March 22, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 601 are the only kind likely to furnish the large angular grains, the presence of which in the inpalpable powder seems to be essential to the stability of the brick. The microscopic examination of thin sections is a valuable aid to the classification of quartz rock destined for the production of silica bricks. Experiments have yet to prove whether, given equal refractoriness, the preparation of the impalpable powder with a rock other than that which provides the large grains, would produce such a good brick as the paste wholly compounded from the same rock. But it is certain that the manufacture can be improved, by either grinding or baking, or by a judicious combination of both. The elongation of the brick after two hours baking at 1,500 degs. Cent., and the variations in compression strength in the cold, after several heatings at 1,500 de^s., followed by slow coolings, afford some indication of the more or less rapid progress of the internal stresses in the brick, and its consequent degree of instability. SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. No surprise should be caused if another attempt is made by the authorities to cut down the imports of foreign mining timber. Since October the monthly quantity permitted to be imported from abroad amounts to 40,000 tons. Owing to the great exploitation of the home-grown timber trade, the ruthless cutting down of foreign imports has in no wise affected the coal trade. There have been sufficient quantities of mining timber to keep collieries going. Each succeeding month the tonnage position through various causes has become worse. It is also known that the authorities intend to develop the home- grown trade, and an attempt will undoubtedly be made to cut down all imports other than those of foodstuffs. Concrete substitutes for mining timber are likely to be more generally adopted. Foreign Imports Poor. During the past few days the imports of foreign mining timber have been poor. For the week ended March 15 the total quantity imported amounted to 7,560 loads, of which 476 loads were taken by the Pit wood Committee supplying the Admiralty collieries. The actual consignments were as follow :— Cardiff (Barry and Penarth) :— Date. Consignee. Loads. March 8 Vivian Kelly and Co..... 2,040 „ 11 Morgan and Cadogan.......... 144 „ 11 Lysberg Limited........... 1,320 „ 12 Lysberg Limited............. 300 „ 12 Lysberg Limited........... 1,680 „ 13 Morgan and Cadogan......... 360 „ 14 Lysberg Limited............. 576 „ 15 Vyvyan Kelly and Co......... 1,140 Total.... 7,560 Quotations were at the levels laid down by the Controller on December 19. There are still a few collieries willing to pay higher levels than those indicated by the Controller. Such action is a distinct breach of the Controller’s regu- lations. Merchants have received enquiries for timber from the Midlands. To carry out such transactions is also a breach of the Controller’s scheme, for no mining timber in the South Wales district must be transported to any district outside the zone laid down by the Controller of Mines. Pitwood for Monmouthshire Collieries. The chairman of the Cardiff and Bristol Channel Pit- wood Importers’ Association has again asked merchants supplying Monmouthshire collieries with French timber to ■allow such timber to be discharged at Newport. When wood intended for Monmouthshire collieries is discharged at Cardiff such supplies have to be transported by train to Newport, a distance of 12 miles. Pitwood Importers and the Scheme. In May of last year the Deputy Controller of Import Restrictions laid a scheme before a deputation of South Wales pitwood importers for the importation of foreign mining timber. Under this scheme a limited amount of wood was allowed to be imported each month, and such was divided amongst importers in proportion to their per- centage of trade in the years 1914 and 1915. Abuses in a few cases crept in, but the association is determined to inflict penalties upon those who seek to secure business at the expense of a neighbour. A flagrant case was disposed of last week, and hopes are now entertained of business being conducted in a proper spirit whilst the crisis con- tinues. The incident emanated from an offer of well- known French growers, who desired their agency to be conducted at 6d. per ton commission. The tendency in the trade is towards cohesion, and it would not be surprising after the war if the majority of collieries are supplied through the medium of a syndicate working at low com- mission. Home-grown Timber. Supplies of home-grown wood were upon a good scale. Efforts are being made to stimulate deliveries, and wood which has been lying about for some time is now trans- ported to the collieries. The Monmouthshire and South Wales Coalowners’ Pitwood Association largely increased its cutting and deliveries recently. Canal Traffic.