716 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. Apbil 4, 1913. A meeting of the Yorksire branch of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers was held on Saturday at the Hotel Metropole, Leeds, the president (Mr. J. N. Walker) being in the chair. A paper was read by Mr. John A. McLay (hon. secretary) on “ Condensing Plant for Steam Turbines.” Mr. McLay advised the use of surface condensing plants, because pure condensed steam water, free from impurities, was available for the boilers, the power consumption was low, and the operation was easy and safe. A special delegate meeting of the Northumberland and Durham Miners' Reliefi Fund was held at Newcastle on Saturday, to deal with suggestions made in the actuary's quinquennial report. The actuary recommended that the permanent disablement benefit be reduced to 6s. per week, that the contributions to the accident department be raised by Id. per week for full members and |d. for half members, and that the commission on collecting subscriptions be reduced one-sixth. The object of the alterations was gradually to restore the fund to a sound actuarial basis. At the outset of the proceedings a delegate moved that the rules remain unaltered, and this was carried by 694 to 441. A similar result occurred five years ago. On the occasion of his marriage, Mr. T. W elsh, manager of Greenrigg Colliery, Harthill, Lanarkshire, has been presented by the officials and workmen there with a beautiful drawing room cabinet, overmantel and piano stool. The question as to whether it is necessary to deliver weight tickets with coal supplied in bags was raised at the Chadderton Police Court last week, when Alfred Taylor, coal merchant, of Oldham, was summoned for not delivering a weight ticket with coal, as prescribed by the Act. One of the defendant's carters was seen to deliver four bags of coal at a house, and, when he was asked why he had not delivered a weight ticket, he said that his employer did not supply him with them. The defendant contended that it was unnecessary to deliver a ticket to purchasers of coal in bags; it was only necessary to leave a ticket if coal was delivered in bulk. Two magistrates said they never received tickets with coal delivered in bags at their houses, and the chairman of the Bench announced that the magis- trates disagreed on the matter. The authorities, he added, could take what course they desired, and could take the case to a higher court if they thought it necessary. The case there would be dismissed. The defendant intimated that he would bring the matter before the local coal- merchants' association. On Tuesday, Mr. Hobhouse brought in a Bill to extend the powers of the Chancellor and Council of the Duchy of Lancaster with respect to the granting of mining leases. In connection with the Castleford Mining Students' Associ- ation a social was held on Saturday, March 29, in the Co- operative Hall, when Mr. G. H. Brown presented Mr. W. A. Machin (mining lecturer, Castleford) with a gold albert, which had been subscribed for by the students, as a token of their respect for him. Mr. Machin has trained the deputies of Glasshoughton, Wheldale and Fryston, Prince of Wales and Bowers Allerton Collieries, in number about 250. Lower Ward of Lanark, Eastern District of Stirling, l^even, Arbroath, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gourock, Leith, Lossie- mouth, Bo'ness, Motherwell, Queensferry, Rutherglen, Wishaw, Milngavie. The records of the work done by local authorities towards improving the housing of the working classes since the passing of the Act afford ample testimony, says the memorandum, that greater and better- directed efforts are being made for the improvement of housing conditions in Scotland. Practically every local authority in Scotland has now designated an officer or officers to perform the duties imposed by the regulations contained in the Act. ' At Lanchester last week, two putter youths pleaded guilty to taking cigarettes into the workings of Messrs. Joicey and Co.'s South Tanfield Colliery on the 6th ult. The prosecution stated that this was a gassy mine and safety lamps had to be used. Although no matches were found upon the defendants, it was stated that they could light cigarettes by the aid of safety lamps. Defendants were fined 40s. each and cost?. At Durham County Court last week, Joseph Chisman, deputy overman at Dean and Chapter Colliery, was charged with an offence under the Coal Mines Act. On March 5, it appeared