524 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 17, 1916. INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES. Africa. Cape Coal Trade. — The following official information regarding the coal trade at the Table Bay Docks, Cape Town, will be of interest, now that the overland rates for the carriage of Natal coal to Cape Town have been practically brought down to the same level as those from the Transvaal :— Landed ............. Shipped ............ Transhipped ........ 1914. 1913. Tons. Tons. 248,099 .... 336,373 .... .... 7,438 ....... 9,503 490 ........... 806 _______ _______ 256,027 .... 345,956 Coal Bunkered. 1914. 1913. Tons. Tons. Shipped ............. 204,763 .... 180,372 Transhipped ........ 94,911 .... 102,249 299,674 ......... 282,621 The decrease of 88,274 tons inzcoal landed is due to coal for bunkering purposes being conveyed overland in increasing quantities from the Transvaal. Despite the .war, 299,674 tons were bunkered in 1914 at Table Bay Docks, as Compared with 282,621 tons during 1913, an increase of 17,053 tons. The following figures show the position of the bunkering trade at Cape Town for the past six. years, as well as the province or country of origin :— Natal.. Transvaal. Welsh. Total. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. 1909 58,763 — • — ... 58,763 1910 83,510 — — ... 83,510 1911 184,218 694 ” '. 15,239 ... 200,151 1912 327,133 ... 14,648 .. .. 13,735 ... 355,516 1913 . 253,399 ... 25,162 .. .. 4,060 ... 282,621 1914 160,139 ... 113,189 .. .. 26,346 ... 299,674 Whilst Natal coal bunkered at Cape Town has decreased during 1914, the demand for Transvaal coal for bunkering purposes has materially increased, and it is this increase of Transvaal coal bunkered that has led the Natal collieries to agitate for a flat rate for coal from both the Transvaal and Natal. The average price of coal trimmed into bunkers per ton at Cape Town was as follows :— Transvaal. Natal. 1913 .......... 23s. 6d....... 26s. Od. 1914 .......... 23s. 6d....... 26s. 6d. Overland Railway Rate to Cape Town.—A circular has recently been issued by the South African Bailways, announcing a revision of the railway rate to Cape Town, amounting to all intents and purposes to the adoption of a flat rate for coal conveyed to> Cape Town from the Transvaal and Natal coal fields. For some time past, ever since a flat rate was adopted for the conveyance of coal from the Transvaal 'to the Cape, the Natal collieries have experienced considerable competition from Transvaal coal at the Cape, and it is to conciliate the Natal collieries that this revision has been made. The old rate, for instance, from Dundee and Hatting Spruit in Natal, was 14s. lOd. per ton, but in terms of the circular just issued the rate will be 14s. 2d. per ton, with the previous rebate of Is. per ton on all coal bunkered. The Utrecht Colliery rate will be reduced from 15s. 6d. to 14s. 3d. per ton, whilst from the Hlobane Colliery, Vryheid, the reduction will be as much as Is. 6d. per ton. The more distant collieries in the Transvaal will also benefit from this revision of rates, the collieries in "the Ermelo district, for instance, now paying 14s. 2d. per ton as against 15s. Id. formerly. The rate from the collieries in the Middelburg district of the Transvaal, which forward large quantities of coal to the Cape, will remain unchanged at 14s. per ton, as compared with 14s. 2d. per ton from the principal collieries in Natal. Considering the superior quality of the Natal coal for steam and bunkering purposes as compared with the Transvaal coal, this reduction of the coal rates between Natal, and the Cape, ought to consider- ably benefit the Natal collieries, whose trade since the outbreak of war has seriously suffered. It must not, however, be overlooked that the Transvaal working costs are materially lower than those of the Natal collieries, and for this reason, Transvaal coal will always be procurable at a lower rate at Cape Town than Natal coal. ________________________ Australia. Coal in Southern Tasmania.—According to the Govern- ment Geologist’s report, the output of Tasmanian coal last year was only 60,000 tons, and practically all of this came from one or two mines on the east coast. Promising seams have been known to exist'in the extreme southern part of the island for three-quarters of a century, but only intermittent prospecting work has been done. The principal properties are situated at Strathblane, Ida Bay, and Catamaran, and as all these areas are situated in close proximity to deep water, with good harbours, within easy reach of Hobart, it is believed that the development of the seams would be commercially successful. Ida Bay is fundamentally a cement proposition, and the coal would be principally used for the kiln burning of the cement mixtures in the production of clinker. The under- taking