246 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 31, 1913. through which an electric current has passed. After chemical combustion was started, the mixtures became less, and not more, explosive, although only a portion of the heat was derived from the combustion of the gas itself. Even if the incombustible dusts acted like platinum it would be difficult to explain Abel’s results as being due to a catalytic action. The Eskmeals experiments show that the presence of fine incombustible dusts does not increase, but retard, the rate of explosion of gaseous mixtures. The Laurieston Coal Company, Falkirk, have recently been sinking several trial pits on their property at Swine- dyke, near Laurieston, with the object of ascertaining whether fireclay was present in workable quantity in the ground. Their efforts have been successful in a marked degree, a bed of fireclay having been discovered a few feet from the surface, and varying from 12 ft. to 18 ft. in thick- ness. It is understood that it is the intention of the company to get into touch with the manufacturers of fire- clay goods, with a view to a brickworks being started at Laurieston. It is announced that the business of Mr. Alexander King, coal merchant contractor, Inverkeithing, has just been purchased by the Carnbeath Coal Company Limited, colliery agents, Kirkcaldy and Aberdeen. The company have also secured suitable premises, to which there is a private railway siding, for the successful working of the new branch. Messrs, the British “ Niclausse " Boiler Company Limited inform us that some time ago Mr. Wm. Yorath Lewis, M.Am Soc.Mech.E., A.M.I Mech.E,, A.M.I.E.E., was ap- pointed managing director. The company have recently installed a large boiler at Messrs. Siemens Brothers’ works, at Stafford, and are taking steps to construct boilers and mechanical stokers (in accordance with the most modern designs and standards of Messrs. J. and A. Niclausse, of Paris) in this country. An unusual charge has been preferred in Hamilton Sheriff Court against a colliery oncost foreman. He admitted that on December 16, in a Hamilton pit, he had connived at an offence committed by a pony driver, the latter having remained below ground at his work for some six hours more than the consecutive eight hours allowed by Act of Parliament. The pony driver was also charged with contravening the statute by working during that extended time, and he also admitted the charge. Mr. J. B. Ritchie, writer, Hamilton, appeared for both accused, and, by way of explanation, stated that certain hutches of coal were blocking the way of the coal-cutting machines, and that they must be cleared, otherwise the pit would be thrown idle by the congestion. The foreman was compelled to secure assistance, and the driver came to the rescue. Mr. Ritchie pressed for a modified penalty in view of the specially trying and possibly excusable circumstances of the case. The pony driver was fined 7s. 6d. by Sheriff Shennan, and the oncost foreman 5s. Messrs, the Mirrlees Watson Company Limited, of Glasgow, send us a lengthy list of orders recently received by them for steam-condensing plant. Amongst these may be noted orders for surface plant from Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Co., and Messrs. Smith and McLean Limited, of the Gartcosh Iron Works ; for Mirrlees-Leblanc multi jet plant for Messrs. Vickers Limited, the Sutton Heath and Lea Green collieries, and the Parkside Mining Company; and a repeat order for low-level jet plant for the Dalton Main Colliery Co. Limited. Messrs. Hugo Stinnes send us a map showing the location of their branches and bunker stations, with photographs of quick-discharging loading and bunkering appliances at Messina, St. Petersburg, Rouen, Harburg, and Stettin. The Syren and Shipping for January 8 is a splendid production, both as regards matter and illustrations. In addition to a review of the year, there is an interesting survey over the last quarter of a-century, and articles on dredgers, oil and steam engines, graving yards, life-saving,