e 716 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. October 4, 1918. MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week September 22 to 28, 1918. itic >ter. « Intervals- -Hours G.M.T. fl 8 £8 oh.- -2h. 2h -4h. 4h. -6h. 1 6h.-Sh. 1 8h.- -lOh i lOh. -12h i 12h. -1411. 1411. -16h. I 16h.- -18h. 18h.-20h. 20h.- -22h. 22h. -2lh. Mean for day. 14 ° + 14 ° + 14° + : 14 ° + 14 c + |- 14 0 1 11 3 + 14 ° + 14° + 14 o 1 14° + 14 ° + 14° + Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Sun., Sept. 22 2 4: i”5* 51'0 47'5 i 42'5 42'5 50'0 54'5 52'0 47'0 40'5* 38'0* 46'0 46'5 Mon., 23 1 49*5 45'0 45'04 ' ’ 43'0 44'0 50'0 54'0 51'0 49'0 48'0 47'5 47'5 48'0 Tues., 24 0 47‘5 47'0 46'0 1 45'0 46'0 52'0 55'5 55'0 50'5 45'5 43'0 43'5 48'0 Wed., 25 0 46’5 48'5 48'0 ! 46'5 44'0 49'5 55'0 53'0 50'5 47'5 45'5 45'0 48'5 . Thurs., 2 J 26 0 46’5 47'0 45'5 | 44'5 45'5 50'5 54'0 52'5 49'5 47'5 48'0 47'5 48'0 Friday, 27 0 47*5 46'5 46'5 46'5 47'5 53'0 57'5 55'5 49'5 49'0 48'5 47'5 49'5 Sat., 28 1 46*5 45'0 >5'0 41'5 43'5 51'0 59'0 59'0 57'0 54'0 i 48'0 41'0 49'5 Ih. 2h. 3h. 4h. 5h. llh. Mean value for Diurnal in e- 6h. 7h. 8h. 9h. lOh. 12h. 13h. 14h. 15h. 16h. 17h. 18h. 19h. 20h. 21h. 22h. 23h. 24h. month. quality (i.e., Sep. 1917 -1*2 — 1'5 -1'8 -2'1 -2'4 —3'4 -5'0 -6'0 -5'1 -2'2 + 2'6 + 5'5 + 7'1 + 6’5 + 4'9 + 3'2 + 2'0 + 1'1 + 0'5 + 0'1 -0'2 -0'6 -0'9 -1'2 14° 58''4 Sep. ’17 departure from Aug. 1918 -1*2 -1’3 -1'5 -2'5 -3'7 -4'6 -5'1 -4'9 -3'2 -0'4 + 3'1 + 6'0 + 7'5 + 7'1 + 5’6 + 3'5 + 1'5 -0'1 -0'8 -0'5 -0'7 -1'4 -1'3 -1'1 14° 49" 0 Aug.’18 mean value for Aug. 1917 -1’5 —1'8 -1'7 -2'2 -3'6 -1'8 -5'4 -5'3 —3'6 -1'0 + 3'0 + 6'5 + 8'5 + 8'1 + 6'0 + 3'4 + 0'8 -0'5 -0'7 -0'7 -0'8 -1'0 -1'0 -0'8 I4°58'*3 Aug.’17 day) The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 21h. (mi Inight) G.M.T. Character “ 0” means a day wholly free from any but small disturbances. Character “1” 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. K 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 if 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 “ 2 33 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 curves. * Large disturbances during this interval. * Meteorological Office, October 2. and to be retrospective till September 2. Seventh day’s work will be paid extra. Between 2,000 and 3,000 men have given notice to terminate contracts at the Cwmtillery and Rose Heyworth Colliery, the. matter in dispute’being hours worked by surfacemen. The monthly council meeting of the Notts Miners’. Asso- ciation, held this week, considered the question of the return of miners whose medical category is of a low grade, and the council strongly protested against such men being retained in the Army with no pension whilst they were incapable of regularly following their usual employment. It was recommended that the clerks should have permis- sion to take a ballot with a view to handing in notices, where there were 50 per cent, or more clerks belonging to the association, to secure the standard rate of wages adopted by the association. The Chimney Sweepers’ Asso- ciation wrote protesting against a number of miners sweeping chimneys in addition to their ordinary mining ■ work, alleging that such practice had the effect of reducing their earnings. It was decided to ask the association to state a case. North of England. There is much less unrest in the coalfield of Northum- berland and Durham this week than was the case a fort- night ago, and, at the time of writing, there appear to be no collieries idle as the result of strikes, although the Ellington men, about 800 in all, threaten a stoppage very shortly over the question of starting times. The absenteeism committees in Northumberland report a total absenteeism of 10 per cent., of which half is attributable to sickness. The other 5 per cent, is regarded as capable of reduction, and the committees are doing their utmost to bring it down to the minimum. Federated Area. The Cumberland Winding Enginemen’s Association have decided to agitate for a 50 per cent, increase in their