has the great advantage of having both seams of coal and beds of limestone, as well as clay, on its property, besides a deep water shipping site available on the Southport harbour near by. Tlje limestone is highly suitable for the purpose in view, and everything seems favourable for a well-planned enterprise. The coal seam at Catamaran was first opened up in 1900, and up to 1912, when the present owners, a Broken Hill syndicate, took it. over, about 5,000 tons of coal had been raised. The seam has been prospected along the outcrop for a length of over 4,000 ft., and a shaft has been sunk 138 ft., proving a 19 ft. seam. The coal is excellent for steaming purposes, having between 61 and 69 per cent, fixed carbon, about 25 per cent, volatile matter, and 4 to 10 per cent. ash. The only drawback is that it is rather soft at present, and may require specially careful handling to prevent breaking down into slack. The owners have in view the special culti- vation of a bunker trade, in which hauling will be reduced to a minimum. There are indications, however, that this physical property will be found restricted to the upper part of the seam, which in the recent geological past has been under water, for the bottom part of the seam in the main shaft is firm, and remains so when exposed to the atmosphere for a considerable time. The coal is of the same geological age as the east coast coals, but its fixed carbon content is higher, and it emits verv little smoke. . It is excellent for steam boilers, burning clean and not dickering. Its calorific power is 12,430 British thermal units. The coal deposit at Strath- blane, discovered about six or seven years ago, offers a fair scope for- work on a moderate scale. The seam consists of a firm coal of good quality, and invites the introduction of a limited capital for the purpose of prospecting and opening up the seam without launching into too heavy expenditure at the start. The property is connected with the water at Esperance by means of a timber company’s tramway. ________________________________ Canada. The Boyal Trust Company, acting on behalf of the bond- holders of the Canadian Coal and Coke Company, recently brought a suit for foreclosure against the company in the Supreme Court of Alberta, asking for a judgment for 3,000,000 dols. The Canadian Coal and Coke Company holds valuable coal leases near Lethbridge, and in other parts of Alberta, and it was stated that no interest had been paid on its bonds. The stock of the company is principally held in Montreal. (A.t the hearing, Judge Walsh made an order for the sale of the properties.) ________________________________________________________ Notes from the Coal Fields. [Local Correspondence.] South Wales and Monmouthshire. New Chairman of Coal Ozvners' Association—Year's Output Reductions — High Freights and Foreign Vessels — Swansea's Coal Shipments in 1915 — Cardiff and the Mineral Railways. South Wales coal owners, at their annual meeting held in Cardiff on Tuesday, elected Mr. W. H. Mewton as chairman of their association for the ensuing year, and Mr. B. Nicholas as vice-chairman. Mr. Mewton is managing director of the Locket’s Merthyr Collieries, chairman of the .Glyncorrwg Company, and a director of the Treforest Electrical Con- sumers’ Company. Mr. Nicholas is managing director of the Tirpentwys Company. He hails from North Wales, but has been for over 30 years in the Pontypool district, where he occupies high position in public life. . The association passed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Hugh Bramwell, the retiring chairman. Mr. W. Gascoyne Dalziel was appointed a representative of the employers on the Conciliation Board. It is noteworthy that the quantities for which the members proposed to assure their collieries during the coming year showed a decrease of 2,047,647 tons. The figures are Cardiff district, 29,411,149 tons; Newport district, 9,873,722 tons; Swansea district, 4,761,557 tons—total, 44,046,428 tons. During the year ended December 1915 the total output of the associated collieries was 42,036,749 tons, a decrease of 2,736,236 tons as compared with the previous year. Mr. Finlay A. Gibson, secretary to the association, has been appointed secretary of the Coal and Coke Supplies Com- mittee established by the Board of Trade for this district. It is this body which will have to deal with complaints as to shortage of supplies. Mr. G. E. Llewellyn will be chairman of the Cardiff Dis- trict Board of the Coal Owners’ Association during this year, with Mr. Westgarth Forster-Brown as vice-chairman. Of Newport District Board, Mr. E. Nicholas will be chairman, and Mr. A. S. Tallis vice. Swansea Board will have Mr. C. E. Cleeves as chairman, and Mr. T. Gray vice. At the Swansea Harbour Trustees annual meeting on Monday, Sir Griffith Thomas, stated that during 1915 