956 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. . May 10, 1918. MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week April 28 to May 4, 1918. Magnetic character. Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-4h. 14° + 4h.-6h. 14° + 6h.-8h. 14° + 8h.-10h. 14° + 10h.-12h. 14° + 1 12h.-14h. 14° + 14h.-16h. 14° + ’ 16h.-18h. 14° + 18h.-20h. 14° + i 20h.-22h. i 14° + 22h.-24h. 14° + Mean for day. 14° + Sun., April 28 0 Min. 52'5 Min. 51'5 Min. 50'5 Min. 48'5 Min. 46'5 Min. 51'0 Min. 56'5 Min. 56'5 1 Min. ; 54'5 i Min. | 50'5 1 Min. 48'5 ! Min. 50'0 Min. 51'5 Mon., ,, 29 0 52'0 51'5 50'5 48'5 48'0 51'0 55'0 55'5 54'5 ( 52'5 51'0 ; 51'5 i 52'0 Tues., ,, 30 2 51'5 51'5 51'5 51'5 51'5 54'0 57'0 58'0 53'5 1 49'0 49'0 ! 47'0 : 52'0 Wed., May 1 2 ■ 44'0 46'0 45'5 49'0 49'5 53'0 57'0 ' 55'5 52'0 49'0 49'5 ! 52'0 50'0 Thurs., ,, 2 1 53'0 i 1 51'0 48'0 46'5 48'5 ; 53'5 57'5 56'5 53'5 , 52'5 51'5 ! 52'5 52'0 Friday, „ 3 1 51'5 ; ! 49'5 48'0 46'0 ! 47'5 1 53'5 56'0 56’0 520 50'5 50'5 1 50'0 51'0 Sat., ,, 4 1 50'0 ; 1 49'5 47'0 47'5 46'5 53'0 60'0 58'5 53'5 50'0 50'5 50'0 51'5 Diurnal ine- quality (t.e., May 1917 Ih. 2h. -0'4 -0'2 3h. 4h. -0'6 -1'3 5h. 6h. -2'9 -4'5 7h. 8h. -5'0 -4'9 9h. lOh. -3'3 -1'0 Uh. 12h. + 2'6 +5'0 13h. 14h. + 6'4 +5'8 15h. 16h. + 4'0 +2'5 17h. 18h. + 1'2 + < '1 19h. 20h. -0'1 -0'4 21h. 22h. -0’9 -0'9 23h. 24h. -0'6 -0'8 Mean value for month. 15° 0''6May’17 departure from A_pl. 1918 -1'1 -1'3 -1'4 -2'0 -2'1 -2'7 -4'2 -5'4 -4'8 -2'0 + 1'6 +5'1 + 7'8 +7'1 + 5'4 +3'5 + 1'9 +0'5 -0'1 -0'4 -0'8 -1'4 -1'5 -1'3 14°52"0 Apl.’18 mean value for Apl. 1917 -0'3 -0'5 -0'7 -1'0 —1'7 -2'9 -4'3 -5'9 -5'7 -3'4 + 0'3 +3'7 + 6'0 +6'1 + 4'5 +2'6 + 1'3 +0'4 + 0'3 +0'5 + 0 4 +0'1 + 0'2 -0'1 15° 1''3 Apl.’17 day) ! 1 The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 24h. (midnight) G.M.T. Character “0” means a day wholly free from any but small disturbances. Character “ 133 means a day part or all of which is moderately or considerably disturbed. Character “2” means a day part or all of which is highly disturbed. The normal value for an hour is the mean declination for that hour in the month., derived from quiet days only, or from all days excluding those of character “2” On a day of character “ 0” declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character “ 133 the departure from the normal will usually not exceed 5', but it may occasionally be as much as 10', or even more. On a day of character “ 233 the departure from the normal will seldom exceed 20', but departures of 30' or even on extreme occasions of 1° or more may pccur. The above values are obtained from measurements made after “ smoothing33 the curve. Meteorological Office, May 8. of urgent national importance or on any question already agreed to by a national conference of miners, the executive committee or conference of the Miners’ Federation may call the members of the Federation out on strike without a ballot vote, if the conference or committee desire to do so (Linton). (31) That we again take the necessary steps to have all piecework in mines abolished (South Tyne). (32) Believing that many deputies are wishful of becoming- members of our association, we agree to accept them as a body (Algernon). (33) To protest against the execu- tive’s decision to pay 20 men at Netherton Hall Pit, who were working in the Harvey seam of the Howard Pit, part of the money subscribed in the county to help the Howard Pit men in their dispute and stoppage re Harvey seam (Netherton Howard). (34) To call upon the Govern- ment to pay all expenses for the upkeep of the military orthopaedic centres (Newbiggin). (35) To send to the Miners’ Federation conference agenda, “ That, as Mr. Thos. Ashton has intimated his intention of resigning his position as secretary of the Federation, we think the time has now come when such a huge organisation should have at least two full-time officials, these to be a presi- dent and a secretary, instead of merely spare-time men such as we have had up to the present ” (N. Seaton). (36) That we think the present time most opportune, because of the widespread desire among the people of the belligerent countries to end by other means than force this disastrous war, to bring pressure to bear upon the British Government and its Allies to initiate peace by negotiation. We request, therefore, that