40

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

January 3, 1913

COAL. IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.

Beattie (J. H ) and Co. Limited—This private company
has been registered, with a capital of .£12,000 in £1 shares,
to acquire and take over the business of J. H. Beattie and
Co., now carried on at 1, Pancras-road, 33, Dawes-road,
Fulham, Seagrave-road, West Kensington, Somers Town,
Harvest-road, West Kilburn, 9a, Pancras-road, Mill Hill,
Hendon, and Wood Green, and to carry on the business of
coal merchants, colliery agents, manufacturers of machinery,
ironfounders, steel and metal merchants, brassfounders, &c.
First directors: J. H Beattie, Cintra, St. Albans, H«rts,
and C. J. H. McRea, Nideen, Flower-lane, Mill Hill,
Hendon, N.W. (both permanent). Qualification, .£12.
Remuneration: J. H. Beattie. £600 per annum; C. J. H.
McRea, £300 per annum. Registered office, 1, Pancras-
road, N.W.

Brettall (J, W.) Limited. —This private company has
been registered, with a capital of £1,000 in £1 shares (500
6 per cent, preference), to carry on the business of engi-
neers, &c. First directors: J. W. Brettall and F. W. S.
Napier. Registered office, 18, Adam-street, W.C.

Brightside Foundry Company Limited.—The dividend
warrants on the 5 per cent, preference shares have been
posted.

British Coalite Company Limited.—The report covers
the year ended September 30, 1912, and states that the loss
entailed on the operations for the 12 months amounts to
£11,192, in comparison with £26,265 for the previous year.
The greater portion of this loss is due to contracts which
matured during the year, and which could not previously be
cancelled. The directors state that at the present time the
expenses of the company should not exceed £500 per annum,
including executive and administration charges, while the
leases on both the Barking and Wednesfield properties
produce sufficient rental to cover ail rates, taxes and upkeep.

Burnyeat Brown and Co. Limited. — The directors
announce an interim dividend of Is. 6d. per share (71 per
cent.) on the £1 ordinary shares.

Calasparra Iron Mines Syndicate Limited.—This private
company has been registered, with a capital of £400 in £50
shares, to acquire certain iron mines in Spain. Registered
office, 5, Salter's Hall-court, Cannon-street, E.C.

Carnforth Haematite Iron Company Limited.—The
directors have declared an interim dividend of 4 per cent.,
free of income tax, for the past half-year.

Craig and Paton Limited.—This private company has
be^n registered in Dublin, with a capital of £10,000 in £1
shares, to acquire the business of foundry and electrical
engineers, &c., carried on as Craig and Paton. First
directors, G. R. Craig, G Paton and G. A Shipp. Registered
office, 11, Fisher wick-place, Belfast.

Dominion Steel Corporation Limited.—The Bank of
Montreal notify that the directors have declared a dividend
(No. 7) at the rate of 1 per cent, upon the common stock.

Drop Stampings Limited.—This private company has
been registered, with a capital of £3,000 in £1 shares
(2,500 preference), to take over the business recently
carried on by a company of the same name, and to adopt an
agreement with H. B. Smith. First directors, H. B. Smith
and T. Smith. Qualification, 100 shares.

Howard and Bullough Limited.—The directors announce
an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum
(6d. per share), less income tax, on the ordinary shares for
the past quarter.

