January 24, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 185 favourable for expedition as now. Pitwood supplies are now rather more abundant and good wood may be obtained around 20s. 6d. per ton ex-ship. In the freight market charter- ing has been steady throughout the week, freights showing practically no change. Latest approximate quotations may be taken as follows:— Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large ... Wes tern-valleys, ordinary Best Eastern-valleys Secondary do. Best small coals Secondary do Inferior do Screenings Through coals Best washed nuts -Other sorts:— Best house coal Secondary do Patent fuel Furnace coke Foundry coke Current prices. 17/6 to 18/ 17/3 to 17/6 16/9 to 17/ 16/ to 16/6 13/6 to 14/ 12/3 to 12/9 11/9 to 12/ 13/9 to 14/ 14/6 to 15/ 14/6 to 14/9 18/6 to 19/ ! 17/6 to 18/6 i 22/ to 22/6 : 22/ to 24/ 27/6 to 30/ Last week's prices. 17/9 to 18/ 17/3 to 17/9 16/6 to 17/ 16/ to 16/3 13/3 to 13/6 12/3 to 12/9 11/6 to 12/ 13/6 14/6 to 15/ 14/6 to 14/9 18/6 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/6' 21/ to 22/ 22/ to 24/ 27/ to 30/ IRON. There is very little alteration to report in the local iron : and steel trades, but at the moment the general tone is hardly as confident as a couple of weeks ago. Most depart- ments, however, being fully placed as regards their output until at least the end of March, are showing some inclination to keep off the market for the present, and a prediction is ^expressed in some quarters of still higher values in the near future. Sheet and tinplate bar mills continue fully -engaged, prices remaining firm on the basis of £6 Bessemer, and <£6 2s. 6d. Siemens for Welsh bars. Imports of foreign bars are again heavy, with quotations from the Continent Is. harder. Rail mills report little change, work here is good, and values are firm at .£6 10s. for heavy sections, and 5s. extra for light. Blastfurnaces remain exceedingly busy. Outputs are again up to the heavy average of late, and values firm at 90s. to 91s. for Welsh haematite delivered locally. Iron ore is a steady market at 21s. 6d. to 22s. for best rubio c.i.f. Newport. Tinplates are now an uncertain market, and while nominally there are no changes to report, it is understood that stock lots are being eased off to those who will take spot delivery. Officially quotations remain on the basis of 15s. 3d. to 15s. 4|d. Bessemer, and 15s. 4|d. to 15s. fid. Siemens for :20 x 14 x 112. Cardiff. COAL. There is very little change in the coal market. Shipments for the week were fairly good, amounting to over 340,000 tons, and though chartering transactions showed a large : falling-off as compared with the previous six days, there was always an abundant supply of tonnage. The number of vessels engaged represented a carrying capacity of con- siderably over a-quarter of a million tons—to be exact, 284,450 tons, and the present week opened well, about 100,000 tons being taken up on Tuesday. Very little new business is reported, and the impression is gaining ground that most of the large buyers have practically covered their requirements. At any rate, negotiations on contract account have greatly subsided, the only purchases made now consisting of odd cargoes here and there. Coalowners are still very hopeful as to the future, and in some cases talk of 20s. being obtainable for best steams, but up to the time of writing no sales had been made at that figure. For prompt delivery from 19s. to 19s. 3d. has been accepted, but for later shipment the market price is 19s. 6d. to 19s. 9d. Many of the collieries have been hard pressed for tipping facilities, and it is therefore gratifying to learn that in addition to the new tips, which are in course of erection on the western side of the entrance to the Barry Dock, further dock accommodation is to be provided. It has been decided by the Barry Dock and Railway Company to fill up a large portion of the old harbour, by which means additional dock accommodation and railway sidings extending for about :200 acres will be afforded. Last week the number of vessels in dock at Barry averaged over 75 a day, but on Monday last only 70 were recorded, many vessels having been -delayed by the