wages. Seotland, At the monthly conference of the delegates of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union, Hamilton, the result of the ballot vote for the election of an agent to succeed Mr. David Gilmour resulted in the election of Mr. Duncan Graham, who has been political organiser to the Scottish Miners’ Federation for some years. The question of the payment of war wage to check- weighers has been discussed at many of the collieries in Scotland, and particularly at those where few men are employed. The feeling seems to. be that a hardship is placed on the miners by making them responsible for payment of the war wage to the checkweigher. At a number of the collieries matters have come to such a pitch that the question af dispensing with the services of the checkweigher has been under consideration. At a conference of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union the standing orders were suspended to allow of the question of the treatment of soldiers’ wives and dependants being considered. A strong feeling was manifested, and the meeting decided in favour of a conference being called to consider the question of stopping work unless assurances. of improvement are forthcoming. At Bridgeness Colliery, West Lothian, the men have got intimation of an increase in the price of explosives, and miners paid by tonnage rate who formerly received free explosives have been now informed that these are for the future to be withdrawn. Notice has been posted on the pit banks at Redding Colliery, Stirlingshire, that the owners have arranged that a charge must in future be made for the cartage of workers’ house coal according to distance. The men are dissatisfied because of this announcement, and threaten reprisals. A breakdown in the haulage machinery suspended work for some time at South Craigend Colliery, in the Mad- diston district of Stirlingshire, and the drawers went home because of the stoppage. By this action the miners had to leave off work, and the company refused to pay the men the war bonus. The contention put forward by the miners is that as the idle time was not the result of their action and since they presented themselves for work, they are entitled to payment of the war wage. The question has been referred to the Controller of Coal Mines. Delegates from the Midlothian and Haddingtonshire collieries met on Saturday afternoon, when reports were submitted showing that practically full time had been obtained during the past five weeks. It was further reported that there were numerous demands for supplies from manufacturers and other large consumers. Sugges- tions were made to mitigate loss of time, although tem- porary stoppages were recognised as being hardly pre- ventable by colliery managements. A special conference of Scottish miners has been con- vened for October 10 to consider the question of stopping work within two weeks unless an assurance is received from the Government that a considerable improvement will be effected regarding allowances to soldiers’ and sailors’ dependants. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Bolsover Colliery Company Limited.—Further interim dividend of 6 per cent, actual on ordinary shares. Coltness Iron Company Limited.—The directors recom- mend a final dividend of 4 per cent, actual, with a bonus of 5 per cent., making a total dividend and bonus of 13 per cient. for the year. MacLellan (P. and W.) Limited;—Dividend of 6 per cent, on both preference and ordinary shares. Steel Company of Canada Limited.—Regular dividend of If per cent, on preference and 1| per cent, on ordinary shares for quarter ending September 30. Steel Company of Scotland Limited.—The Steel Com- pany of Scotland recommend a dividend of 15 per cent, on the ordinary shares for the past year. Weils (J. and G.).—The directors have declared* an interim dividend at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, free of tax, on the ordinary shares, the distribution being at the same rate as that made in September of last year. NEW COMPANIES. Parry (C. P.) Limited.