1352

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

December 31, 1915.

had given instructions in writing that no holes must be
started in an old socket. He attributed no blame to deceased
or any of his party. The jury returned a verdict that
deceased died from septic pneumonia, caused by septic
wounds occasioned by an explosion.

Yorkshire.

Doncaster Colliery Doctors and their Fees—Colliery Manager
on Rescue Work — Development of Barnsley — York
Retail Coal Prices.

A demand is being made by the medical men in the Don-
caster coal field, who are acting as the doctors of the colliery
sick clubs, for an increase of 50 per cent, in their present fees.
Most collieries in the district have been notified by the doctors
that unless their demands are granted forthwith, they will
terminate their services with the societies at the commence-
ment of the New Year. The present fees paid are 2d. per
member per week, and the doctors are asking for 3d.

There is every reason to believe that the proposal that the
Yorkshire coal field should raise a convoy of motor ambulances
for the war, at a cost of £35,000, will be taken up in the
spirit it should be. The scheme includes the provision of 50
ambulances, with repairing carriages and full equipment.
After three months, it is calculated the upkeep of the vehicles
could be defrayed at a cost of less than j-d. per week per
member of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association. The council
of the latter are appealing to the miners to regard the pro-
posal sympathetically and favourably, and it has now been
relegated to the various branches for consideration.

In distributing the year’s awards to the members of the
Mexboro’ division of the Denaby Ambulance Brigade, Mr.
W. H. Chambers, managing director of the Denaby and
Cadeby Collieries, stated the movement had plodded along
quietly for many years, and had now, at a given moment,
been able to place at the service of the county large bodies
of highly trained and efficient men. He would not be sur-
prised at the introduction of legislation compelling every man
who went down a mine to hold an ambulance certificate.
For any such proposal he w’ould vote wTith both hands.

Remarkable figures showing the growth of Bentley through
colliery development were given at a Local Government Board
enquiry held there last week by Mr. A. G. Drury, into the
application of the Urban District Council to borrow £2,030
to complete their scheme of sewerage and sewage disposal.
It was stated that in 1881 the population of Bentley was
1,484. Fourteen years ago it began to substantially increase,
and in 1911 was 6,497. To-day it contains 13,000 people,
has a ratable value of £68,642, and an assessable value of
£54,521. This extraordinary development is entirely due to
the great colliery which Messrs. Barber, Walker and Com-
pany have opened up at Bentley, and which has converted
it from a little hamlet into an urban district. There was no
opposition at the enquiry.

The special sub-committee of the York Corporation appointed
to consider the question of coal prices, have had under con-
sideration an amendment carried at the November meeting of
the Council that the maximum advance of coal should not
exceed 6s. 6d. per ton when coal is sold by the ton, and 6s. 8d.
per ton when sold in less quantities than a ton, over the
prices obtaining in October 1914. The original proposal was
to limit the advance to the prices prevailing at similar dates
last winter. The coal merchants of the city have declined to
agree to the maximum advance being on the October prices,
and the sub-committee will re-submit their original recom-
mendation for confirmation.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Coal Field's Ambulances Inspected by King George.

The work of clearing away the surface buildings—they
were built for lasting, being of great strength—is now in
progress at Lord Ellesmere’s Roughfield Colliery, Walkden,
which dates back to 1833.

It is expected that the whole of the mines in the Clifton
and Kersley Coal Company’s new collieries at Astley Green,
near Leigh, will be fully opened out before the firm’s pits
in the Kersley and Clifton localities are worked out.

During the past fortnight there has been a great deal of
short time worked at certain collieries in the Manchester and
Bolton areas, owing to the inability of the railway companies
to return wagons promptly, through the severe weather.

It was reported at a meeting of the Electricity Committee
of the Manchester Corporation last week that the position
with regard to the threatened shortage of coal had been
’greatly relieved in consequence of the pressure brought to
bear by the Government in the necessary quarters, and the
action of the Committee in going further afield for their
supplies. Some of these had come from Newcastle-on-Tyne.

The council of the Oldham Chamber of Commerce heard
a statement last week from Mr. Ernest Lee, president of
the Oldham Coal Traders’ Association, respecting the pro-
posed pooling of railway wagons ; and after some discussion,
the council passed a resolution expressing the opinion that
the regular supply of coal to the town would be affected
disastrously by the proposed pooling of privately owned
wagons.

