450

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

March 1, 1918.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.

REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Limited.—Dividend, including a bonus of 5 per cent., at
the rate of 15 pei’ cent, per annum.

Bristol and South Wales Railway Wagon Company
Limited.—The report for the year ended December 31 last
states that, including £3,724 brought forward, the net
profit is £19,155. Out of this an interim dividend at the
rate of 10 per cent, per annum was paid on August 18 last,
absorbing £7,500, and leaving a disposable balance of
£11,655. The directors recommend the payment of a
further dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum,
making 10 per cent, for the year, less income tax, leaving
£4,155 to be carried forward. The contingent fund stands
at £65,000.

Cardiff Collieries Company Limited.—Final dividend of
15 per cent., making 20 per cent, for the past year.

Cortonwoocf Collieries Company Limited. — Further
interim dividend of Is. per £1 share, free of tax.

Dalmellington Iron Company Limited. — The directors
recommend an interim dividend of 3s. 9d. per share, free
of tax, on the ordinary shares, which compares with 5s.
per share a year ago.

Fernhill Collieries Company Limited.—Interim dividend
on the preference shares for the past half-year at the rate
of 7 per cent, per annum.

Fife Coal Company Limited.—The report for the year
ended December 31 states that the sum at credit of profit
and loss, including £126,397 brought forward, after deduc-
tion for depreciation of works and plant, payment of
interest on debentures, making an addition to the reserve
fund, etc., amounts to £345,717, less interim dividends paid
September 1, £69,054, leaving £276,664. The directors
recommend a further dividend of 17j per cent, on the ordi-
nary shares, making 25 per cent, for the year to
December 31, free of tax, absorbing £142,846, and to carry
forward £125,984. An agreement governing the financial
interests of the collieries was negotiated between the Con-
troller and the Mining Association of Great Britain.

Hawthorn (R. and W.), Leslie and Company Limited.—
The report for the year ending June 30 last states that,
after making an allowance of £36,187 for depreciation and
for leasehold redemption fund, and paying all interest and
other charges, and after making provision for war taxation,
there remains £181.023. The directors recommend interim
dividend of 5s. per share, free of tax, and a further divi-
dend of 15s. per share, free of tax, also a bonus of 5s. per
share, free of tax (the foregoing recommendations were
approved by the shareholders at general meeting on
September 10, 1917), setting aside for future extensions
and improvements of plant, etc. (making, with the balance
brought forward, a total of £60,000), £8,008, and adding to
reserve £80,000, carrying forward £33,302.

Insoles Limited. — The directors have declared interim
dividends at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, less tax,
on the ordinary shares, and at the rate of 6 per cent, per
annum on the preference shares, less tax, for the half-
year ended December 31. A year ago the dividends were
at the same rate.

Lanarkshire Steel Company Limited.—The report for the
year ended December 31 states that, after making allow-
ances for depreciation, excess profits duty, and contin-
gencies, there remains a balance of profit of £51,367, which
added to £38,279 brought forward, makes a total of
£89,645. After appropriating £2,500 for directors’ fees,
free of tax, the directors recommend a dividend of 10 per
cent, on the ordinary shares for the year ended December 31
last, subject to tax, carrying forward £56,040. The
accounts for 1915, 1916, and 1917 have not yet been
adjusted with the Inland Revenue authorities.

Merry and Cuninghame Limited—Year’s net revenue of
this Scottish coal and iron company, £111,061 (against
£128,713). Depreciation, £17,722; income tax, £15,000;
dividend of 10 per.cent., the same; forward, £32,614,
against £113,264.

New Monckton Collieries Limited.—The directors have
declared an interim dividend of Is. per share, free of tax.
on the ordinary shares, payable March 1, the same as last
year.

Normanby Iron Works Company Limited.—Interim divi-
dend of 5 per cent.—same as a year ago.

North's Navigation Collieries (1889) Limited.—The
directors recommend a final dividend of 12^ per cent, on
the ordinary shares, making 20 per cent, for 1917.

Staveley Coal and Iron Company Limited.—The accounts
for'the year ended June 30 show a net profit, including
£5,018 brought forward, of £322,641. The directors recom-
mend a further dividend of 10 per cent., making 15 per
cent, for the vear (the same as last year), carrying forward
£7,591.

Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Limited. — The
directors announce that they are unable to issue the annual
report and accounts until later, and they have therefore
decided to postpone holding the annual meeting until their
report and the accounts can be issued in the usual form.
The directors are nevertheless satisfied that profits for the
year ended December 31 last are such as will justify them
in paying a further dividend of 2£ per cent, on the pre-
ference shares, less income tax, and a further dividend of
10 per cent, on the ordinary shares, free of income tax.

Wigan Coal and Iron Company Limited.—The directors
announce" that in consequence of obligations under the
Finance. Munitions of War, and Coal Control Acts for
excess profits duty, munitions levy, and coal control not
having been determined, they are unable to present at the
usual time complete balance-sheets for the years ended
December 31, 1916, and December 31, 1917. They con-
sider, however, that profits available will justify a further
dividend of 6 per cent., tax free, which will make 10 per
cent, for 1917, tax free. The usual reports and balance-
sheets will be presented at the ordinary general meeting
to be called at a later date.

Witbank Colliery Company Limited. — The directors
announce a dividend (No. 26) for the six months ending
February 28 of 12^ per cent. (2s. 6d. per share).

Yorkshire Coal and Steam Shipping Company Limited.
—This company, which was formed last year to
succeed the Goole and West Riding Steam Shipping Com-
pany, has issued a report for the. half-year ended
December 31, which shows that profit amounted to £3,032,
after providing for all liabilities, including excess profits
tax and incom'e tax. The directors place £1,000 to depre-
ciation of steamers, and recommend a dividend of 12^ per
cent., which will absorb £2,500, leaving £273 to be carried
forward.

NEW COMPANIES.

Dent (H. Llewellyn) Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered office, Hadyn Park Works, Shepherd’s Bush, W.
Registered February 18. To carry on the business of con-
structional, electrical, mechanical, and general engineers,
etc. Nominal capital, £50,000 in 30,000 £1 preference
shares and 20,000 £1 ordinary shares. Directors : F.
Young and H. L. Dent.

Halliwell Furnace and Engineering Company Limited.—
Private company. Registered office, 28, Victoria-street,
Westminster. Registered February 20. Nature of busi-
ness indicated by the title. Nominal capital, £2,000 in £1
shares. Directors: G. H. Halliwell, R. E. Smart, and ope
other. Qualification of directors, 100 shares.

Harris (F. W.) (Birmingham) Limited .—Private com-
pany. Registered February 20. To carry on the business
of engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £20,000 in £1 shares.
Directors : F. W. Harris, H. E. Grantham, G. D. Nelson,
P. A. Bason, and W. II. Robson. Qualification of
directors, 100 shares.

Mee, Billing and Partners Limited.—Private company.
Registered office, 37, Lime-street, London, E.C. Regis-
tered February 18. To carry on the business of wire, tin-
plate, and metal manufacturers and merchants, etc.
Nominal capital. £10,000 in 5,000 £1 ordinary shares and
5,000 £1 preference shares. Directors: W. A. Steams,
Minnie Steams, and J. A. Ells.

Rickerby Limited.—Private company. Registered office,
situated in Carlisle. Registered February 21. To
carry on the business of engineers, etc. Nominal capital,
£6,000 in £1 ordinary shares. Directors: J. and A. J.
Rickerby. Qualification of directors, 250 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.

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS.

Any of the following publications may be obtained
on application at this office at the price named post free.

The Trading with the Enemy (Statutory List) Proclama-
tion, together with the Consolidated Statutory List of
Persons and Firms in Countries, other than Enemy
Countries, with whom Persons and Firms in the United
Kingdom are Prohibited from Trading. Complete to
February 1, 1918. Price 8d.

Third Report from the Select Committee on National
Expenditure. Price l|d.

Coal Mines Control Agreement (Confirmation) Act, 1918.
Price 3d.

Colonial Reports (Annual) : (No. 952), Leeward Islands,
Report for 1916-17. Price 3d. (London : Published by
H.M. Stationery Office).