a conference of the Miners’ Federation be convened at the earliest oppor- tunity to promote this policy, so that the Allied Govern- ments may inaugurate a clean and lasting peace (West Wylam). The final motion, No. 37, is from the executive committee of the association, and takes the form of ?n educational scheme which the association is asked to. adopt. Sir Lindsay Wood presided over a meeting of the Durham Coal Trade Conciliation Board, held in Newcastle on Friday of last week, when it was decided that the wages of miners, deputies, enginemen, and colliery mechanics in the county should remain unaltered, at 107^ per cent, above the basis of 1879, for the ensuing quarter. Wages have not been altered by the Board since November, 1916. Federated Area. ^Nottinghamshire miners, through their county associa- tion, have prepared a programme which includes an eight hours day for all classes of workers engaged in operations of any kind in connection with the pits, this bringing in all surface hands who are at present not specifically included in the arrangement. A scheme relating to labour for mines will be submitted to a special conference of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain next week. It is proposed to set up, as an exten- sion of the work of the general secretary’s office in Manchester, a Central Mining Mobility Bureau, which will be in touch with subordinate bureaus in the various coalfields. Its suggested purposes are : “ To find employ- ment in mines in other districts for miners who are work- ing short time, to maintain the output of coal in those districts where every ton that can be produced is of impor- tance, and generally to bring about the more productive utilisation of labour in the coal mining industry. Notifi- cation of a demand for labour in any particular district would pass through the Coal Controller, but the arrange- ments for drafting men to meet the demand would be made by the Central Bureau, acting through its machinery of local bureaus, and on the information furnished by them. The scheme would be on a voluntary basis ; men could only be transferred with their own consent and that of their district miners’ association. Standard rates of wages are stipulated. Other points of the scheme are the provision of free railway warrants and subsistence allowances. Volunteers are to give way to men returning from the Army to their old place in the mine. At the end of the war the agreement comes to an end by the customary notice. The scheme is being discussed by the district federations, and it is evident that its acceptance will not be unanimous. The Lancashire and Cheshire Federation on Saturday instructed its delegates to oppose it on the ground that the work is already being efficiently performed by the Ministry of National Service, and that there is no need for the Miners’ Federation to intervene. Scotland. Application has been made to the executive committee of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union to have the claims of the firemen dealt with as a county and not as a national union. The underground firemen are demanding increased wages and improved conditions generally. Arbitration proceedings on the claims put forward on behalf of the workers employed at the coke ovens and by-products works at Dumbreck, Kilsyth, were carried through in Glasgow last week. The Board of Production, whose decision will be announced shortly, .was repre- sented by Judge Roberts (chairman), Col. Denny, and Mr- Burnet. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Bell’s United Asbestos Company Limited.—The report for 1917 states that net profit was £40,276, and £8,214 was brought forward, giving £48,490. The directors recommend, payable 30th inst., a dividend on the ordinary shares of Is. 6d. per share and a bonus of 6d. per share, making 15 per cent, for the year, place £15,000 to general reserve, and carry £8,985 forward. Invest- ments. have been written down to market quotations, and provision has been made for estimated excess profits duty at the increased rate of 80 per cent. Operations have been interrupted through shortage of labour and the difficulties of obtaining supplies. Bullcroft Main Collieries Limited.—Final dividend of 2s. per share, free of tax . London Foundry Company Limited.