It is announced that the Local Government Board has
sanctioned the proceeding with the housing scheme of the
local District Council at Irlam, and the Ship Canal, to
accommodate the men employed at the Partington Iron and
Steel Company’s extensive new works. Altogether, about
160 houses are comprised in this scheme. Many of the men
had threatened to go back to the North of England unless
they could be provided with houses; a few have already gone.

The King, on the 23rd ult., inspected at Buckingham
Palace, a motor ambulance convoy, presented to the British
Red Cross Society by the members of the Lancashire and
Cheshire Miners’ Federation. Twenty-five fully equipped
cars took up their positions in the Mall, and proceeded to the
Palace. They were halted in front of the terrace, and his
Majesty made a minute inspection of the convoy. He
expressed his appreciation of the gift, and of the spontaneous
manner in which the miners had subscribed to Mr. Bayley’s
appeal. The cars are specially adapted for hard work in
mountainous country, and are destined to become an Italian
convoy.

Notts and Derbyshire.

Fatal Gas Accident Enquiry.

An appeal is being issued for funds for the purpose of
erecting a new and enlarged convalescent home for Derby-
shire miners at Skegness. The officials of the present
home are Mr. Barnet Kenyon, M.P. (president), Mr.
W. Beckett (vice president), Mr. Frank Lee (secre-
tary), and Mr. Frank Hill (treasurer). The appeal
points out that the normal demand on the present home is
rapidly out-growing its capacity, and that the lease of the
present buildings shortly expires. When, in 1904, the
committee took charge of the Skegness Home, the old
committee were in great financial difficulties. In January
1905 a meeting, representative of 15,000 workmen in the
county, agreed to take over the Home, with the liabilities.
Improvements were effected, and now all the collieries in
the county, with only small pits exempted, are regular
subscribers. What is claimed to be an ideal site has been
secured from Sir Charles Seely, who, with his brothers,
Brig.-Gen. J. E. B. Seely and Capt. F. E. Seely, have been
exceedingly generous to the committee, having promised to
return, as a subscription to the new building fund, £360
of the purchase price—this being one-half of the value
placed upon the land by the Government assessor. After
allowing for £1,500 or £2,000 which it is thought might be
raised among the men (Is. each from 30,000 persons would
amount to £1,500), it is suggested that a loan of £9,000
should be negotiated. This would mean an annual charge
of £450. It is suggested that the miners’ 'association might
be induced to lend the money at 2| per cent. The scheme
provides accommodation for 68 patients.

The tragic deaths of David Aldred and John Orrill, two
Horsley Woodhouse miners, which occurred in the Horsley
Kilburn pit on Christmas Eve, were investigated at an
inquest held on Monday. The jury found that the deceased
met their deaths through being accidentally suffocated by
carbon-dioxide. William Peat, a miner employed at the
colliery, said he was working with the deceased men on the
day of the tragedy. They were clearing away some dirt from
the plane. . Orrill was a little further up than witness, who
called to him, saying he would like another shovel. Orrill
told Aldred, the other deceased, to fetch one out of the
airway, which was rather more than 100 yds. away. As
Aldred was away half an hour, witness spoke to Orrill, who
told him to fetch an electric lamp off the top. Witness took
the lamp and shouted to Aldred. By this time Orrill himself
had gone to the airway. Witness followed. When he got
to some dirt he felt faint. He thought he saw one of the
bodies further on, and becoming alarmed, he went back for
assistance. He brought back Woodhouse and a man named
Chambers. They recovered the bodies. Witness added that
he and the other men with him were affected by the gas.
Questioned, he stated that the airway in question was seldom
used. He had previously felt the same effects from gas
fumes. In answer to the inspector, witness said all three
of them were working about 80 yds. down, but in the fresh
air. Orrill, being deputy, usually went down first to make
an examination. On this occasion he started off with a
lighted candle and an electric lamp. In witness’s opinion
it was .not safe to go down when the candle went out.
When his light went out deceased ought to have returned.
Aldred’s candle was found on a plate, just through a door,
and Aldred’s body lay 10 or 12 yds. beyond. Aldred must
have gone on with the electric lamp. Joseph Peat (son of
the witness) and Woodhouse were compelled to make several
attempts before the bodies were recoverd. They fastened
their pit straps round the feet of the deceased, and drew them
out. Arthur Woodhouse, another miner, corroborated.
Describing the rescue, he said the last witness came to
him and said someone was “ damped ” down below. Witness
rushed into the airway and found the cloth, which ought to
have been down, tied up. He pulled it down, broke the air
pipes, and started to connect them up to where the men lay
to make the circuit shorter. Witness placed his pit strap
round Orrill’s legs, and then felt exhausted. Mr. Peat’s
son got the second body out. Dr. H. Ainscow, of Horsley
Woodhouse,, said death was due to asphyxiation, caused by
carbon dioxide. The coroner, in summing up, emphasised
the heroic work of Peat and Woodhouse. The jury recom-
mended the use of safety lamps, and also the installation of
a helmet for cases of gassing.