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

“ Concrete Cottages, Small Garages, and Farm Buildings ”
(edited by Albert Lakeman, M.S.A., M.C.I.) (published
by Concrete Publications Limited, 4, Catherine-street,
Aldwych, W.C. 2); “The Annual Report of the Sydney
Chamber of Commerce (Incorporated)” (compiled by the
secretary); “Transactions of the North-East Coast
Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders ” (Vol. 34,
Part 2), February 1918, price 5s.; “ Bulletin of the
British Chamber of Commerce for Italy (Incorporated)”
(Vol. 5, No. 8), October-December 1917; “Journal of
the Royal Statistical Society ” (Vol. 81, Part 1),
January 1918 (London: Royal Statistical Society, 9,
Adelphi-terrace, Strand, W.C. 2), price 5s.; “Bulletin
of the Imperial Institute” (Vol. 15, No. 2). July-
September 1917 (London: John Murray, Albemarle-
street, W. 1), price 2s. 6d. net; “Transactions of the
Institution of Mining Engineers” (Vol. 53, Part 5),
February 1918. price 6s.; “The Institution of Mining
Engineers—List of Members, Year 1916-1917 ” (London :
Published at the Offices of the Institution, Albany
Buildings, 39. Victoria-street, S.W. 1); “University of
Illinois Bulletin—The Collapse of Short Thin Tubes,” by
A. P. Carman, price 20c.

Underground Haulage.—Prof. Dobson, in his presiden-
tial address to the South African Institute of Electrical
Engineers, referring to the plight of low-grade mines, men-
tioning that the institute would undertake in the present
year the investigation of underground haulage methods, in
view of the possibility of improvement in many cases. He
also emphasised the fact that there was no reason why the
Union’s tar requirements should not he provided for from
South African coals.

Institute of Metals.—The annual general meeting of the
institute will be held on March 13 (commencing at 8 p.m.)
and on March 14 (commencing at 4 p.m.), in Burlington
House, Piccadilly, London, W. Prof. H. C. H. Carpenter
is the president-designate. The papers to be submitted
deal with “ The Relationship Between Hardness and Con-
stitution in the Copper Rich Aluminium-Copper Alloys,”
by Mr. J. Neill Greenwood; “ Aluminium Bronze Die Cast-
ing,” by Mr. H. Whitaker and Mr. H. Rix; and “An
Investigation on Unsound Castings of Admiralty Bronze
(80: 10: 2) : Causes and the Remedy,” by Prof. Carpenter.
A note “ On Grain Size.” by Mr. G. H. Gulliver, and
another on “ Lead-Tin-Antimony Alloys,” by Mr. O. W.
Ellis, also appear in the agenda.

Germany and Coal Production.—An increase in the tax
on the production of coal is engaging the attention of the
German Government. It is reported that the West-
phalian Coal Syndicate proposes to raise prices on April 1,
and negotiations on the matter are now proceeding. The
last increase was made on October 1, when coal was
advanced by 2s. 5d. per ton, coke by 3s. 7J,d., and
briquettes by 2s. 6d. The prices in the Saxony district
have just been raised by 2s. to 3s. per ton; whilst the
Upper Silesian Coal Convention has advanced quotations
by 2s. 6d. per ton for export only. As a result of the
peace concluded with the Ukraine, attention is being
directed to the possibility of an exchange of German
manufactures for raw products in the Donetz district. It
it pointed out that in 1911 (exclusive of Poland) the
Donetz district produced 89 per cent, of the total output
of coal in Russia, and 72 per cent, of the iron ore.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

102507. I mprovements in the Manufacture of Refractory
Materials, etc. N. Lecesne, 182, Rue de Rivoli, Paris.—
Refractory material containing bauxite in such a proportion
that there is present in it about 60 per cent, alumina to
33 pei’ cent, silica, approaches the composition of proto-
silicate of alumina, and forms products which effectively
resist the action of cinders and chemical reactions, but
which cannot withstand sudden changes of temperature.
In order to overcome this difficulty it has been suggested
to increase the proportion of alumina in the refractory
material. Then, however, the material exhibits a progres-
sive and considerable shrinkage when exposed to high
temperatures, the degree of the shrinkage being propor-
tional to the richness of the material in alumina. It even
frequently happens that -the portions of the refractory
material most exposed to the heat of the fire are converted
into corundum, whose density is almost double that of the
bauxite, which explains the shrinkage of the alumina con-
tained in the bauxite, even when calcined as much as
possible. The present invention comprises a process for
obtaining fused bauxite : it is based upon the conversion of
a mixture of bauxite and anthracite in suitable proportions
and mixed together sufficiently intimately into carbide of
aluminium, which is burnt as soon as it is formed. The
operation is carried out in a shaft furnace lined with
refractory bricks and into which air is supplied under
pressure. The charge is heated to incandescence at a tem-
perature at which alumino-thermic reactions take place,
and the impurities of the bauxite are eliminated, the
silica in the form of white vapours and the sesqui-oxide
of iron by reduction with the expulsion of iron from the
furnace and the formation of magnetic oxide. When all
the bauxite has been fused the blast is continued to burn
up the excess of anthracite and coal the mass which then
only requires to be removed from the furnace. Finally,
the corundum obtained is ground and agglomerated, pre-
ferably with finely ground raw bauxite, and then baked.
(Six claims.)