—An important meeting has been held this week in connection with the Canals and Waterways Control Committee. A deputation, headed by the City Remem- brancer, and convened by the Corporation of the City of London, waited upon the committee, and strongly urged the importance of the whole question, and that immediate steps be taken, even during the war, so that immediately peace is declared the whole navigable system might be put into operation. New Queensland State Coal Mine.—The Queensland Minister for Mines has decided to proceed as quickly as possible with the development of the Dunstan coal seams, known as the Dawson Valley Coal Mine. The Government has a shaft within a quarter of a mile of the railway line, from which 300 tons of coal are being taken for the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company. The Depart- ment is sinking bores close to the railway line, to determine a site for working the mine, either by tunnelling or a shaft. The width of the coal seam at a depth of 98 ft. is 9 ft. It has been decided to establish a State coal mine on this field. The estimated cost of establishing a plant to raise 500 tons of coal per day will be approx- imately £80,000. Notes from the Coal Fields. [Local Correspondence.] South Wales and Monmouthshire. Coal Controller and Colliery Owners—Merthyr A.s.sv'vs- ments—Chamber of Commerce Nominations—Swansea Harbour Trust—Collieries Reopened. Considerable feeling has been aroused by the Coal Controller’s new “ Direction,” issued on March 16, which ousts the colliery owner’s freedom of dealing with salaries of the higher grades of employees, restricts directors’ fees, interferes with contract powers, forbids closure of even part of a mine, controls wagon hire, and supervises trans- fer of ownership. The limitations to ordinary business freedom, are regarded as most serious, extending even to outlay upon mine development, and the erection or acqui- sition of buildings or plant. As to these, there must be previous written notice to the Controller. His written authority must be obtained for increase of directors’ fees, or for salary increase to members of the managing, clerical, or administrative staff whose present salary exceeds £250. Moreover, a list is to be furnished showing any such increases as have been made since control was established. Contracts with workpeople or officials must not be terminated (as a result of mine closure) except with authority, and notice must be immediately given of any organised dispute. Even where other Government Depart- ments authorise expenditure, this “ must not be regarded as in any way committing the Controller to approval.” It was decided by the Merthyr Assessment Committee on Saturday that the whole of the properties in their area should be re-valued, except those of Guest, Keen and Co., and of Hills Plymouth. Cardiff Chamber of Commerce nominations for the forth- coming year show that Mr. T. J. Callaghan (Gueret’s) will occupy the post of president, with Mr. W. R. Hann (Powell Duffryn) as one of the vice-presidents. The retiring president—Sir T. Watson (Pyman, Watson and Company) has served in the office for four years, dealing with the complicated and very difficult conditions of the trade during the war period, greatly to the satisfaction of his colleages. The colliery salesmen met on Friday of last week in Cardiff Exchange Building to discuss further the pro- visions of the new Direction relating to allocation of coal orders. It was decided that a committee of 12 should be appointed—six from Cardiff, three from Newport, and three from Swansea—to meet the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committee, and arrange details of procedure with that authority. The annual statement to Swansea Harbour Trust by Mr. Phillips, the general manager, shows that coal and coke exports for the year declined by 685,000 tons, and patent fuel by 36,600. The traffic which passed over the railways of the Harbour Trust amounted to 4,782,502 tons, as against 5,106,562 tons in 1916. The new Cwm pit of the Great Western Colliery Com- pany opens out a most valuable area. It was stated by Mr. Hugh Bramwell, at the shareholders’ meeting in Bristol, that as many as 41 seams have been penetrated, and that nine of them were thick and suitable for working. Most of these seams are, of course, unimportant and value- less, but it is evident that the property, which is situated near Llantwit Vardre, has a great future. Two of the seams