The Midlands.

Retail Coal Prices Arrangement at Birmingham.

A sequel to a dispute at the Portobello Colliery was
heard at the Wolverhampton Police Court, last week, when
17 miners were summoned for neglect of work. It was
stated that the whole of the miners employed became entitled
on December 5 to a 5 per cent, rise in wages, but a week
later the defendants complained there had been a miscalcu-
lation. They struck work, and declined the invitation of the
proprietors to resume, pending an adjustment of difficulties.
They left the pit head, and did not return that day, while
some of them stayed away on the following day. The
Stipendiary said the men must have known it was wrong
to leave their work without notice. He ordered those who
stayed away the two days to pay £2 each as damages, and
the others £1.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham has arrived at a pro-
visional understanding with the City of Birmingham and
District Coal Merchants’ Association regarding a limitation
of coal prices, and it is expected that merchants outside the
association will also fall into line. The members of the
association are to limit their margin to one not exceeding
7s. 6d. per ton over the cost at the depot, which will make
current prices to householders from 24s. 'to 30s. per ton in
the usual delivery area. Members who supply the coal yards
and bag-wagon men will undertake to withhold supplies
to any dealer charging more than Is. 5d. to Is. 7d. per cwt.
as a maximum ex coal-yards and bag-wagons under present
conditions.

Kent.

The damage done by the recent accident in the deep
sinking at Snowdown Colliery has been almost made good,
and resumption of sinking to the deeper seams will be soon
possible. The quantity of coal raised from the Beresford
seam at the colliery has recently approached 2,500 tons
weekly.

Additional machinery required for the development of
Tilmanstone Colliery has now been ordered by the East Kent
Colliery Company. This will enable the present output to be
largely increased. A meeting of the shareholders for the
reception of the company’s accounts, and for the election
of the new board of directors, is to be held very shortly.

Scotland.

Cambuslang Colliery Life and Housing Scheme—Action to
Prevent Pit Sinking.

Mr. J. Meek has been appointed as under-manager at
Mosside Colliery, belonging to the Fife Coal Company
Limited. Previous to this appointment Mr. Meek was
engaged in a similar capacity at Broxburn.

At a meeting of the East Lothian County Council at
Haddington last week, the committee appointed to deal with
the limitation of retail coal prices reported that, after a
conference with the merchants, it was resolved to recom-
mend that 6s. be the maximum sum to cover profits and
distribution charges within a mile of a railway station. The
recommendation was agreed to.

Owing to the difficulty of procuring drawers, trouble is
being caused at numerous collieries when the face workers
are asked to draw their own material. In cases an altera-
tion of the system of working is necessary. Cut chain brae
system is being adopted, as in that system the face men
draw and run their own material, and less actual drawers
are required.

Mr. James Me Vie, manager of Cadzow Collieries,
Hamilton, has just retired. It is understood that his suc-
cessor is to be Mr. Buchanan, of Bedlay Colliery, which is
situated in the north-western area of Lanarkshire.