stormy weather. At Cardiff the number in dock was 125 to 130 a day. Penarth had also a full complement. There has been a fairly good enquiry for coals of a secondary character, and the prices ruling for these descriptions are very high. There continues to be a good demand for small coal, and prices generally are steady. Enquiries for Monmouthshire coals are very satisfactory, and some of the owners of the Western Valley collieries have little difficulty in obtaining enhanced prices—in fact, some contracts have been taken at only 3d. below the cost of Black Vein qualities. For some of the Eastern Valleys coals as much as 17s. 6d. has been obtained. Messrs. Pyman, Watson and Co., have secured an order for 20,000 tons of Monmouthshire large steams for delivery to the Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean railway from now to the end of September next. The company at first thought of buying patent fuel, but finding the price-of the latter so high they decided to substitute ooal. The additional orders placed for delivery in the Mediterranean have been the means of stiffening freights to that quarter. Bay freights, however, are on the easy side. The Custom House returns are now to hand for December, and they show that exports from the Bristol Channel to foreign countries in that month amounted to 2,486.237 tons, being an increase on the corresponding month of 1911 of 100,201 tons. From Cardiff alone, the shipments totalled 1,656,094 tons, an increase of 71,169 tons. There was also an increase from Port Talbot of 67,086 tons, but from Newport there was a decrease of 47,492 tons. For the 12 months the exports amounted to 26,125,744 tons, or 925,958 tons more than in 1911. This is very satisfactory considering the disorganisation caused to trade by the national coal strike. For nine months out of the 12, ship- ments last year were greater than in any month covering a period from 1908. Though there is a lack of enquiry for bituminous coals, some collieries ask as much as 18s. to 18s. 6d. for No. 3 Rhondda large. Others, however, are willing to accept 17s. 6d. In fancy house coals there is no change. The Cardiff Journal of Commerce publishes a table giving the average declared price per ton of coal exported during December, from which we extract the following, relating to the chief Welsh ports:— Cardiff. Newport. Swansea. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Best steam ... 16 2 .. .. 14 11 .. .. 15 6 . ... 14 8 Through-and-th rough 12 6 .. .. 11 11 .. ,. 10 9 . ... 10 5 Small ... 9 9 .. .. 11 3 .. ,. 9 7 . ... 8 2 Large anthracite ... ...23 11 .. — .. 15 8 . ... 17 10 Household ... 12 3 .. ,. 15 10 .. .. 15 0 . Shipments of patent fuel during the week amounted to nearly 50,000 tons, the Crown Company and other local makers exporting 19,377 tons, and Swansea 30,270 tons. There has been rather a better enquiry, and some business has been done in Cardiff best brands at 24s. for prompt shipment. Orders have also been placed for next year at 23s., delivery to commence from March. Swansea makers ask 20s., others 26s., but they are quoting mainly for July to September. The coke department is the strongest in the whole market. Pit wood has receded to 20s., or Is. below last week. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 19/3 to 19/6 18/9 to 19/ 18/ to 18/3 15/ 14/6 to 14/9 13/6 to 13/9 13/ 18/3 to 18/9 17/ to 18/ 16/ to 16/3 15/ 14/9 to 15/ 13/ to 14/ 15/ to 15/3 18/3 to 18/6 17/9 to 18/ 17/3 to 17/6 16/6 to 17/ 19/6 17/6 17/6 to 18/ 16/ to 16/6 • 15/ 16/ to 16/3 15/ 13/6 to 13/9 23/ to 24/ 22/ 35/ 32/ 25/ to 29/ 20/ Last week's prices. 18/9 to 19/6 18/3 to 18/6 17/6 to 18/ 15/ 14/9 13/6 to 14/ 12/6 to 13/ 18/6 to 19/ 17/ to 18/ 16/ to 16/3 14/6 to 15/3 14/9 to 15/ 13/ to 14/ 14/6 17/9 to 18/ 17/6 to 17/9 17/3 16/6 to 16/9 19/6 17/6 17/6 to 17/9 15/9 to 16/ 14/3 to 14/6 16/ 14/6. 13/6 23/ to 24/ 22/ to 22/6 33/ to 34/ 32/ 25/6 to 28/ 21/ Superior seconds Ordinary do Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through... Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through... Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) Coal and patent fuel quotations are for cash in 30 days less 2% per cent. Rhondda bituminous coals at pithead are roughly Is. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f.o.b. IRON. The shipments of tin-plates last week, owing to the non- arrrival of vessels through the gales, only amounted to 58,362 boxes, as against 106,863 boxes received from works. Stocks have therefore been increased to 396,014 boxes. The market is reported to be somewhat more buoyant, and manufacturers are anticipating the future with more cheerfulness than they did a month ago. Raw materials, however, are still very high, and there seems little prospect of any reduction. At the quarterly meeting of the executive committee of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Tin- plate Manufacturers' Association, at Swansea, on Tuesday, a letter was read from Mr. F. C. Bond, of Llanelly, urging the desirability of the temporary reduction of the output in the mills controlled by the association. The subject was discussed at some length, and it was decided to convene a general meeting of the trade early in February to decide what action, if any, should be taken. The present over- production of the mills in Wales is estimated at from 12 to 15 per cent., and to rectify matters would probably neces- sitate the temporary closing of one-sixth of the works. There continues to be great pressure for tin bars. The new bar-rolling mill at the Duffryn Works has commenced operations, and it is hoped that the new furnaces which have been lighted will be able to afford a constant supply of ingots, the weight of which, under the new process instituted, have been increased from 9 cwt. to 15 cwt. each. Owing to the heavy imports from America and Germany it seems impossible to obtain higher prices for bars, and Siemens are still offering at .£6 and Bessemer at £5 17s. 6d. During the past week between 15,000 and 16,000 steel bars, plates and billets have been received from Germany and America. There is no improvement in the galvanised sheet trade. Many works are in need of specifications, and 24- gauge corrugateds are £12 2s. 6d. to £12 5s. per ton. Welsh pig iron is steady at 87s. 6d. f.o.t. In iron ore there is no alteration. Swansea. COAL. The returns of the trade of the port were again very favourable during the past week, notwithstanding the disastrous weather. The coal trade was active, whilst the exports of patent fuel were the largest on record for one week. The shipments together totalled 129,163 tons. There was a good attendance on 'Change this morning, and the conditions on the anthracite coal market were a little easier, enquiries having fallen off owing to the shortage in the supply of ready tonnage, occasioned by the gales which have recently prevailed. This was particularly noticeable in regard to orders for large. Red vein large was in fair request, with recent prices maintained. Machine-made nuts continued firm, but beans were in poor demand. Steam qualities were still difficult to obtain, but the demand showed signs of slackness, and smalls of this description were practically unobtainable at maximum values. The closing quotations were approximately as follow:— Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) (net) Secondary do Big Vein large (less 2J per cent.) Red Vein large do Machine - made cobbles (net) Paris nuts (net) French do. do German do. do Beans (net) Machine-made large peas (net) Do. fine peas (net) Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) Duff (net) Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) ... Seconds do. Bunkers do. Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2|p.c.) Through - and - through (less 2| p.c.) Small (less 2| per cent.) Patent fuel do. Current prices. 22/6 to 24/6 20/6 to 21/6 19/ to 21/ 15/9 to 16/6 21/9 to 23/9 23/6 to 26/6 24/ to 27/ 24/ to 27/ 19/ to 21/6 12/ to 14/ 7/9 to 8/3 4/9 to 5/6 17/6 to 19/ 15/ to 17/ 13/6 to 16/ 11/6 to 14/ 17/9 to 19/ 15/ to 16/ 13/6 to 15/ 18/9 to 19/ L<*st week's prices. 