1260 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 21, 1918. MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week June 9 to 15, 1918. Magnetic character. Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-4h. 14° + 4h.-6h. 14° + 6h.-8h. 14° + 8h.-10h 1 14° + 10h.-12h 14° + 12h.-14h. 14° + 14h.-16h. 14° + 16h.-18h. 14°+ ' 18h.-20h. 14° + 20h.-22h. 14° + ! 22h.-24h. i 14°+ ■ Mean for day. 14° + Sun., June 9 2 Min. 52’0 Min. 51’5 Min. 49’0 Min. 47’0 Min. 48’5 Min. 55’0 Min. 58’5 Min. 57’5 Min. 55’5 Min. 53’0 Min. 48’0* Min. i 45’5* | Min. 52’0 Mon., ,, 10 2 45’5* 45’0* 43’0 46’5 53’5 56’5 58’0 60’5 56’0 52’0 52’5 51’0 51’5 Tues., „ Wed., 11 1 52’5 53’0 49’5 47’5 47’0 52’5 57’0 57’5 55’5 53’0 ! 51’0 50’0 | 52’0 12 1 50’5 50’5 48’5 45’5 47’5 53’0 57’5 57’5 54’5 51’5 52’0 50’5 | 51’5 Thur?., ,, 13 1 48’5 48’5 48’5 47’0 47’5 51’5 55’0 55’5 53’5’ 50’5 49’5 48’5 50’5 Friday, ,, 14 1 48’0 46’0 45’5 47’5 50’0 54’0 57’0 57’0 53’5 52’0 52’0 51’5 51’0 Sat., „ 15 1 50’0 46’0 45’0 47’0 47’5 52’5 57’5 56’5 i 53’5’ 1 i 52’0 1 50’5 49’5 50’5 Diurnal ine- quality (i.e., Junel917 lh. 2h. -1’2 -1’2 3h. 4h. -1’4 -2’1 5h. 6h. -3’8 -5’5 7h. 8h. -6’5 -6’4 9h. lOh. -4’9 -2’3 llh. 12h. + 1’5 +4’7 13h. 14h. + 6’5 +7’4 15h. 16h. + 6’5 +4’7 17h. 18h. + 2’8 +1’2 19h. 20h. + 0’3 +0’4 21h. 22h. + 0’2 +0’1 23h. 24h. -0’2 -0’8 Mean value for month. 14° 59'’7 June’17 departure from May 1918 -0’7 -1’0 -1’3 -2’2 -3’2 -4’4 -5’5 -5’3 -3’9 -1’1 + 2’5 +5’3 + 6’5 +6’3 + 4’8 +3’2 + 1’7 +<-’4 -0’3 -0’4 -0’4 -0’2 -0’3 -0’5 14° 51'’6 May’18 mean value for May 1917 -0’4 -0’2 -0’6 -1’3 -2’9 -4’5 -5’0 -4’9 -3’3 -1’0 + 2’6 +5’0 + 6’4 +5’8 + 4’0 +2’5 + 1’2 +0’1 -0’1 -0’4 -0 9 -0’9 -0’6 -0’8 15° 0'’6 May’17 day) The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 21 h. (mi inight) G.M.T. Character “ 033 means a day wholly free from any but small disturbances. Character “ 1 33 means a day part or all of which is moderately or considerably disturbed. Character “ 2” means a day pirt 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 “2.33 On a day of character “ 0” declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character 1 33 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 occur. The above values were obtained from measurements made after “ smoothing33 the curve. * Large disturbance during this interval. Meteorological Office, June 19. that the fire, which at one time was so persistent, had again become active. Although the checkweigher and one of the Federation examiners made an inspection of the place where signs of. renewed activity were supposed to be present and came to the conclusion that conditions were normal, the men decided that they would abstain until one of the Government inspectors had made an examination. Northumberland and Durham. Fatal Fall of Stone—Effect of Combing Out—Parlia- mentary Candidates—Studentship Endowment—Ex- plosion at Coke Oven Plant. At the inquest touching the death of J. R. Gregory, who was killed by a fall of stone in a Blyth colliery, the ques- tion of the safest method of timbering arose. It appeared that the casualty was due to planks set into the coal opposite a gateway giving way by pressure. Mr. Wm. Weir, president of the Northumberland Miners’ Associa- tion, advised that more planks should be used where there was no “canch.” This view was supported by the mines inspector (Mr. Stoker) and by Mr. S. Coulthard. It was agreed that there had been no negligence, and a verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned. The manner in which the recent comb-outs of the col- lieries affected the productive capacity of the industry is revealed by the figures placed before the Tyne Com- missioners at their meeting in N ewcastle last week. These showed that during May the coal and coke shipments from the Tyne were as follows : Coal as cargo, 866,743 tons, a decrease of 103,835 tons when compared with the ship- ments during May 1917, and of 688,308 tons when com- pared with those for May 1913; coal as bunkers, 87,987 tons, decreases of, respectively, 6,971 tons and 123,451 tons; and coke, 51,881 tons, increases of, respectively, 4,363 tons and 26,601 tons. Thus far this year the ship- ments have been as follow : Coal as cargo, 3,634,690 tons, a decrease of 656,318 tons when compared