Kent Collieries Limited.—The seventh annual general
meeting was held on Tuesday at Salisbury House, Mr. J. M.
Fells presiding.—The chairman, in moving the adoption of
the report and accounts, said he had again to apologise for
calling the shareholders together on the last day of the
calendar year. They proposed getting over that difficulty
in future years by making up the accounts to the end of
June in each year, so that they might be able to hold their
meetings earlier. During the year the 14U.000 preference
shares which were issued some two and a-half years ago
became fully paid, the last two calls of 2s. 6d. each maturing
in the early part of the present year. The chairman said
that progress had been made by others as well as them-
selves—a fact on which all interested in the coal industry
in Kent were to be congratulated. There was not now, and
could not be for many years to come, any competition
between the Shakespeare Colliery and other collieries in
Kent. It was unfortunately true that the progress at the
colliery had not been so great as was anticipated a year
ago. They had not, of course, been immune from the effects
of the great coal strike, which lasted for some six weeks.
The other great cause of retardation had arisen from an
oversight of an engineman in overwinding the car in No. 3
pit. The accident, which occurred in the early part of
September, had unfortunately been attended by the loss of
two lives. The accident had disarranged the winding and
pumping machinery and other gear, and had entailed a
loss of some three months in pumping the water which had
been allowed to accumulate in recovering the bodies,
removing the debris from the pit, replacing apparatus and
re-equipping the pit. In spite of the strike and the accident,
the engineers were convinced that they were in a better
engineering position than they had ever been in before. All
the damage to the pit had been reaired, and sinking could
be proceeded with without the hindrance which would have
arisen from a wet shaft. During the year they had
opened up some 1,500 ft. of roadways, and in doing so had
produced 1,100 tons of coal. They had found the
seam to be practically horizontal, with a good roof and floor.
The existence of good workable ironstone on this company's
property had been known for some time. There was a con-
stantly increasing demand for iron ore, and the conjunction
of coal and iron ore deposits on the seaboard could not but
give a commanding position to those utilising the advan-
tages which South-east Kent possessed.—Mr. W. Armstrong
seconded the motion.—The chairman, in reply to questions,
said that the difficulty of access to the colliery was receiving
careful attention, and he had on the previous day received
a letter from Mr. Dent, the general manager of the South-
Eastern Railway, and from the nature of that communica-
tion he had every reason to believe and hope that the
railway company would provide a halt outside the colliery,
and by that means greatly facilitate tr e approach thereto.
As to the question of forfeited shares, where there was no
chance of recovering arrears in respect of calls, the shares
had been forfeited in accordance with commercial prudence.

In other cases an extension of time for payment had been
given.—The resolution was unanimously agreed to, and
the retiring directors and auditors were re-elected.

New Dynant Anthracite Company Limited.—A special
meeting was held on the 30th ult. for the purpose of
confirming resolutions passed at a previous extraordinary
general meeting.

North Wales Iron and Manganese Company Limited —
The report states that the deliveries of manganese ore to
customers during the year show a marked falling off from
1911, the tonnage being 3,290 tons, as against 6,078 tons,
leaving the stock of ore on hand 3,671 tons. The company
have made a loss of £455 on the year's working, £265 of
which, legal expenditure, is costs due for work done over a
number of years, and none of which was incurred during
this year. The coal strike was followed by two strikes of
the company's miners, causing a stoppage of all work for a
considerable time. Freights from the mine to Ellesmere
Port advanced 40 per cent., and in addition the landing and
storage charges there have been advanced 100 per cent.,
and some advance in contract terms with the miners had to
be submitted to.

Phoenix Patent Fuel Company ^Limited.—This private
company has been registered, with a capital of £65,000 in
63,500 ordinary shares of £1 each and 30,000 deferred shares
of Is. each, to carry on the business of manufacturers of
and dealers in solid or liquid patent fuel and coke, coal
merchants and factors, &c., and to adopt agreements (1)
with R. Dunning and (2) with J. S. Rice. The subscribers
are:—W. E. Williams, Merchants' Exchange. Cardiff,
colliery proprietor; Commander E. L. Scrivener, R.N.,
Sibton Abbey, Wexford. The first directors are J. Aeron
Thomas, of West Cross, Swansea ; W. Thomas, of Aberdare ;
W. E Williams; R. Dunning, of Eistcheap; and Com-
mander E. L. Scrivener, R N. Qualification, 300 ordinary
shares. Remuneration (except managing director, if any)
£200 each per annum, with £50 extra for the chairman, and
a percentage of the profits. Secretary and registered office,
E. J. Sadler, Swan Works, Prince of Wales Dock, Swansea.

Rodney Engineering Company (Liverpool) Limited.—
This private company has been registered, with a capital of
£600 in £1 shares, to carry on the business of metal
founders, engineers, &c. First directors, H. O Andrews
and F. W. Baucher, and others to be appointed. Registered
office, 5, Baltimore-street, Liverpool.

Sheringham Coal Supply Company Limited. — This
company has been registered, with a capital of £500 in £1
shares, to carry on the business of coal merchants, &c. First
directors, W. S. Bu<hell, J. W. Weston, W. H; Sadler, H. H.
Walker, F. W. Lusher, H. Barnes, and C. A Sadler. Secre-
tary, T. Tomlin. Registered office, Kebroyd, Avenue South,
Sheringham.