—Private company. Registered September 26, to acquire the business of C. H. Parry, and to carry on as iron founders, engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £26,000 in ordinary shares of £1 each. Govern- ing director, C. P. Parry. Qualification of director, 1 share. Remuneration : Governing director, £500 and such sum as may be voted by company. Stannaries Metal Company Limited.—Private company. Registered September 24, to carry .on the business of metallurgists, analytical chemists, mining and electrical engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £5,000 in 5,000 ordinary shares of £1 each. Permanent directors: R. F. Lamb, E. Mellor, and H. South. Qualification of directors, 250 shares. Remuneration of directors, £1,200, to be divided among them. 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. THE FREIGHT MARKET. The activity on official and home accounts of the North- umberland and Durham coal trade has its reflex action in the fewness of charters possible for neutral destinations. During the week under review only three fixtures for neutral ports have been reported, and Sweden has mono- polised this business. These fixtures show that £he rath for Gothenburg remains steady at 150 kr., that Halm- stad, which had not earlier been done for some consider- able time, is now reckoned as worth only 160 kr., and that Stockholm has come down with a run from 210 kr. to 165 kr. For other directions, there is any amount of enquiry, but no neutral tonnage is on offer, and therefore no business has been done. Rates for these directions may be regarded as unaltered. At South Wales there have been a good many fixtures for Allied destinations, but nothing is reported so far as non-scheduled ports are concerned. There is not a great deal of enquiry for neutral directions, Admiralty and Allied business suffic- ing to clear the market of coal supplies. It is interesting to note th£t Lisbon has been done for Mersey loading at 100s. Homewards, the River Plate is quiet and unchanged, with Buenos Ayres to the United Kingdom quoted at 225s., and French Atlantic discharge at 250s. At the United States, New York to Liverpool on net form is still listed at 230s., with 360s. for Western Italy. Cotton and coal freights have undergone no change. At the Far East’ there is practically no tonnage obtainable by private shippers. The Mediterranean and Bay ore ports are tak- ing up a fair amount of tonnage on the basis of 17s. from Bordeaux to Cardiff. Huelva to Savannah with pyrites is quoted at 40s. In the time charter market enquiries are circulating numerously, and a considerable amount of tonnage is wanted for general trading purposes, with early delivery on this side. Tyne to Gothenburg, 3,000, 150 kr.; Halmstad, 1,500, 160 kr. ; and Stockholm, 3,200, 165 kr. Cardiff to Brest, 1,500, 45s., neutral; Caen, 600 and 700, 48s., neutral; Havre, 800, 47s. 3d., neutral; 1,300, 45s. 9d., neutral; La Pallice, 3,600, 61s. 6d., neutral; Nantes, 3,200, 61s. 6d., neutral; Rouen, 650-700 and GOO- OSO, 50s. 3d., neutral; River Plate, 7,000, .120s.; and Tonnay Charente, 1,350, 63s., neutral. Liverpool to Lisbon, 2,500, 100s. Swansea to Bordeaux, 1,500, 69s., neutral; Caen,. 600, 800 and 875, 48s., neutral; Dublin, 350, 17s.; Havre, 1,100 and 1,250-1300, 45s. 9d., neutral; 800, 47s. 3d., neutral; and Rouen, 1,050-1,100, 1,250-1,300, 1,400, 1,500 and 1,700, 48s. 9d., neutral; 3,000, 47s. 9d., neutral. Later.—The following additional fixtures are reported: Tyne to Gothenburg, 2,700, 150 kr.; 2,200, 125 kr. ; London, 1,700, 17s.; and River Plate, 4,000, 120s. Cardiff to Rouen, 700, 50s. 3d., neutral, and 1,200, 48s. 9d., neutral. Swansea to Caen, 1,200, 46s. 6d., neutral; 870 and 875- 900, 48s., neutral; and Trouville, 730-800, 48s., neutral. It will be observed that the Tyne-Gothenburg rate has collapsed sensationally. BOOK NOTICES. Income Tax, 1842-1919—Tabular View. Folding sheet, 11| in. by 6 in. Published by Oliver and Boyd, Edin- burgh. Price Is. 2d., post free. The object is to present the income tax and super-tax