—Interim dividend No.’2 at 7 per cent, per annum on preference shares, and further interim of 3d. per share. Interim No. 2 on ordi lary shares at Is. 2-168d. All payable less tax. North Kent Coalfield Limited.—The report for 1917 states that the Chislet Colliery is again allowed to proceed with its sinking, after having been stopped by the Govern- ment for nearly six months. Owing, however, to shortage of men, work has so far been confined to the north pit, and it is expected that the first seam of coal will be reached within the next week or two. The result of the year’s working is that the debit carried to revenue sus*- pense account is increased by £2,142, raising the total to £11,791. Otis Steel Company Limited.—At the annual general meeting to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 31, the directors will recommend, after making ample provision for reserves, a final dividend of 2^ per cent, on the common stock of the company, making 10 per cent, for the year to December 31, 1917, together with a bonus of 10 per cent., both payable on June 29, 1918, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 1. Saint Helens Colliery and Brick Works Company Limited.—Interim dividend of 3 per cent, actual. Staveley Coal and Iron Company Limited. —The directors of the Staveley Coal and Iron Company have decided to issue 286,734 new ordinary share® of £1 each at a premium of 10s. per share. Watson (John) Limited.—The report shows a credit balance for the year to December 31 of £91,214, which with £33,503 brought forward gives a total of £124,717. After paying interim dividends and bonus totalling 20 per cent., the balance is £64,717, from which £10,000 is trans- ferred to ordinary reserve; £15,000 to income tax reserve, and £2,000 provided for directors’ fees, leaving £37,717 to be carried forward. The output again shows a reduc- tion as compared with the previous year. The c tt of production shows a considerable increase. Whitehaven Haematite Iron and Steel Company Limited. —Dividend of 6^ per cent, per annum on the ordinary shares for the year ended March. For 1916-17 11 per cent, was paid. NEW COMPANIES. French Iron Ore Company Limited.—Private company. Registered May 2, to carry on all kinds of exploration business in France and elsewhere, etc. Nominal capital, £17 in'17 £1 shares. Directors: M. Mannaberg (repre- senting Appleby Iron Company), J. R. Wright (Baldwins Limited), H. Bell, Bart. (Bell Brothers Limited), J. Williams (Bolckow, Vaughan and Company Limited), B. Talbot (Cargo Fleet Iron Company), J. B. Allan (David Colville and Sons Limited), G. Ainsworth (Consett Iron Company), W. D. M. Thomson (Dorman, Long and Com- pany Limited), F. Mills (Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Company), H. Steel (Frodingham Iron and Steel Com- pany), E. Steer (Guest, Keen, and Nettlefolds Limited), H. Hall (Palmer’s Shipbuilding and Iron Company), F. W. Cooper (Partington Steel and Iron Company), W. Thorneycroft (Steel Company of Scotland), G. A. Mitchell (Stewarts and Lloyds Limited), and W. H. Hewlett (Wigan Coal and Iron Company). J. E. and S. Spencer Limited.—Private company. Registered office, 15, Dowgate-hill, E.C. Registered April 30, to carry on the business of iron merchants, engineers, and metal agents, etc. Nominal capital, £10,000 in + 0.000 £1 ordinary shares. Directors : S. Spencer, E. Spencer, T. H. Spencer, and A. S. Smallman. Qualifica- tion of directors, 41,000 shares. London Iron and Steel Exchange Limited.—Private Company. Registered office, 113, Queen Victoria-street, E.C. 4. Registered, April 30. Nature of business indicated by the title. Nominal capital, £2,000 in 2,000 £1 shares. Directors: F. Baldwin, H. C. Hindom, H. W. Meredith. Qualification of directors, 50 shares. Metallurgical Plant Construction Company Limited.— Private company. Registered office, 47, Victoria-street, Westminster. Registered May 2, to carry on the business of engineers and manufacturers of, and dealers in, engineering, machinery of any description, etc. Nominal capital, £8,000 in 8,000 £1 shares. Directors: J. S. Atkinson, and four others. Ward and Smith Limited.—Private company. Registered April 24, to carry on the business of manufac- turers, importers and exporters of, and dealers in, iron and steel, etc. Nominal capital, £2,000 in 2,000 £1 shares. Directors: H. H. Ward, and R. C. Smith. Wigan Electro-Metallurgical Works Limited.