111714. Improvements in Pumps. Walter McGee and
Son Limited, Albion Works, Paisley, and A. G. Walls,
St. Clair, Greenlaw Avenue, Paisley.—This invention
relates to piston pumps of the type having a valve mounted
coaxially with the piston or pistons and movable on an
extension of the piston under the action of the fluid pres-
sure or frictional grip on the extension. According to the
invention, the arrangement is such that the inlet port or
ports is or are covered and uncovered by the piston or
pistons and the%outlet port or ports is or are formed in a
stationary part and covered and uncovered by the valve.
The invention is more particularly described as embodied,
in a pump for delivering lubricating oil in an aeroplane
engine. The pump is contained in an oil chamber, the
drive being taken from a shaft which passes through the
chamber and carries a worm which meshes with a worm
wheel mounted on an internal shaft. The worm wheel
shaft may be a crank shaft or may carry one or more
eccentric discs capable of imparting reciprocating move-
ments to the pump pistons, for example, through the inter-
mediary of a connecting rod. The pump cylinder, which
is provided with inlet and outlet ports for the oil to be
pumped, is of sufficient length to receive two (or more)
pistons, between which is mounted the valve, which is
confined to reciprocate in a recess in the cylinder, the
recess being of slightly larger diameter than the rest of
the cylinder. (Three claims.)

111801. Improvements in Regenerative Coke Ovens.
D. Bagley, 92, Victoria Street, Westminster.—This inven-
tion relates to horizontal coke ovens, equipped with
vertical heating flues, in which the air for combustion is
heated in regenerators prior to its admission to the heating
flues. Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section partly
through the vertical axis of the coking chamber and partly
through the vertical axis of the heating flues. Fig. 2
represents a transverse section of the oven and through the
vertical axis of the cpking chamber and the air and waste
gases flues. The principle of the invention is as follows :—

41

8 ■

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Cold air for combustion is admitted through the valve t,
and is drawn into a distributing flue n, situated beneath
the refractory checker work contained within the regener-
ator s1. The upper arch of the distributing flue n is
provided with a series of graduated openings or ducts j
diminishing in the direction of the air inlet from the
opposite side of the regenerator, and increasing in the
reverse direction. The air, being gradually preheated,
flows upwards, and in a fully heated condition passes into
the regenerator duct contained within the division wall
dividing two of the heating flues. Passage into the heating
flue is effected by two superimposed subsidiary ducts r'
and r2. The heating gases are admitted into two tapered
canals m, situate below the sole of the oven, one being
shown, and from thence are distributed uniformly into all
the heating flues by the controlling nozzles p provided
with an opening of cross sectional area sufficient for the
service of the heating flue, and finally pass through the
series of nozzles o1 situate in the base of the flue. The
complete combustion of the gases is prevented in the
vicinity of the bases of the flue, and the zone of combus-
tion is graduated and extended by admitting a part only of
the air for combustion through the subsidiary duct r’, and
the remainder necessary to complete the combustion of the
heating gases through' the subsidiary duct r2. The pro-
ducts of combustion flow upwards, and after imparting
their useful heat to the whole of the side wall of the
coking chamber, all the heating flues adjacent the
side wall of the coking chamber being fired simultaneously
in an upward direction, pass upwards through the sub-
sidiary ducts r1 and r into the regenerator duct and from
thence are admitted to the base of upper regenerator s. The
refractory checker work of the upper regenerator s absorbs
the useful heat of the products of combustion. In order to