are being worked, and the company now has (including the older collieries) a total taking of 6,500 acres. The Cwm Colliery is designed for an output of 750,000 tons, but as yet does not approach that quantity, the year’s output having been only 31,000 tons. Two of the collieries in South Wales which were tem- porarily closed, have been reopened—the Milfraen Pit of the Blaenavon Company having resumed work on Friday of last week under the new arrangement whereby it will be continued in operation for a month. Meanwhile, arrangements will be made to transfer 250 men to other work, whilst certain areas of the colliery will be set idle and others worked on double shift, an arrangement which it is hoped will make the undertaking profitable again. At Milfraen 700 men were affected. The Cynon Colliery, which was closed down owing to depression, largely due to lack of shipping, has been re-opened, and 500 men will continue in employment. Northumberland and Durham. Electric Supply and Coal Conservation—Local Inspec- tion-Labour Candidates—Tyne Improvement Commis- sioners. That the report of the Coal Conservation Sub-Committee appointed by the Ministry of Reconstruction is welcomed by the electric supply authorities was evidenced by the address which Dr. J.’ B. Simpson, the veteran northern coalowner, delivered, as chairman, to the shareholders in the Newcastle Electric Lighting Company Limited, at their annual meeting on Friday of last week. Referring to the small dividend of 2^ per cent, which was to be paid, Dr. Simpson said the directors did not feel justified in recommending an increased dividend, but hoped in the near future to be in a position to increase the distribution of profits. The Coal Conservation Sub-Committee had issued an interim report recommending the extended use of electrical energy as a means of saving coal, and it was proposed to deal with the matter in a comprehensive way, the various supply authorities co-operating with the Government to get the best results. If the recommenda- tions of the sub-committee were accepted, legislation would be necessary, but this was likely to be beneficial not only to the public, but to the supply authorities. The Dean and Chapter, Mainsworth, Leasingthorne, Evenwood, West Auckland, Westerton and Byers Green collieries have formed themselves into a board for the purpose of local inspection at times specified under Sections 16 and 80 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911. Mr. George Telford, Dean Bank, Ferryhill, has been appointed inspector, and will commence his duties on April 2. This is only the second such board formed in Durham County. The other, in the Burnopfield district, has done good work on behalf of the miners. Mr. J. W. Taylor, M.P., secretary of the Durham Colliery Mechanics’ Association, who has represented Chester-le-Street in Parliament for the last 12 years; Mr. Jas. Gilliland, of Birtley, sometime registration agent to Mr. Taylor; and Mr. Wm. Smith, County Councillor, of Washington, have all been nominated for the position of Labour candidate for the newly-planned division of Chester-le-Street at next election. At the March meeting of the Tyne Improvement Com- missioners, they were informed that, during the month of February, the following coal and coke shipments from the Tyne had been made:—Coal as cargo, 654,952 tons, a decrease of 63,634 tons when compared with the figures for the corresponding period of 1917, and of 742,000 tons when compared with those for February 1913 (the last full pre-war year); coal as bunkers, 53,671 tons, decreases of 37,435 tons and 114,599 tons respectively; and coke, 35,684 tons, decrease of 15,111 tons and an increase of 12,018 tons respectively. Thus far this year, the coal and coke shipments have totalled 1,557,717 tons, decreases of 415,358 tons and 1,722,378 tons respectively, when com- pared with the two opening months of 1917 and 1913. Mr. Joseph Allen, who has just retired from the position of master shifter at the Delight Colliery, Dipton, of Messrs. John Bowes and Partners Limited, began work when he was nine years of age and has continued until 77. Cumberland. Mr. T. Cape, general secretary of the Cumberland Miners’ Association, has received a communication from the Coal Mines Department of the Board of Trade assent- ing to the holidays customary at individual collieries at Easter. Yorkshire. Mr. W. L. Jones, commercial manager of the Askern Coal and Iron Company Limited, has been appointed sec- retary and general manager. The Yorkshire Coal Exchange suspended business on Tuesday in order to listen to the appeal on behalf of the Serbian Army by Sergt.