398 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 21, 1913. INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES. India. The Morning Post announces that details will shortly be published of an important and far-reaching scheme of railway electrification in India. Africa. Natal Coal Trade.—Our correspondent says:—Natal has always been regarded as the chief coaling port of South Africa, for not only is the local coal more suited for bunkering purposes than that of the Transvaal, but the port possesses more shipping facilities, cheap water, and numerous other advantages as compared with other local ports. Despite this fact, the loading and storage facilities at the Point at Durban are far from adequate, and until Natal entered the Union of South Africa the collieries enjoyed special advantages, and to some extent preferential treatment at the hands of the Natal Government Railways. It was anticipated that when Natal entered the Union it would lead probably to a more rapid development of the coalfields of the Province, and that no efforts would be spared by the Railway Administration, especially to promote the success of the coal trade upon which the prosperity of the Province as well as of the port so much depends. In these anticipations the coal companies in particular and the public in general have been disappointed. It would serve no good purpose to enter into details showing that whilst the Union Government are prepared to squander money (for the most part obtained from the mining industry) in attempts to promote the success of agriculture, no effort is made to place the coal handling and railway facilities to the Port of Natal on better lines. The coalmining industry of Natal has long called for a new and direct line of railway to the coalfields, to enable their development to be taken in hand, and enable them to supply the coal for bunkering and export purposes at such prices as will enable them to compete with the Transvaal and other competitors, but all that is offered appears to be a doubling of the existing expensive and roundabout line which, whilst enabling it to carry more general traffic, would not be calculated to place the coal trade of Natal in anything like the same improved position as the long-proposed new direct line of railway. Since the advent of Union the coalmining industry of Natal has not advanced to the same extent as that of the Transvaal, simply because it has not received the same or corresponding advantages from the Railway Administration. To some extent this is admittedly due to the considerate and preferential treatment the collieries received at the hands of the Natal Government Railways before Union, the Railway Administration now making efforts to place the collieries on somewhat the same footing throughout the Union, particularly as regards demurrage and other vexed questions. There is constructed at the port accommodation for the storage of 10,000 tons of coal in compartments of 1,000 tons each rented to the collieries at £12 per month, but the Railway Administration now propose to charge 2d. per ton per week or part of such week in lieu of such charges, a charge the colliery companies urge will add materially to tie costs of storage. The railway administration also propose to charge demurrage for trucks not unloaded at the port after 48 hours or placed in the coal bins at West’s, and when so stored at-West's the coal must be removed from the bins ’ in preference to any that may be standing belongingjto the same colliery at the point. No coal to be left in|the storage bins at West's for a longer period than a calendar month without special arrangements being made with the Railway Administration, the latter, after giving seven days' notice, to have the right to sell the coal on account of whom it may concern. An interview on these proposals has already taken place between the representatives of the colliery companies and the Railway Administration without leading to any definite results, and at the present time the position between the colliery representativesand theRail way Administration seems difficult to define. It is evident, however, that the effort made by the railway administration to place the demurrage question the same footing throughout the Union is sure to result in disadvantage to the Natal coal trade. The oversea coal trade has been brought to its present position by special facilities obtained in the past from the Natal Government, and the selling prices for coal for bunkering and export purposes at Durban are so low that the collieries cannot bear any further imposts or innovations calculated to increase the cost of coal at the port of Natal. Australia. Defeat of the N.S.W. Night Hours Bill.