February 21, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 389 A NEW GASOLINE ROCK DRILL. We illustrate herewith a new gasoline rock-drill, which has been invented by L. L. Scott, of St. Louis, Mo. There are four sizes of machines, all of the same type and design, differing only in size and capacity. The smallest drill is held in the band, and weighs 35 lb.; the next size weighs 85 lb., without the mounting, and will drill holes up to 5 ft. deep ; the third size weighs 1401b., and will drill holes up to 10 ft. deep; the largest machine weighs 265 lb., and will drill holes up to 20 ft. or more. All of these drilling engines operate on the “ two- cycle” single-acting principle, and speeds up to 3,000 revolutions per minute can be obtained. The machines work on the “ hammer ” principle ; the hammer piston is made of vanadium steel, and is acted on directly by an explosive pressure of 3001b. The piston is moved rearwardly by energy stored in a flywheel, and is “ picked up ” for the return stroke on a cushion of 1 The Scott Gasoline Rock Drill. Enlarged View of the Scott Gasoline Rock Drill. a*. air. The drill steels are automatically rotated by means of chain and sprockets, which connect the crank shaft to the rotator shaft, the latter being formed with a worm, which drives a worm wheel formed on the drill chuck ; this chuck holds the shank of the drill steel loosely; the drill steels are formed with lugs at the shank end, which fit in corresponding slots in the chuck. Two types of drill steels are used—one the common hollow steel, through which water and a pinch of explo- sive pressure are sent, for the purpose of removing the rock cuttings from the drill-hole; the other type of drill steel is solid, but is formed with a spiral conveyor which works the rock cuttings out of the hole as the steel is revolved. On vertical holes, water is poured into the drill-hole as in the common practice with any solid steel. The machine, it is stated, will drill rock at the rate of from 3 to 15 inches pel- minute, and the largest machine uses only 2 gallons of gasoline per 10-hour run. The cylinder and piston are oiled automatically by oil that is mixed with the gasoline, so that as long as the machine runs it gets oil, and in the proper proportion. PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS.—February 18. Railways (No. 2) Bill. The Earl of Granabd moved the second reading. He mentioned the fact, without comment, that in the progress of the Bill through another place, the life of the Act had been limited to five years, with an undertaking by the Government that thereafter it should be continued in the Expiring Laws Continuance Act so long as Parliament desired it. Lord Balfour gave notice of his intention to omit the clause imposing the time limitation on a subsequent stage. The Bill was then read a second time. February 19. This Bill was read a third time and passed. On clause 3, which provides that “ This Act shall continue in force for five years after the passing thereof and no longer, unless continued by Parliament,” the Eabl of Granard moved an amendment, in the report stage, to leave out from “ thereof ” to the end of the clause, and insert: “ And thereafter if and so long as it may be continued by Parlia- ment. Provided that where the increase of rates or charges with respect to which the complaint is made is an increase made before the expiration of this Act, this Act shall apply thereto whether the proceedings were instituted before or after the time when the Act ceases to be in force.” On the motion of Lord Balfour, however, the clause was omitted from the Bill. Trade Unions (No. 2) Bill This Bill passed through the Committee stage and was reported to the House. On the motion of the Eabl of DuNMOBE,to subsection (e) of clause 3, which provides for expenditure on the “ distri- bution of literature ” within the meaning of the Act, the words “ on the publication or circulation of any newspaper having any political purpose ” were added. The Bill was read a third time and passed. On the report stage, Lord Dunmore’s amendment above referred to was agreed to, as were amendments to clauses 4 and 6. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—February 14. Rescue Work in Scotland. Mr. Duncan Millab asked the Home Secretary if he could state the date when the Mines (Rescue and Aid) Order was issued; when the mineowners were first required to make returns in pursuance of the Order; whether any returns had yet been received from the mineowners in Scotland; and whether any steps had been taken to accelerate the formation of rescue brigades and the pro- vision of rescue stations in the Lanarkshire coalfield. Mr. M’Kbnna replied: The Order was made on April 2 last, and the first returns by mineowners of the provision made in pursuance of the Order were required to be made by January 21 of this year. All the returns for Scotland have been received, and are now being carefully examined The divisional inspector has been pressing on the owners the question of the formation of rescue brigades and the establishment of rescue stations for the Lanarkshire coal- field, and when the examination of the returns is completed and full information is available, I will consider what further action should be taken in the matter. Electric Lighting of Shafts. Sir A. Mabkham called attention to the circumstances connected with the disaster at the Rufford Colliery. He attached no blame whatever to the owners of the colliery, and after suggesting some precautions that might be the means of saving life in a similar accident, such as the provision of electric lights in shafts, he asked the Home Secretary, in the exercise of his authority, to issue a memorandum to all colliery owners inviting consideration of the suggestions. Mr. McKenna said his hon. friend had done public service in calling attention to the circumstances of the disastrous accident. Obviously he could not now enter into a discussion of the technical merits of the suggestions his hon. friend had made, but they should have the fullest consideration in connection with the enquiry which was being made. Association of Mining Electrical Engineers.—The council of the association announces that the following prizes are offered for papers for the present session:—-An association prize of 5 guineas for the best paper read at any branch ; a prize of 2 guineas, given by Mr. Carlow, for the best paper by a member of East Scotland branch ; a prize of 4 guineas, given by Mr. Alex. Anderson and Mr. Matthew Brown, for the best paper by a colliery working electrician who is a member of the West of Scotland branch; a premium of 2 guineas, given by Lord Joicey, for the best paper by a member of the North of England branch. As in previous years, examinations for competency in mining electrical engineering will be held on Saturdays, March 8 and 15, 1913. Examinations will be held simultaneously in 10 different centres in the United Kingdom. The examina- tion consists of four papers, each containing 10 questions, of which not more than seven need be answered:—Paper 1— “ Alternating Current: Theory and Practice ”; paper 2— “ Direct Current: Theory and Practice ’ paper 3— “ Special Rules : Distribution of Electric Energy”; paper 4— “ Electric Lighting, Signalling, Miscellaneous Apparatus.” To qualify for a first-class certificate, the candidate must sit for all four papers. To qualify for a second-class certi- ficate, the candidate must sit for papers 1 or 2, and both 3 and 4. Candidates who have not had mining experience may present themselves for examination and obtain a pass, which will be converted into a full certificate on subsequent production of evidence of mining experience. Diplomas or certificates already held by candidates will be taken into account, but will not exempt from any part of the examina- tion. Every candidate will be required to pay a fee of 5s. before presenting himself for examination and must be on the register of the association. At the present time there are 119 certificated members on the register of the associa- tion. Any further information can be obtained from the general secretary of the association, C. St. Clair Saunders, Bank-chambers, London-road, Derby, or from any of the following branch secretaries:—R. W. Peters, Lochgelly, Fifeshire; David Martin, A.M.I.E.E., 45, Hope-street, Glasgow; Leslie Robson, Milburn House, Newcastle-on- Tyne; Cecil Walton, Moresby, Whitehaven; J. A. McLay, Roselea, West Park, Leeds; G. M. Harvey, B.Eng., Western Drive, Grassendal, Liverpool; F. Cusworth, 45, Edward- street, East Kirkby ; H. Arnott, Park-road, Bedworth; G. W. Humphrey. 10, Victoria-avenue, Cardiff; E. Kilburn Scott, M.I.E.E., Vale House, Bromley, Kent; J. L. Mort, Box 35, P. O , Mount Morgan, Queensland.