-Major Sandes, a Yorkshire lady who has spent two years in the trenches with the Serbians. Six subscriptions of £50 each were given, and altogether £520 was raised. Notts, and Derbyshire. At the last meeting of the South Derbyshire Miners’ Association, it was reported that a sitting of the Disputes Committee had been convened* in reference to the question of price lists. Ballot papers were issued to the branch delegates in connection with the vote on man-power. Kent. At the half-yearly meeting of the Dover Gas Company the high price of coal was referred to, the chairman stating that it was costing 40s. per ton delivered at the works, and the question was raised as to whether Kent coal was used. The reply was given that 3,000 tons of Kent coal had been used, but the bulk of the coal used during the half-year was northern coal. The difference in the freight charges is considerable, as the Tilmanstone and Snowdown collieries are both within a few miles of Dover. On the recommendation of the engineer, the Dover Cor- poration Electricity Department decided to order another 2,000 tons of washed nuts from the Snowdown colliery, the company having agreed to supply on the same terms as last year’s contract. Scotland. The question of medical attendance on the dependants of colliery workers is again the subject of negotiation between the doctors and the Union officials in Fifeshire. The shipments of coal from Burntisland for the past week was 14,450 tons, as against 4,600 tons in the same week last year. From Methil the output shows a decrease; 20,323 tons, as against 28,736 tons in the previous week. The coal shipments during the past week from the Clyde amounted to 101,912 tons, as compared with 96,687 tons during the previous week, and 90,314 tons for the corresponding period last year. From the Forth the ship- ments were 19,605 tons, against 18,046 tons for the previous week,17,841 tons 12 months ago; and, from Fife, 34,831 tons, against 44,612 tons for the previous week, and 13,848 tons a year ago. LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS.—March 19. Cwmaman Mining Dispute. Trustees of Cwmaman Public Hall v. Powell Duffryn Coal Company Limited.—The question at issue was whether the respondents were entitled to work and carry away minerals without leaving any support for the surface and without compensation. Mr. Terrell, K.C., for the appellants, continued his argument that the deed of parti- tion of the land must be construed in the light of sur- rounding circumstances. This was objected to, and the Lord Chancellor then gave counsel the option of going on with the appeal on the pure question of the construction of the deed itself on the understanding that the decision was to be taken as final, and that there was to be no application for a new trial on other points. Mr. Terrell said he would go on with the appeal. Lord Shaw said there was a very serious responsibility in not having a trial. It was agreed and ordered that the case be sent back for trial on all points, appellants to pay the costs since the date of Mr. Justice Sargant’s Order in Chambers of July 24, 1916. Refractories Research.—A draft prospectus has been pre- pared (according to the British dayworker) concerning the projected Association for Refractories Research, and the draft has been offered as a basis for criticism or amendment. The Organising Committee consists of Sir Richard Glazebrook (chairman), Sir William Beardmore, Mr. F. H. Brooke, Dr. Charles Carpenter, Mr. Albert Cliff, Prof. J. W. Cobb, Dr. H. G. Colman, Mr. James Dunnachie, jun., Mr. C. H. Eden, Mr. W. H. Ellis (Master Cutler), Mr. F. W. Gilbertson, Sir Robert Hadfield, Bart., Dr. R. S. Hutton, Mr. Cosmo Johns, Mr. W. J. Jones, Mr. H. E. Mason, Dr. J. W. Mellor, Dr. A. Strahan, Mr. Leonard Sumner, Major C. W. Thomas, and Mr. W. F. J. Wood. The secretary is Mr. F. S. Spiers, 82, Victoria-street, London, S.W. Trade Consolidation.—Messrs. Dick, Kerr and Company Limited, contractors for the construction and equipment of electric railways and tramways, water works, factories, etc., have recently taken over the control successively of the old established business of Willans and Robinson Limited, of Rugby, well known as builders of steam turbines and Diesel engines, and of the United Electric Car Company Limited, of Preston, prominent manufac- turers of railway and tramway rolling stock; and, in addition, have completed a joint manufacturing and selling arrangement with the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company Limited, of Bradford, in regard to certain classes of standardised electrical machinery. The General Sales Organisation will be concentrated at Abchurch-yard, Cannon-street, the head office of Messrs. Dick, Kerr and Company Limited.