Mr. David Beveridge, one of the agents of the Fife Coal
Company, was honoured on Saturday evening on the
occasion of his departure from Kelty and Lochore collieries
to fill an important and influential position with the Wemyss
Coal Company Limited. On behalf of the ratepayers of
Kelty he was made the recipient of numerous presentations.
In the course of the proceedings, Mr. Charles Carlow,
managing director of the Fife Coal Company, made an
interesting reference to the woes of colliery managers. He
intimated that Mr. C. C. Reid, the agent for the
Cowdenbeath district, would meanwhile take over the duties
relinquished by Mr. Beveridge. In view of the fact that
the output in the different centres was down one-third, the
company was of the opinion that, in the meantime, they
might be able to carry on operations successfully with one
agent less. With that idea in view it had been arranged
that Mr. Henry Rowan should be made responsible for part
of Mr. Reid’s duties.

At the instance of the Middle Ward District Committee of
the Lanark County Council, an interesting enquiry was held
last week with a view to eliciting information in regard to
the condition and sufficiency of the housing accommodation
in the parish of Cambuslang. Interesting evidence regard-
ing the coal producing possibilities of the district was given
by Mr. Heslin, of the Flemington Coal Company, and Mr.
George Anderson, of Messrs. Archibald Russell Limited.
The former explained that his firm at present employed about
500 miners and other workers at Gateside Colliery, but in
ordinary times their total number of hands was 650. Under
normal conditions the weekly earnings of the miner averaged
from 36s. to 40s. a week, but at the present time the wages
were quite 50 per cent, in excess of those figures. While
there might not locally be any considerable development of
the coal fields, he anticipated that employment would be
found at Gateside Colliery for the existing staff for a period
of at least 20 years. Mr. George Anderson (for Messrs.
Archibald Russell Limited) gave it as his opinion that
developments might in the future be contemplated at
Loanend Colliery, and while Dechmont Colliery had been
successfully worked for many years, it still seemed capable
of affording employment to the same number of men as
at present, for some time to come.

In the Outer House of the Scottish Count of Session on
the 21st ult., judgment was given by Lord Cullen, in the
action in which the North British Railway Company and
the Fife Coal Company Limited, sought declarator that the
defender, Alexander Birrell, of Tyrie, had no right or title
to object to or prevent the North British Company letting
to the Fife Coal Company 17 acres of land at Seafield,
Kirkcaldy, belonging to the railway company, for the purpose
of the Fife Coal Company sinking a new coal pit thereon.
The ground proposed to be let was acquired by the Kirkcaldy
and District Railway Company in 1892, and became the
property of the North British Railway Company under the
North British Railway Act, 1895, amalgamating the
Kirkcaldy and District Railway undertaking with the North
British system. The Kirkcaldy and District undertaking
was one for making inter alia a dock at Seafield, and a
railway therefrom to Auchtertool. The dock authorised was
never made. The railway was made. By the North
British Railway Act, 1913, section 41, the North British
Company got power to lease lands from time to time pur-
chased or acquired by the company adjoining or near to
railways or stations belonging to them, and not immediately
required for the purposes of their undertaking. The
defender is proprietor of land adjoining on the west and
north the 17 acres of ground in question, being a singular
successor of the Earl of Rosslyn, from whom part of the
said ground was acquired. The defender objected to the
North British Company granting the said lease with power
to sink a pit, and contended that it was ultra vires of them
to do so. The Lord Ordinary granted decree of declarator
as craved, with expenses. In the course of his opinion, his
lordship said that defender founded his title to object to the
lease on two grounds; the first was an alleged right of
pre-emption competent to him in the event of the railway
company proceeding at any time in the future to sell or
alienate the 17 acres in question. The defender, in the
second place, contended that he had, ex contractu, a title to
object to the proposed transaction. The contract he appealed
to was that under which the ground in question was origin-
ally taken from its owner under compulsory powers. It
entitled that owner, the defender argued, to see to it that
the ground so taken from him for certain defined statutory
purposes should be applied only to these purposes, at least
so far as he could qualify an interest to object to its being
applied to any other purpose ultra vires of the undertakers,
and the effect of the 1913 Act in this connection was only,
the defender maintained, to modify the contract by widening
the area of authorised uses, within which, in his view, the
proposed transaction did not fall, so far as the sinking of
the pit was concerned. The defender further contended that
the right to invoke the said contract ran with the lands,
and required no special assignment. His lordship was
unable to sustain this contention, and hell that the right
defender contended for did not fall within the class of known .
servitudes. In the view his lordship held, it was unneces-’
sary to consider whether the leasing of the ground for the
sinking of a pit was ultra vires of the North British Railway
Company under their Act of 1913 or not.