that defendant went to fire a shot for a man named Fawcett. The detonator misfired, and defendant drilled another hole 12 in. away and fired a shot. The detonator, however, had not exploded, and defendant took a pick to prize it up. Whilst doing this, the detonator exploded, with the result that defendant and Fawcett were temporarily blinded. The chairman said that, as the company did not wish to press the case, the magistrates would be lenient, and fine the accused 10s. The Coal Mines (Consolidation) Bill,—“ to consolidate enactments relating to coal mines and certain other mines,” has been brought in by Mr. Annan Bryce, supported by Mr. Burt, Sir David Brynmor Jones, Mr. Murray Mac- donald, Sir Arthur Markham, Mr. George Greenwood, Mr. Duncan Millar, Mr. Pirie, Mr. Radford, Sir William Beale, Mr. Wardle, and Dr. Chapple. It is to be read a second time upon Friday, April 11. In connection with the Cleveland section of the Durham mines inspection district, an interesting competition took place in the Central Hall, Saltburn, on Saturday afternoon. Three teams from the ironstone area had entered, namely, Great Ayton, Upleatham, and South Skelton. The winners were Great Ayton, who will now have to compete with the Durham teams for the challenge shield. The supremacy which best Welsh coal holds for its steaming powers was recently demonstrated in the trial runs of the four-screw turbine steamer “ Empress of Russia,” built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engi-1 neering Company for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. This vessel, which is destined for service on the Pacific between Vancouver, Yokohama and Hong Kong, has a length of 600 ft., breadth 68 ft., depth 46 ft., and a tonnage of 16,850 gross. In her first trial run on a measured mile, the vessel exceeded the maximum requirement by three-quarters of a knot, and subsequently in a further trial of 600 miles at sea her speed was 20? knots, or half a knot in excess of the contract stipulated. The coal con- sumption was measured and found to be 10 per cent, less than contract requirements, which means a large saving in coal per round trip, increasing the vessel's reserve steaming power, or enabling more cargo to be carried. The coal used for the trial trip was the world-famous Ferndale steam coal supplied by Messrs. D. Davis and Sons Limited. A largely attended meeting of the West of Scotland Branch of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers was held on the 28th ult. in the Royal Technical College, Glasgow. Mr. W. J. Belsey read a paper on “ Automatic Voltage Regulation.” Mr. Belsey dealt in detail with various types of regulators, losses in the generator fields and transmission lines, the operation of motors, together with the effect of voltage variation on lamps. At Haddington Justice of Peace Court on the 28th ult, John Halliday, colliery manager, Ravensheugh, Pres- tonpans, was charged with having been in possession or charge of three pit ponies, in No. 1 pit, Prestongrange Colliery, all of which were suffering or were suspected to be suffering, from glanders, and with failing with all practical speed to give notice of the fact to the police in terms of the Glanders or Farcy Order. Accused pleaded guilty, and explained that he had been ignorant of the terms of the Order. He had thought he was all right if he went by the requirements of the Coal Mines Act, 1911. He had been thirty years in a pit, and twenty years in charge, and had never known of a similar case. The Fiscal admitted the statement made by accused, and a fine of £1 was imposed. In a colliery prosecution at Pontefract West Riding Police Court on Saturday, it was explained that the defendant, a stallman named James Canning, of Moorthorpe, instead of having, as directed, drawn the timbers supporting the roof in a worked-out road, had allowed some of them to remain. Thus, when the rest of the roof collapsed in course of time a cavity was made, in which, in a fiery pit like the Barnsley seam of the Frickley Colliery, where the offence occurred, gas was almost bound to accumulate, and, sooner or later, lead to a gob fire. Defendant was fined £2 and costs £2 Is. 6d. GOITRAGTS OPEH FOR COAL ARD COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last Whits pages. Southampton, April 11.