Slater and Johnstone Limited.—This private company
has been registered, with a capital of £1,000 in £1 shares,
to carry on the business of merchants, brokers and factors
of coal, &c. First directors, A. Slater and F. C. Johnstone
(both permanent). Qualification, £200. Remuneration of
permanent directors, £600 per annum ; of other directors,
£100 each per annum. Registered office, Mark-lane Station-
buildings, E.C.

Stone (J. B.) and Co. Limited.—This private company
has been registered, with a capital of £3,000 in £1 shares,
to take over the business of a manufacturer of and dealer
in machinery, tools and engineering requisites, &c., carried
on by J. B. Stone at 135, Fmsbury-pavement, E.C. First
directors, J B. Stone (chairman) and E. M. Kennedy (life
directors), and P. J. Sutton.

Thermo-Electric Ore Reduction Corporation Limited.
—This company has been registered, with a capital of
£150,000 in £1 shares, to take over the business of smelters
carried on by Electric Furnaces and Smelters Limited at
Luton, Beds. Minimum cash subscription, £7. First
directors, H. W. Primrose, A. F. Maclaren and F. B.
Henderson. Registered office, 6, Broad-street-place, E.C.

Wright (John) and Son (Redditch) Limited.— This
private company has been registered, with a capital of
£5,000 in £1 shares, to carry on the business of coal, &c,
merchants, and to acquire the business carried on by J. F.
Wright at Station-yard, Redditch. First directors, J. F.
Wright, managing director and chairman), J. W. Wright
and H. Wright. Qualification of J. F. Wright, 1,500shares;
of other directors, 500 shares. Remuneration of J. F.
Wright, £200 per annum. Registered office, Station-yard,
Redditch.

Mortgages and Charges. — The following have been
registered in pursuance of the Companies Acts, 1907 :—
Blackwell Colliery Company Limited (particulars of £60,000
debentures created November 28, 1912, present issue
£20,000) ; British Wagon Company Limited (issues from
October 2 to November 14, 1912, of £28,557 10s. debentures,
parts of a series) ; Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company
Limited (satisfaction in full of debentures dated from
January 30, 1873, to July 25,1904, securing £17,640, notified.
Particulars of £250,000 debentures created by resolutions of
August 28 and September 30, 1912, also filed, present issue
£4,800) ; Tredegar Iron and Coal Company Limited (issue on
September 4, 1912, of £200 debentures, part of a series);
Unstone Colliery Company Limited (issue on November 19,
1912, of £1,250 debentures, part of a series); Yorkshire
Waste Heat Company Limited (particulars of £25,000
debenture stock created December 3, and secured by trust
deed dated December 4, 1912, whole amount now issued);
Ferranti Limited (trust deed dated November 1, 1912,
supplemental to trust deeds d^ted July 24, 1905, and
February 25, 1910, securing £50.000 5 per cent, first mort-
gage debenture stock; also trust deed of even date to
secure £50,000 500 five-year notes of £100 each, carrying
interest at 6 per cent, per annum); Heavy Stampings
Limited (particulars of £45,000 debentures created Novt m-
ber 18, 1912, whole amount now issued); North Rhondda
Colliery Company Limited (debenture dated December 12,
1912, to secure £500).

The United States Steel Corporation has decided to erect
plant costing twenty million dollars (£4,166,666) at Sandwich,
Ontario. The plant will include blast furnaces and mills
for the manufacture of steel wire, steel rails, and bars, and
steel for structural purposes. The corporation will form a
Canadian subsidy company, and it is probable that a bond
issue will be negotiated to meet part of the cost.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

SCOTTISH JUSTICIARY APPEAL COURT.

Before the Lord Justice Clerk and Lords Dundas
and Guthrie.

Contravention of Truck Act.