23/6 to 25/6 21/6 to 22/6 19/ to 21/ 15/9 to 16/6 21/9 to 23/9 23/6 to 26/9 24/ to 27/ 24/ to 26/9 20/6 to 23/6 12/ to 14/9 7/3 to 7/9 4/9 to 5/6 17/6 to 19/ 14/9 to 17/ 13/6 to 16/6 10/6 to 11/9 17/9 to 19/ 15/ to 15/6 13/6 to 15/6 18/9 to 20/ IRON. Last week the yield of pig iron compared favourably with that of any similar period of the past quarter. In the various steel smelting departments of local works excellent outputs were recorded. Briskness characterised the sheet and galvanising trades, and, on the whole, the tinplate works are busy. The shipments of tinplates last week were 58,362 boxes, receipts from works 106,863 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 396,014 boxes, Llanelly. COAL. The many manufacturing works of this district are getting much concerned as to the scarcity of steam and bituminous coals, and unless the supply improves shortly, some of them will be running out of fuel. Not for years has there been such a rush for smalls and the quantity available so unsatisfactory. The continual rain of the past few months has caused considerable trouble at the collieries and the outputs in consequence have fallen off a great deal. From present appearances it looks as though the demand will keep up for some months to come. There is a fairly good demand for anthracite, but the market is not nearly so firm as it has been. There is a noticeable falling off in the demand for the machine-made kinds, and some sellers are accepting reductions of quite Is. to Is. 6d. to have wagons released. Rubbly culm is in excellent demand and the prices received are high. Horticultural kinds are going well, but all other sorts leave room for improvement. Prices this week are:— Current Last week's Anthracite:— prices. prices. Best malting large 24/ to 25/ 24/6 to 25/6 Secondary do 22/ to 23/ 22/6 to 23/ Big Vein large 19/ to 21/ 19/6 to 21/6 Red Vein do 15/ to 16/ 14/6 to 16/ Machine-made cobbles ... 22/ to 23/ 22/ to 23/ German nuts 25/ to 26/ 25/6 to 26/ French do 25/ to 26/ 24/6 to 26/6 Paris do 26/ to 27? 24/ to 26/6 Machine-made beans 20/ to 22/ 22/ to 22/6 Do peas 12/6 to 13/ 1 12/6 to 13/6 Rubbly culm 8/ to 8/6 7/ to 8/ Duff 5/ to 5/6 4/9 to 5/6 Other sorts:— Large steam coal 16/6 to 17/6 16/ to 17/ Through-and-through ... 14/ to 15/ 14/ to 15/6 Small 11/ to 12/ 10/6 to 11/6 Bituminous small coal ... 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ LAW INTELLIGENCE. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE KING’S BENCH DIVISION.—January 17. Before the Lord Chief Justice, and Lords Justices Coleridge and Rowlatt. The Earthing of Switchboxes. Atkinson y. Imrie.—This was an appeal of Mr. J. B. Atkinson, H.M. inspector of mines for the Newcastle district, from a decision of the Gateshead magistrates, who had declined to convict Mr. H. M. Imrie, manager of the Chop- well Colliery, for an alleged offence under the Coal Mines Regulation Act. The case was heard by the Divisional Court some time ago, and the question was whether an electric switchbox in the mine should have been earthed. The switch was for the purpose of controlling a portable electric motor working a conveyor for carrying coal. On May 3, 1912, the box was out of order, and a workman touching it received an electric shock which proved fatal. It was alleged that if the switchbox had been earthed this accident would not have happened. It was proved that the switch box had baen erected before 1911, and in order to earth it it would have been necessary to carry another cable to the surface. No doubt special rules had been made to govern the earthing of such apparatus, but the appellant’s contention was that they did not apply to any apparatus erected before 1911. The taking of a cable to the surface, counsel contended, was installation, and not construction, and that, therefore, in failing to earth the switchbox, the respondent had been guilty of an offence under the Act, and was not shielded by the special rules which applied only to construction. For the respondent, it was submitted that the cost of earthing the present apparatus would be enormous. Counsel con- tended that it was for that reason that the rules which he said applied in the present case did not come into operation until 1920, so that the present apparatus might be worn out before new apparatus to comply with the rules was required. The magistrates had refused to convict, and from that decision the inspector appealed. The Court now dismissed the appeal, with costs.