—The Corporation invite alterna- tive tenders for the supply and delivery at Otterbourne Siding, near Eastleigh, of Welsh steam coal, Bestwood cobbles and gas coke for six or 12 months. Forms of tender and all particulars may be obtained at the Waterworks Engineer’s Office, French-street, Southampton. Sealed tenders upon the printed form, and endorsed “ Tender for coal, Waterworks,” must be delivered at the Town Clerk’s office on or before the 11th inst. No pledge is given to accept the lowest or any tender. R. R. Linthorne, town clerk, Town Clerk's Office, Municipal Offices, Southampton. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Broughty Ferry, April 12.— For the supply and delivery of spint coal and nuts, for the Corporation Gas Committee. Estimated quantity required, 7,500 tons. Carnarvon, April 14.—For supply of a good household coal for one year from May 1, 1913, for the following police stations : Carnarvon, Bangor, Conway, Pwllheli, Llandudno, Bettws-y-Coed and Portmadoc, for the Carnarvon County Council. Dundee, April 7.—For the supply of gas coal, coking coal and nuts, for delivery over the ensuing year, for the Dundee Gas Commissioners (Dundee Corporation). Edinburgh, April 9.—For the supply of coal, for the Leith Harbour and Docks Commissioners, from May 1, 1913, to May 1, 1914. Konsberg (Norway), April 10. — H.M. Consul at Christiania reports that tenders are invited by the Kons- berg Arms Factory for the supply and delivery of 200 metric tons of steam coal, 200 metric tons of coke and 25 metric tons of smithy coal. Leith, April 9.—The Leith Harbour and Docks Com- missioners invite tenders from colliery owners or masters for supply of coal required by them from May 1, 1913, to May 1, 1914. London, April 21.—For supply of coal for the electricity department for one year from April 1, for the Battersea Borough Council. London, April 24.—For supply of coal and coke for public baths, depots, and offices during 12 months commencing July 1, for the Lambeth Borough Council. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received, GOITRAGTS OPES FOR EHGIHEER1HG, IROI AKD STEEL WORK, *G. Alexandria (Egypt), May 1.—Sheets, Nuts and Bolts.— H.M. Consul at Cairo (Mr. A. D. Alban) reports that tenders are invited by the Egyptian Coast Guard Administration for the supply of pitchpine, galvanised iron sheets and galvanised iron bolts and nuts.* Brussels, April 11.—Gas Pipes, 8fc.—For supplying straight-drawn iron pipes and special castings, for the Gas Service. Bury, April 12.—Washer-Scrubber.—For the supply, delivery and erection of a vertical mechanical washer- scrubber, capable of passing 2 million cubic feet of gas per day, for the Corporation. Clevedon, April 9.—Furnaces.—For erection of regene- rative furnaces, retorts, and ironwork connected therewith, for the directors of the Clevedon Gas Company. Daventry, April 14.—Water-softening Plant.—For the supply and erection of a water-softening plant (capacity 10,000 gallons per hour) for the borough water supply, for the Corporation. Derby, April 10.—Fencing.—For supply and delivery of about 535 yards of unclimbable wrought iron fencing, &c., for the Corporation. Dublin, April 14.—Water Tanks.— For the supply and erection of a cast iron tunk of 20,000 gallons capacity at Strabane Station, for the Directors of the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland). Ellon, April 7.—Pipes, 1,000,000 was included in the Estimates of the year for the purchase, transport and storage of oil fuel reserves, and that sum would be largely exceeded in the immediate future. It might also be necessary to make long forward contracts in various directions, in order to secure an effective lien upon a proportion of the supplies available from several sources, and these contracts must necessarily open up a number of difficult commercial and administrative questions. He, however, asserted his confidence in liquid fuel for war purposes, and that the difficulties would ultimately be over- come. He added, “We are not very far away—we cannot tell how far—from some form of internal combustion engines for warships of all kinds, and the indirect and wasteful use of oil to generate steam will, in the future, give place to the direct employment of its own explosive force. That position is not, however, reached at present, and, pending such development, although oil is required in large quantities for the flotilla and small vessels, coal must remain the main motive power of the British line of battle. Meanwhile, every effort will be made to develop the very considerable potential resources in liquid fuel of this island, and to accumulate in increased volume our imported reserves.”