibraltar at 100s. Exporters to neutral countries find it practically impossible to secure tonnage. At other South Welsh ports the position is similar. A vessel, stated at 800 tons only, is reported to have been chartered at Liverpool for a voyage with coals to Barcelona at the exceedingly high figure of 410s. Homewards, the River Plate is dull, and the rate of 200s., which is said to be the ruling figure for shipment to the United Kingdom, shows a decline of 20s. on the week. At the United States, coal freights from Virginia to the River Plate are unaltered. On net form, the Northern Range to West Italy continues quoted at 360s., with 260s. for French Atlantic discharge. On Committee account, for heavy grain, the Range to the United Kingdom or French Atlantic is steady, at 50s., with 75s. quoted for the Mediter- ranean. At the Far East, Haiphong-Saigon to.France with rice is steady, at 500s. Madras Coast to Marseilles with kernels remains at 550s. Bombay to West Italy on d.w. is mentioned at up to 440s., which, if correct, indicates an advance of 40s. on the week. Kurrachee to the United Kingdom on scale is firm, at 250s. There is a keen demand for tonnage at the Mediterranean and Bay ore ports, and fully recent figures are on offer. Tyne to Gothenburg, 2,000, 182|kr., option Stockholm, 197^ kr.; and Trouville, 600, 75s., pitch. Cardiff to Bayonne, 700, 37s., Allied; Caen, 900, 48s., neutral; Gibraltar, 5,000, 100s.; Huelva, 5,000, 220s.; Nantes, 550, 600, and 700, 30s., Allied; and Rouen, 1,300, 1,400, 1,570, and 1,600, 48s. 9d., neutral. Swansea to Havre, 1,200 and 1,300, 45s. 9d., neutral; Rouen, 1,500 and 1,570, 48s. 9d., neutral; and Tonnay Charente, 1,500, 63s., neutral. Blyth or Wear to Stockholm, 1,700, 195 kr. Liverpool to Barcelona, 800, coal, 410s., Jan. Wear to Gothenburg, 1,800, 182^ kr. Later. — Since the above was written, the following fixtures have been reported:— Tyne to Gibraltar, 5,000, 100s.; and North France, 650, 75s., pitch. Cardiff to Gibraltar, 2,000, 100s.; and Rouen,. 1,200, 48s. 9d., neutral. Glasgow to Barcelona, 2,000, 400s. 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. Neston (Cheshire), January 30.—About 400 tons slack burgie or coal for the Council Waterworks. Forms from the surveyor, Town Hall, Neston. Sleaford, January 25.—250 tons of best hard steam coal (six months) for the Urban District Council. Particulars from the clerk, 27, Carre-street, Sleaford. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, Ac. Madrid, March 22.—Railway.—Secondary railway from Villaodrid to Villafranca del Bierzo-. Estimated cost, 51,165,079 pesetas. Tenders to Direccion-General de Obras Publicas, Ministerio de Fomento, Madrid. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Dundee Coal Company Limited. — Dividend of 10 per cent. Head, Wrightson and Company Limited.—Interim divi- dend of 5 per cent., the same as a year ago. Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company Limited. — The directors have decided to pay an interim dividend of Is. on each fully-paid preference and ordinary share, and 4-8d. on each partly-paid preference share. NEW COMPANIES. Appleby (E. G.) and Company Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered January 1. To carry on the business of engineers. Nominal ‘ capital, £30,000 in £1 shares. Directors : E. G. Appleby (Weybridge), G. H. Bentley, W. E. Lee, and C. T. Appleby. Qualification of directors, one share. Hayes Iron and Steel Company Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered January 4. Nature of business indi- cated by title. Nominal capital, £10,000 in £1 shares. Directors : J. S. Penn (Stourbridge), and A. C. Penn. New Cransley Iron and Steel Company Limited.—Private company. Registered January 4. Nature of business indi- cated by title. Nominal capital, £100,000 in £1 shares. Directors : E. C. Keay (Edgbaston), A. T. Keen, and J. F. Pearson. Qualification of directors, 2,500 shares. 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. Effects of German Coal Shortage. — Reports of traffic confusion come from all parts of Germany, the cause being that far too little coal is forthcoming for the railways, tram- ways, manufactures, and domestic purposes. The Con- cillor for Mines informed Press representatives in Berlin, on behalf of the Imperial Coal Office, that even small economies are imperative, the coal supply being impaired “ because less is now sent from the pits owing to labour conditions and the deterioration of machinery, and especi- ally because the railways cannot even carry the coal avail- able.. Thus large deficiencies are occurring in all coal con- suming centres, and from all sides comes an urgent appeal for coal. The restriction of traffic and illumination in the provinces is often worse even than in Berlin/’ Valves and Boiler Mountings: A 75-Year-Old Business. —In recording their 75th year of working, Messrs. J. Hopkinson and Company Limited, patentees and manufac- turers of safety boiler mountings and valves, Britannia Works, Huddersfield, may rightly feel that they have con- tributed in a practical and permanent form to the indus- trial advancement of this country during the long period under notice. The business was founded in 1843 by Mr. Joseph Hopkinson in Fitzwilliam-street. In 1904 the new Britannia Works were built, and they now cover an area exceeding 15 acres, including the recent extension—steel foundry, laboratory, and test house. The firm has always given special attention to the quality of materials and workmanship in connection with their valves and boiler mountings. The earliest of the special safety boiler mount- ings was the compound safety valve for high steam and low water, originally patented in 1852. The modern Duad ” valve embodies the principle of the original com- pound valve, but many improvements in materials and details of construction have been introduced. The parallel slide blow-off valve has been a standard boiler fitting for over 50 years, and the number supplied exceeds 120,000. The “ Hopkinson-Ferranti ” patent steam stop valve was introduced by the firm, and over 30,000 have been manu- factured in all sizes from 4 in. to 24 in. Other well-known valves include the “ Triad ” steam junction valve, and a< series of small valves for varying conditions of pressure and temperature, known as “Mac,” “SPS,” and “Supero.” The company employs 1,600 hands, including about 300 women. After the outbreak of the war, nearly 300 men joined the Colours, and a large number followed their example later. Over 30 have been killed in action. ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS RECENTLY ACCEPTED. 110608. Improvements in Apparatus for Transporting Coal, etc. G. G. Bell, the Borough of Hammersmith Elec- tricity Works, 85, Fulham Palace-road, London, W.—This invention relates to apparatus for transporting coal and other like material, and in particular the small coal that is commonly used for stoking stationary land boilers. Fig. 1 shows the plant in diagrammatic elevation. The plant herein described is one capable of handling a maximum of about 100 tons of coal per hour and transporting it a dis- tance of, say, three-eighths of a mile. At the receiving end a rectangular tank A, hereinafter called the mixing tank, is provided, and above it is arranged an ordinary weighing machine, into which coal is delivered by grabs, which take it from a barge or railway truck, or other source. The weighing machine is not illustrated, but its mouth is shown at B, and delivers the coal on to the centre of a circular revolving table C, revolving about a vertical axis. The table is continuously revolved by any convenient means. The edge of the table overhangs the open mouth of the mixing tank, and scraper plates D are arranged just above the table on adjustable supports E to regulate the quan- tity of coal delivered to the tank. Outside the tank is a centrifugal pump F of the type provided with wide clear- ances to enable solid pieces to pass through it. This pump is provided with a suction pipe G terminating close to the bottom of the mixing tank (it may be arranged as at G1 if desired), and the delivery H is connected directly to an 8 in. pipe line J extending to the delivery station. At the delivery station are two delivery tanks K of any convenient size. Only one of these is shown in the drawing. They may conveniently be about 30 ft. high, circular in plan, and capable of holding from 1,000 to 1,500 tons of slack. w I® The pipe line is connected at its delivery end to two branches, one discharging into one of the delivery tanks, and the other into the other, and the flow through the pipe line is controlled by means of two valves placed one on each of the two delivery branches. In each delivery tank is a perforated vertical pipe L extending from the bottom of the tank to the top, and intended to constitute a sump, into which the water delivered with the coal can percolate, and thus be separated from the coal. The sumps are con- nected to a return pipe line J1, so that the water separated out is returned to the mixing tank A and used again. In order to return the water sufficiently rapidly, a pump M is conveniently provided at the delivery station to drive the water back through the return pipe line. Obviously the water may be allowed to run to waste in those cases where the wastage is unimportant, but whether the water is used again in the mixing tank, or whether fresh water is used there, the delivery of water into the mixing tank is effected through a pipe J2, which reaches nearly to the bottom of the tank, since the energetic entry of water at this level serves to keep the coal agitated, and to maintain the mix- ture in a suitable condition for transport. Mixtures up to one containing 30 per cent, of coal by volume may be handled by this plant. The discharge through J2 is checked by the valve J4, operated by a float J5, and nor- mally partly closed. Should the level of water fall by reason of failure of coal supply, or otherwise, the float opens the valve J4 more, and so increases the discharge through J2. In order to guard against any reduction of velocity of flow of water in the pipe line which may occur through choking of the pump or suction pipe, or to provide against failure of the return water, an auxiliary water supply is provided by a pump 0, electrically driven and delivering into the delivery pipe J. (Four claims.) 110609. Improvements in the Transport of Coal, etc. G. G. Bell, Borough of Hammersmith Electricity Works, 85, Fulham Palace-road, London, W. — This invention relates to processes and apparatus of the kind intended for the transport from one place to another of coal and other like material by incorporating it with a stream of liquid. The said other like material is of like general physical character with coal, but is not necessarily of similar com- bustible or insoluble properties. The present invention is of a process of the kind above defined, consisting in first producing a flowing stream of water or other liquid past the receiving point to the delivery point, and then adding the said material in a continuous flow at a predetermined rate to the said liquid stream as it flows. The terms •“receiving point” and “delivery point” are herein employed to denote respectively the point from which and the point to which the material is to be moved. This invention further provides a plant for carrying out the said process characterised by the provision therein of means to add the solid material to the stream automatically and at a predetermined rate. Where the stream is contained in a pipe line, this invention provides a feed chamber fitted with an inlet and an outlet valve, so as to constitute a liquid lock through which the material is delivered into the pipe line. Further, and preferably, there is also provided an automatic feed regulator, which is submerged in the liquid circuit, but outside the line of flow. (Six claims.) 110708. Improvements in Apparatus for Tipping Wagons. Simon-Carves Limited and W. Gracie, 20, Mount- street, Manchester.—This invention has special reference to apparatus comprising a tipping platform or bridge whereon a wagon is run, and which is raised to tip the wagon and lowered by screw and nut mechanism. The accompanying drawing illustrates one form of apparatus embodying the invention, fig. 1 being an elevation of the apparatus, and fig. 2 a transverse section thereof. Referrin<’- to the drawing, a is the platform or bridge hinged at one end at b, and whereon the wagon is run. Below the free end of the platform or bridge a is arranged a screwed rod c adapted to be rotated by a suitably driven shaft d and bevel gearing e, or otherwise suitably. The rod c is mounted in a bearing / depending from supporting girders g, to which it is pivoted at h in line with the shaft d. On the