—Private company. Registered April 30, to carry on the business of iron masters, manufacturers of pig iron, steel makers, etc. Nominal capital, £50,000 in 50,000 £1 shares. Directors: H. A. Blackwell, and W. L. Turner. Qualifi- cation of directors, 5,000 ordinary 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. OBITUARY. Sir William Haswell Stephenson, who died at his residence in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Tuesday, was born on May 15, 1836. He was the son of Mr. William Stephenson, an extensive coalowner and manufacturer. At 17, he commenced his commercial career on Newcastle Quayside. Shortly afterwards, his father began to develop, in a small way, the coal under the Throckley estates, and combined with that industry the manufacture of fireclay, gas retorts, blast furnace linings, etc., a busi- ness which has continued up to the present time with increasing success. Young Stephenson was manager of the concern from 1856 to 1867, when the Throckley Coal Company Limited, of which the deceased knight was the head, was formed. At the time of his death, Bir William was chairman of the Throckley Coal Company, the New- castle and Gateshead Gas Company, Walter Scott Limited, Cerebos Limited, the Newcastle Commercial Exchange Com- pany Limited, the Tyne, Tees Steam Shipping Company, Limited, and the National Peat Industries. He was also director of the Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company, the North-Eastern Banking Company, the Royal Insurance Company, Cairns, Noble and Company Limited, etc. He entered the Newcastle City Council in 1869, and was seven times chief 'magistrate. The services which that authority, under Sir William’s wise guidance, has been able to render to the trade and commerce of Tyneside, by the deepening of waterways, the reclamation of fore- shores, the improvement of quays, the provision of better facilities for loading and discharging of cargoes, etc., must be almost incalculable. Sir William was knighted in 1900. Mr. Paul Parkinson, manager of the by-product coking plant at Shotton Colliery, Durham (Horden Collieries Limited), died recently from pneumonia at the age of 41. He had had little or no theoretical training, but his technical and practical knowledge made him a successful manager, and he was well able to discuss almost any point of practical concern. The Horden Company is at. present erecting another coking plant, and it was under- stood that Mr. Parkinson would also have had charge of the working of this. Hull Coal Trade.—The quantity of coals brought into Hull during April totalled 201,055 tons (187,184 tons by rail, and 13,871 tons by river). In the corresponding month last year, the quantity was 203,031 tons. The export figures are not available for publication. The Miners’ Federation.—A meeting of the executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain was held at Barnsley on Wednesday, Mr. R. Smillie (president) in the chair. The executive endorsed the candidature of the following Parliamentary candidates submitted by miners’ associations:—Cleveland, Mr. H. Dack; Clay Cross, Mr. Frank Hall; Wentworth, Mr. G. H. Hirst; Ogmore, Mr. Vernon Hartshorn; Ebbw Vale, Mr. T. Richardson, M.P.; Bedwellty, Mr. Charles Edwards; Houghton-le-Spring, Aid. Robert Richardson; Sedgefield, Mr. J. Herriotts; Blaydon, Mr. W. Whiteley; Spennymoor, Mr. J. Batey. These are in addition to those previously announced, and the Federation are waiting for a considerable number of further names to be adopted for various districts. The Northumberland miners are to be allowed to contest the Wansbeck Division (caused by the death of Mr. C. Fenwick) providing that the candidate is selected by a conference of Labour parties. It was decided to ask the Coal Controller to meet the executive in London next week in regard to the recruitment of miners and mobility bureaux. The executive committee considered the pro- gramme for the annual conference to be held at Southport in July, and dealt with a large number of resolutions which had been received from the various districts. They also discussed the question of whether the officials of the Federation should devote their whole time to the work of the Federation. It was agreed to consider this matter further, with a view to putting a suggestion before the annual conference.