—The Eight Hours Bill has been defeated in the New South Wales Legislative Council, the second reading being vetoed by 23 votes to 4. The Minister of Mines was asked by a deputation of colliery proprietors to exempt those collieries whose trade it could be shown would be adversely affected by the restriction of hours. The Minister replied that he could not see his way clear to adopt the suggestion. Council, in moving the second reading, admitted that the effect of the Bill would be to restrict the output, but argued that this was not so important as 20 years ago. On the other hand, it was pointed out that if this Bill came into operation the miner would demand increased pay, and the cost of production would be enhanced by Is. 2d. per ton. This could not be passed on to the consumer in the foreign markets. Australian Coal for the Siamese Navy.—The acting British consul at Bangkok (Mr. J. F. Johns) reports that the Siamese Admiralty recently invited tenders for the supply of 5,000 tons of Cardiff or Australian coal, and accepted the offer of a company to deliver Australian coal at the naval godowns in Bangkok for 25'50 ticals (about .£1 18s. 6d.) per ton. The acting consul adds that this matter is of interest as being the first occasion on which public tenders have been invited for the supply of coal to the Siamese Navy. It should be noted, however, that only nine days were allowed for the receipt of tenders, and it would have been difficult, therefore, for foreign firms to make quotations unless represented on the spot. TH® LOHDOH COAL TRAOfi. Thursday, February 20. The London coal trade for the past week has begun to show signs of returning animation. The earlier market in the week was exceeding dull, and buyers were careful not to increase their stock, but with the return to colder weather the demand for household qualities steadily improved. Factors also, who have for the past five or six weeks had an abundance of loaded wagons on hand from which they had in many cases incurred siding-rent charges, and which prevented them from buying in the open market, found themselves gradually getting clear of stock, and so were prepared to buy up more freely the spot lots offering so plentifully during the past few weeks. Colliery representatives, on the other hand, showed a strong disposition to hold the present stock at the colliery, and rather than accept the unremunerative rates offered by the merchants and factors. Gradually, however, the volume of trade has steadily increased, and towards the close of the week pit prices began to show a distinctly firmer tone. In the seaborne market the gales along the coast and the dense fog in the river have seriously interfered with the movement of craft, and in many cases very heavy consignments are awaiting shipment. The shipping trade continues brisk, and very little Yorkshire or Durham coal has been offering on the market. Public orders are improving, and the delivery trade is fairly brisk. The attempts to pick up stock at the various wharves and depots have denuded many of the coal centres of the enor- mous heaps of coal in stock, and kept the London market largely dependent upon the railway wagons travelling to and from the metropolis. Bayers have ordered very freely during the past few days, and the marshalling stations, such as Toton, Peterboro’, Welham, and Woodford and Hinton are already becoming congested. Should, however, the cold weather continue these will be speedily absorbed and re- leased. In the manufacturing market the best qualities of hard steam coal continue in strong demand, and double- screened nuts and peas are also moving freely, but slacks . have had a slightly weakening period. The cheap qualities of steam coal also have been neglected, and screened cobbles and bakers' nuts, until the return of the colder weather, were very quiet. Forty-four vessels were reported as arriving in the Pool of the River Thames on Monday's market and seven vessels on Wednesday. None of these, however, were offering for sale. All the metro- politan gasworks and the electric lighting stations have been unusually busy owing to the recent fogs and cloudy weather. Gas coke is abundant and has met with very little sale. No change is reported in any of the current price lists, but low special prices are all withdrawn. Should the present weather hold, the distinct tendency is towards an early advance in both pit prices and in the advertised public prices. Market quotations (pit mouth) : Note.—Although every care is exercised to secure accuracy, we cannot hold ourselves responsible for these prices, which are, further, subject to fluctuations. Yorkshire. Wath Main best coal Do. nuts Current prices. 