Summerlee Iron Company Limited, &c., v. W. Thomson.
—These were two stated cases by the Summerlee Iron
Company Limited, iron and coal masters, 176, West George-
street, Glasgow, and John Watson Limited, 18, St. Vincent-
place, Glasgow, who, at Hamilton Sheriff Court, were
charged with contravening sections 2 and 3 of the Truck
Act, 1831. The Summerlee Iron Company were charged
(1) that on February 16, 1912, they contracted with three
miners in their employment that in the event of their
severally leaving the company's employment, the company
should be entitled to retain whatever moneys were in their
hands until the men removed from the houses occupied by
them, and belonging to the company, and that for rent, &c.,
connected with their occupation of the houses subsequent
to their leaving the company's employment; (2) that on
March 1 and 2, 1912, they contracted with the three miners
to deduct from wages due on March 1 £1 each for rent, &c.;
and (3) that they failed to pay in the current coin of the
realm the entire amount of the wages earned.

The Sheriff-Substitute found the charge of contracting
on March 1 and 2 to stop and deduct not proven, and quoad
ultra, found the company guilty as libelled, and fined
them £3.

The complaint against John Watson Limited was that
they stopped and deducted certain sums from wages due to
two miners in their employment, the deductions being made
in respect of rent, &c, for occupation of houses belonging
to the company. A charge of contracting to stop and
deduct was also brought against the company, but was
found not proven. The other charge was found proved, and
a fine of 30s. was imposed.

The Court sustained the convictions, and dismissed the
appeals, allowing seven guineas expenses in each case to
the respondent.

Lords Dundas and Guthrie held that the case was ruled
by a decision in the case of Williams in the House of Lords.

The Lord Justice-Clerk (whose opinion was read by Lord
Guthrie) said while he expressed himself as consenting to
the judgment, he did so in respect of the decisions pro-
nounced in the House of Lords, which he could not but hold
ruled the cases before the Court. It was only in deference
that he yielded to these judgments. Had he been free to
take his own view, he would have been inclined to hold that
the Truck Act did not . apply to a case such as that now
being dealt with. In the present cases the employer was in
no way refusing to pay coin. He was only retaining what
by bargain he was entitled to retain as against a debt due
to him by the employee. His lordship could not see the
ground for holding him to be in breach of the Truck Act.
But the matter had been decided otherwise, and that by the
final authority, and to that his lordship bowed and concurred
in the judgment of the Court.

Colliery Developments in Cumberland.—The Oughterside
Coal Company have almost completed the sinking of their
air shaft to the Yard seam, and expect to increase their
output greatly from that source and the Rattler Band. For
some time boring operations have been proceeding with the
view of augmenting the output still further, and the
washery is being extended to cope with it. A battery of
40 Kopper ovens is in course of erection, with by-product
works for dealing with tar, sulphate of ammonia and benzol,
and they are expected to be ready in May or June next. At
the Wellington pit, Whitehaven, winnings have been made
in the Bannock Band in the Saltom area, and drifts are
now being driven to win both this seam, over a second fault,
and also the Main seam, from both of which there are good
prospects of a largely increased output being secured.
At Brayton Knowe, the Allerdale Coal Company have
successfully dealt with the feeders of water which troubled
them for some time, opened out the available royalty
satisfactorily, and substantially increased their output.
There have been extensive developments at the Allerdale
Coal Company’s William Pit, Clifton, near Workington
owing to the installation of by-product ovens. New
winnings have been made underground, and the output has
been greatly enlarged. Developments are also taking place
underground, at the same company’s Buckhill pit, with the
object of swelling the output. At the St. Helen’s Colliery
Company’s No. 3 pit at Siddick, near Workington, the pits
have been sunk to the Six-feet seam, and active preparations
are now being made for winning the coal. The output here
has been generally improved, and the company have put
down a benzol plant, which is working very successfully. The
prospects at the Ellenborough Colliery, near Maryport, for
the new year are exceedingly bright. The company have
succeeded in winning the Rattler Band over the large
downthrow to the west of the colliery and beyond that,
over another downthrow fault, the Ten-quarter seam. Both
are of good quality and very suitable for coking purposes,
the Ten-quarter seam being from 8 to 9 feet in thickness.
To the east of the colliery, beyond the large upthrow, at
which the former workings stopped, they have proved the
Yard seam in a normal condition rising to the east by an
easy gradient. The company have secured the Dearham
royalty from Lord Lonsdale, and negotiations are now

I proceeding for the development of the colliery and the
erection of by-product ovens.