provisions in an intelligible and, as far as possible, tabular form. The subject has become so complicated that it re- quires an expert to understand even ordinary books dealing with it. This publication is designed to remove that diffi- culty and to serve the purposes of both experienced and inexperienced people. Tables are given showing—(1) Rates o£ income tax, going back to 1842; (2) the special war service rates; (3) income tax at 6s. per £; (4) the money value of various totals of tax abatements; (5) the same as regards graduated rate relief on incomes up to £2,000; (6) the actual figures for the vexed matter of “ tax free ” dividends; (7) rates of super-tax, going back to its first institution; (8) total super-tax on various incomes. All the various heads of abatement are tabulated with their conditions and money value, and in this as in all other respects the particulars cover all the points in this year’s Finance Act. The fifteen printed paragraphs of “ Re- minders and Advice ” are an epitome of the legal position in popular language, supplemented by a statement of over forty heads of repayment claims. Amongst these are some novelties suggested by experience and proved in practice to be valuable in cash results. These claims are classified as relating to—(1) Domestic concerns; (2) lands and build- ings ; (3) business; (4) war. A summary is given of the position under the Coal Mines Control Agreement, with a categorical statement as to taxable and deductable items. Selwyn's Metric Conversion Tables. Edited by W. E. Dommett. London: James Selwyn and Company Limited, 20, Essex-street. Price 2s. 6d. These 31 tables have been prepared for use in various branches of engineering and science, the tables common to all appearing in full, whereas the lesser used tables are abridged. The clearness of the printing is a feature, and the convenience of readers has been further studied by arranging the tables perpendicularly, so that the book has not to be turned round when in use. The compilation is of obvious utility as a labour-saver in calculations. King’s Fund for Disabled.—The King’s Fund for Disabled Officers and Men of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, opened by his Majesty with a gift of £78,000, is designed to raise a minimum of £3,000,000 to re-establish the recipients in civil life. Colliery workers are included in the trades collecting for the fund. Engineering Investigation in Brazil.—The British Engi- neers’ Association has received an intimation from the Department of Overseas Trade that the Treasury will con- tribute one-half of the cost of an investigation into the engineering industry in Brazil. Manufacturing engineers not members of the association who desire to take ad- vantage of the reports of the investigator should communi- cate with the Secretary, The British Engineers’ Associa- tion, 32, Victoria-street, Westminster. Miners’ War Wage Settlement. — The Coal Controller (Sir Guy Calthrop) met the representatives of the coal owners of Great Britain and the executive of the Miners’ Federation at the Coal Controller’s office at Holborn yesterday (Thursday) with respect to the miners’ claim for a proportionate payment of the war wage on over- time worked at collieries. Sir Richard Redmayne, Chief Inspector of Mines, was also present. The miners’ repre- sentatives claimed that whenever overtime was worked at collieries in cases of emergency, repair of roadways and other matters the men employed should have added to their wage a proportionate share of the war wage of 3s. per day. When the second war wage was conceded from June 30, the Coal Controller imposed the restriction of limiting the payment of the war wage to one shift in each 24 hours. This has caused a good deal of feeling. It was agreed that the war wage should be paid to both piece and day wage men on all overtime worked, the pay- ment to day wage men to be made from September 8, and to all men employed on piece rates from October 6, when- ever the men work overtime at the request or by permis- sion of the management.