with the figures for the first five months of 1917 and of 3,582,081 tons when compared with those for the like period of 1913 ; coal as bunkers, 356,151 tons, decreases of, respectively, 132,805 tons and 549,213 tons; and coke, 223,926 tons, a decrease of 60,525 tons and an increase of 106,007 tons respectively. Mr. Sergeant, of Haltwhistle, has been appointed manager of Longframlington Colliery. Mr. G. R. Innes, surveyor at Dawdon Colliery, is leaving the district to take up a more important position in Kent. Mr. John Cairns, financial secretary of the Northum- berland Miners’ Association, Mr. Aaron Walton, a member of the executive committee, and Mr. Geo. H. Warne, of the wages committee, are the three nominees, one of whom will be selected as Parliamentary candidate for the Mor- peth Division, at the conference of the Morpeth Labour Representation Committee on July 13. Sunderland coal merchants have made representations to the mayor that a serious shortage of coal in the borough and district is threatened. The mayor’s consultative com- mittee has instructed the town clerk to acquaint the Coal Controller of the facts, with a view to something being done in alleviation of the situation. The late Sir Wm. Stephenson, head of the Throckley Coal Company Limited, by his will left his residence, Els- wick House, Newcastle, to be used as a branch of Dr. Stephenson’s National Children’s Homes, the head- quarters of which are in London. At Monday’s meeting of the council of Armstrong Col- lege, Newcastle, Miss Stephenson, daughter of the late Sir Wm. Stephenson, coalowner, was announced to have offered <£2,500 for the endowment of a studentship in the Faculty of Arts as a memorial to her father. The late directors and shareholders in Messrs. Cochrane and Com- pany Limited, ironmasters and coalowners, Middlesbrough, whose undertakings have recently changed hands, offered a capital sum of <£3,000 to be employed, in the first instance, in the award of certain scholarships in respect of persons at Middlesbrough and New Brancepeth. Both these offers were accepted with warm thanks. As the result of a somewhat serious explosion at the coke-oven plant of a north-east coast ironworks on Tues- day five workmen were slightly injured, chiefly through burns on the arms, head and face. After having their injuries dressed at the local infirmary, all were able to proceed home. Cumberland. An aerial ropeway is being erected at the Moresby Col- liery Company’s colliery at Moresby for conveying material from the pit on to the pit bank. Yorkshire. A meeting of the coal merchants’ section of the Brad- ford Chamber of Trade was held on June 16, under the chairmanship of Mr. Joshua Smith. A discussion arose on the system of lending coal amongst members in cases of shortage, and it was decided that in future there should be a recognised charge by the lenders of 2s. 6d. per ton over current colliery prices. Strong objection was voiced m regard to the new decertification of Grade 1 coal carters up to 35 years of age, whilst in many other trades the age was 33. It was decided that a letter be sent to the Coal Controller, the Ministry of National Service, and others, pointing out the unfairness of such preferen- tial treatment being granted to trades less essential than that of coal distribution. Consideration was given to the Horse Rationing Order, the amount specified for heavy horses being held to be entirely inadequate. It was decided that the attention of the local horse rationing com- mittee be called to the matter. Mr. W. H. Cockey, of Doncaster, after many years’ service as chief assistant to the works’ manager. Great Northern Railway Company, has taken up the position of wagon manager to the Hickleton, Brodsworth, and Bullcroft collieries. Kent. About 2,700 tons of coal were raised at each of the two working Kent collieries last week. A good seam of coal, reported to be 5 ft. in thickness, has been cut through in the Chislet Colliery sinking, near Canterbury, but the company is sinking to the 4 ft. 9 in. seam a very little distance below, before commencing the necessary work for raising coal. At the Kent Coal League annual meeting, held under the chairmanship of Mr. O. H. Taylor, manager of Snow- down Colliery, the report