13/ 12 11/6 15/ 11 12/6 12/ 13 13 12 11/ 14/ 14/ 13/6 11/6 !5/ 14/ 13/ 13/6 13/ 12/ 11/9 9/6 10/ 12 11/9 u/ 10/9 9/6 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 11/6 11/ 12/6 11/ 12/ Last week's prices. 13/ 12 11/6 15/ 11 12/6 12/ 13 13 12/- 11/ 14/ !4/ 13/6 11/6 15/ 14/ 18/ 13/6 13/ 12/ 11/9 9/6 10/ 12 11/9 11/ 10/9 9/6 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 12/ 11/9 11/6 11/ 12/6 11/ 12/ Birley cube Silkstone Do. branch coal Do. seconds Barnsley Bed Silkstone West Riding Silkstone Ki veto n Park Hszel Do. cobbles Do. nuts Do. hard steam New Sharlston Wallsend Wharncliffe Silkstone coal Do. Flockton Main Do. Athersley house coal Newton Chambers best Silkstone Do. Grange best Silkstone Do. Hesley Silkstone Do. Rockingham selected Do. Rockingham Silkstone Derbyshire. Wingfield Manor best Do. large nuts Do. small nuts Do. kitchen coal West Hallam Kilburn brights Do. do. nuts Do. London brights Do. bright nuts Do. small nuts Manners Kilburn brights Do. do. nuts Shipley do. brights Do. do. nuts Mapperley brights Do hard steam Cossall Kilburn brights Do. do. nuts Tro well Moor brights Do. do. nuts Grassmoor Main coal Do. Tupton Do. do. nuts Current Last week'a Derbyshire—(cont). prices. prices. Clay Cross Main coal 12/6 12/6 Do. do. cubes 12/ 12/ Do. special Derbys 11/9 11/9 Do. house coal . 11/ iV Pilsley best blackshale 12/6 12/6 Do. deep house coal 10/6 10/6 Do. hard screened cobbles 1°/ 1°/ Hard wink best Silkstone 12/6 12/6 Do. Cavendish brights 11/6 11/6 Do. cubes 11/6 11/6- Nottinghamshire. Clifton picked hards 12/ 12/ Do. small hards 11/ 11/ Do. deep large Rtftft.ni 12/ 12/ Annesley best hards 12/ 12/ Do. bright cobbles 11/3 11/3- Linby best hards 12/ 12/ Do. bright cobbles 11/3 11/3 Digby London brights 12/ 12/ Do. cobbles 12/ 12/ Do. top hards 13/ 13/ Do. High Hazel coal 14'/ 14/ Bestwood hard steam coal 12/ 12/ Do. bright cobbles 11/3 11/3 Hucknall Torkard main hards 12/3 12/3 Do. do. cobbles 11/3 11/3- Do. do. nuts 11/ 11/ Do. do. High Hazel HP. ... 14/9 14/9' Do. do. London brights 12/3 12/3 Do. do. large nuts 12/3 ' 12/3 Do. do. bright nuts 11/3 11/3- Sherwood H.P. hards 12/ 12/ Do. hard steam 10/6 10/6 Do. brights 11/3 11/3 Do. cobbles 11/3 11/3 Do. large nuts 11/9 11/9- Warwickshire. Griff large steam coal 10/9 10/9' Do. screened cobbles 11/ I 11/ Do. bakers' nuts 11/ 11/ Do. loco Two Yard hards 13/6 13/6 Do. Ryder nuts 11/6 . 11/6 Do. do. cobbles 12/6 12/6 Nuneaton steam coal L 10/9 10/9" Do. screened cobbles 11/ 11/ Do. nuts 11/ 11/ Haunchwood steam 10/9 10/9 Do. screened cobbles 11/ 11/ Do. nuts 11/ 11/ Wyken steam coal 10/9 10/9 Do. screened cobbles 11/ 11/ Do. nuts 11/ 11/ Exhall Ell coal spires 12/6 12/6 Do. large steam coal 10/9 10/9* Leicestershire. Snibston steam 10/6 10/6 Do. cobbles 10/3 10/3 Do. nuts 10/6 10/fi South Leicester steam 1°/ 1°/ Do. cobbles or small hards 10/6 10/6' Do. nuts 10/6 10/6 Whitwick steam 10/6 10/6- Do. roasters 10/6 10/6 Do. cobbles 10/6 10/6 Do. nuts 10/6 10/6- Netherseal hards 17/ 17/ Do. Eureka 12/6 12/3 Do. kitchen 10/6 10/6 Ibstock kibbles 1°/ 10/ Do. large nuts 1°/ 1°/ Do. bakers' nuts 9/6 9/3 Do. Main nuts... 10/ 10/ Do. hards 9/6 9/3 Granville New Pit cobbles 11/6 11/6 Do. Old Pit cobbles 10/6 10/6 North Staffordshire. Talk-o'-th’-Hill best 13/6 13/6 Sneyd best, selected 14/6 14/3 Do. deeps 14/ 14/ Silverdale best 15/ 15/ Do. cobbles 14/ 14? Apedale best 13/6 13/6- Do. seconds 13/ 13/ Podmore Hall best 13/6 AW/ 13/6- Do. seconds 13/ 13/ South Staffordshire (CannockDistrict). AV/ Walsall Wood steam coal, London brights 13/ 13/ Do. shallow one way 12/ 10/ 12/ Do. deep nuts 11/6 AZ// ll/6v Cannock steam 111 11/ Coppice deep coal 13/ •LJ7 13/ Do. cobbles 10/ 12/ io/ 12/ Do. one way 12/ 12/ Do. shallow coal 12/ 12/ Cannock Chase deep main 17/ 17/ Do. Deep kitchen cobbles ... 12/ 12/ Do. best shallow main 14/ 14/ Do. shallow kibbles 13/6 13/6'' Do. best brights 13/ 13/ Do. yard cobbles xo/ 13/6 Xd/ 13/6 Do. yard nuts 12/6 12/6- Do. bakers’ nuts 10/3 10/3' Do. screened hards 11/ 11/ from Meitn. Dinham, Favcua and Co.’s Report. Friday, February 14.—Although the weather was slightly colder, there was no improvement in the enquiry for sea-' borne house coal at to-day’s market, but supplies scarce. Monday, February 17.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day, but a slightly better* tone was noticeable. Wednesday, February 19.—The continuance of the colder weather gave an improved tone in the seaborne house coal market to-dav, but supplies very limited, and only smalt quantities of Yorkshire house were available. Prices.— Feb. 14. Feb. 17. Feb. 19.. Best (Durham) ............. — ... — ... _ Seconds do. ............... — ... — ... _ Sharlston W.E. York ....... — ... — ... __rr No. of cargoes............ 18 ... 44 ... 7