presented by Mr. G. Sherratt, secretary, was of a very satisfactory character. The league has a credit of <£1,076, of which <£750 is invested in War Loan. The rate of sick pay has been increased, and members serving in H.M. forces continue practically in full membership, their wives and families receiving medical benefit as though the member were still engaged in his civil employment. New rules have been adopted by which direct representation is given to the underground and surface workmen on the branch committees, as was sug- gested at the last annual meeting. Separate elections are held for each of the three branches—Tilmanstone Colliery, Snowdown Colliery, and Dover headquarters. Mr. H. J. Wroe, manager of Tilmanstone Colliery, has been elected chairman of the council for the year. Since the forma- tion of the league in 1910, the sum of £5,632 has been expended on sick pay, medical attendance, susbscriptions to hospitals, allowances for recreation and study. Scotland, At Canderrigg Colliery, near Larkhall, an outbreak of fire took place. The pithead frame and coal-screening plant were entirely destroyed, but the winding engine houses, power house, and washing plant were saved. The colliery belongs to Messrs. James Nimmo and Company Limited, and the damage is estimated at between £10,000 and £12,000. The Shotts Iron and Coal Company Limited, Edinburgh, have acquired the control of the Kepplehill Coal Company Limited, and are working the pits. A large number of the members of the West of Scotland branch of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers visited Gartsherrie Iron Works, Coatbridge, belonging to Messrs. Wm. Baird and Company, on Saturday. The members were met at the works by Mr. Matthew Reid and Mr. John Mashet, and in parties were taken over the different departments, being shown the furnaces, the ore handling plant and by-products plant. The Scottish engineering firms who make mining machinery have had orders placed with them, especially for coal-cutters and conveyors, that will keep them going for a considerable time. The demand for coal-cutters is enormous. Burntisland coal shipments for last week totalled 16,380 tons, as compared with 9,744 tons in the same week in 1917. Two-thirds of this quantity went coastwise. The ship- ments from Methil showed a substantial increase, being 29,191 tons, against 12,178 tons last week. Manchester Coal Supply.—In consequence of the coal shortage in Manchester, the chairman of the local Coal Committee has arranged to ask the committee to authorise his taking steps to bring the matter under the notice of the Manchester members of Parliament, with a view to having the situation altered. Merchants say that too much of the Derbyshire coal, for instance, is being sent by Government orders to the London area. Exports of Coal Products.—The export of coal products (not dyes) in May were valued at £212,933, a decrease on the £215,190 in May 1917, and on £251,157 in May 1916. The total value of such exports in the five months of this year was £1,161,684, compared with £1,188,832 a year ago. The dyestuff exports in May were 6,411 cwt., valued at £105,993. Only 545 tons of sulphate of am- monia, valued at £11,583, were exported. Imports of Pit Props.—The table below shows the quan- tity and value of pit props or pit wood imported in May:— May. Jan.-May. *^1917. 1918?^ 1917. 1918. Loads 98,981... 79,624... 474,583... 360,924 Value £430,015... £396,569... £1,699,973... £1,485,034 LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. At a meeting of the Conciliation Board, held in Cardiff on Friday, the workmen’s representatives brought up the question of supply of house coal to widows of men who had been killed at the collieries. This supply is made in certain cases, and the desire was that the practice should become general throughout the coal field. The employers’ representatives gave a promise that the request should be taken into consideration.—With regard to the supply of house coal to men who live outside the area of delivery, the employers accepted the principle of making arrangements for this supply, and the parties at the respective collieries were asked to arrange terms of settlement.—As to the supply of coal to workmen living in apartments, an agree- fnent could not be arrived at.—Several matters that had been in dispute and referred for settlement were brought up, and report made as to what had been accomplished. Delegates of the Enginemen and Stokers’ Association of South. Wales met in Cardiff to consider matters arising out of the comb-out. The proceedings were private, but it is stated that the general secretary and agents submitted reports of interviews with the Minister of National Service, and with the Deputy Director of Recruiting for Wales. Complaints have been made of alleged unfair treatment of enginemen and stokers by some of the pits committees, and these cases have been brought under the notice of the Deputy Director of Recruiting. After discussion of pro- cedure that had been adopted to reach an understanding as to recruiting of members, it was decided to leave the further prosecution of the matter in the hands of the executive. A committee will be appointed in order to deal effectively with the question of substitution; and also to afford protection to members in so far as preventing substitution until the association has been consulted. The Swansea district of the Colliery Examiners’ Associa- tion has forwarded a resolution to the general secretary of that body, stating that owing to delay in the local employers meeting the examiners’ representatives on the Conciliation Board, and owing also to the rejection of the proposed wage agreement, they have passed a resolution desiring the general secretary of the association to inform the members of the Conciliation Board that unless the wage question is dealt with within 14 days “ there is a probability of other measures being taken in this district.’’ The steel moulders at Guest Keen’s Cardiff ironworks made application to the Committee on Production for a shorter week without any reduction in their payment. Their wish is for the 54-hour week to be limited to 48 hours. Decision on this was postponed. There will be a joint meeting between the employers and the men’s representa- tives to discuss a claim for base rates—plus the percentage paid to moulders employed at other steel works in the district. The committee has had before it also an applica- tion initiated by the Miners’ Federation that watchmen, employed by the Ebbw Vale Company, should receive 4s. per day, plus full percentage and also the 5s. war bonus. In this case decision was reserved. An inter-union question came up at the Disputes’ Com- mittee meeting, the Federation opening a discussion as to 'the action of the Enginemen and Stokers’ Association in opening a branch at Bedwas. It was agreed that if there existed no branch of that association at the colliery on the day of the non-unionist agreement, the new branch should not now be recognised. But the employers’ representatives pointed out that this was a question which ought to have been dealt with by the trade unions concerned. Employees at the Cambrian Colliery to the number of between 3,000 and 4,000 were idle last Saturday, owing to a grievance which affected a few hauliers in a district where the output was small. These men had been unable to earn the minimum, and they claimed that their wages should be made up. The men directly affected came out on strike on Friday, and on Saturday were joined by the remainder, so that the whole of the employees were stopped. Afterwards a deputation waited upon the general manager, and a report was made to a mass meeting, and it was decided that work should be resumed on Sunday night— the daymen to resume on Monday. North of England. A meeting of Durham coal owners and miners was held in Newcastle on Friday of last week, Sir Lindsay Wood pre- siding, for the purpose of further considering amendment of the Conciliation Board. The principal matter discussed was the question as to what should constitute the legitimate costs of colliery working. The owners’ views were put forward and the workmen offered discussion and criticism, after which the meeting was adjourned with a view to the accountants of both sides being consulted on the more technical aspects of the subject. The Northumberland Miners’ Association’s request that chargemen’s wages should be raised to those of deputies, and that chargemen should be given all other privileges