there had been nearly 60 per cent, more vessels foreign-owned using the port than there were of British boats. The ship owners were making enormous profits, and it would be no handicap on them if they had to pay higher tonnage rates. By far the greater part of the enormous profits which were made at the expense of the Allies were going into the hands of foreigners. A firm which had chartered 529 steamers in the coal trade had stated that only 5 per cent, of these were British. Swansea has been remarkable during 1915 in respect of the coal trade, the shipments of coal and patent fuel to France having increased by nearly a million tons. When, however, the general figures are examined, it becomes manifest that on total trade there is a vast difference, for the increase is only 15,000 tons. The shipments of tin- and black-plates have fallen, and so have those for galvanised sheets. The export of steel has increased largely. These facts came out in the report of Mr. W. Law (general manager of the Harbour Trust) on the total trade of the port, and his report had also the interesting statement that, owing to the facilities afforded in the King Dock for bunkering large vessels with despatch, there had been a very gratifying increase in the number of vessels calling for bunkers during the 12 months. It is stated that the Phoenix Patent Fuel Company has now commenced operations, and the anticipation is expressed that they will add substantially to the trade and revenue of the port. The return of trade for the month of February shows that, as compared with the corresponding month of last year, the coal and coke exports have increased by 67,000 tons, and the patent fuel by 3,700 tons. With regard to the railway service to Cardiff, one of the most important developments in relation to the coal trade was the construction of the Cardiff Company’s line between their docks and Treforest, where it was understood they would make a junction with the Taft Viale Company. A sum of nearly three-quarters of a million sterling has been spent upon this railway; but owing to difficulties of making the junction with the Taff Vale Bailway, coal has not yet been carried over this new line, although it has been in existence for several years. The company are now pro- moting a Bill to extend the time for purchase of lands, and it was stated before the Court of Beferees of the House of Commons last week that this was the ninth application for compulsory purchase. Hostile petitions have been presented by the Taff Vale Company and by the Bhymney Bailway Company, their contention being that powers of this kind should not be extended for an indefinite period, unless parties closely affected were heard. Until the junction with the Taff Vale Bailway at Treforest has been made, the Cardiff Company’s railway cannot be used for coal. The question before the Court of Beferees was as to the locus standi of the two opposing companies; and the decision was that locus should be allowed in each case in order that the petitioners might put their case before the Parliamentary Committee. If the junction 'were made and the Cardiff Company carried coal as was originally anticipated, it would have a material effect upon the Taff Vale undertaking in that it would tap that railway near the commencement of its long run of 12 miles to Cardiff, where the great part of the earning is realised. A conference of miners’ delegates is to be held in Newport next week with special reference to mining education. It is to consider the attitude of the Board of Education con- cerning the county mining school, some idea prevailing that the colliery proprietors are having preference shown them by the Board. There are, in Monmouthshire, separate schemes by the county authority, and by the coal owners; and on Saturday, 25th inst., the men’s representatives will discuss the position of affairs. The Cardiff Corporation has a Food and Fuel Committee, and before that committee on Monday strong complaints were made as to the lack of house coal supplies in the town. It was declared that thousands of houses were without coal. The committee decided to send a special telegram to the Board of Trade, pointing out the position locally, and stating that unless measures were taken to supply the home market the local agreement with retailers, which limited prices— an agreement entered into at the request of the Board of Trade—would have to lapse; and that then such prices would prevail as would be a hardship on the poor. One retailer told the committee that in a month when shipping could not be readily got he obtained from 200 to 500 tons for his retail trade, whereas in another month when shipping was good, he could not get more than about 25 tons. He blamed the collieries. Betailers who attended the committee were agreed that the shortage was entirely due to shipments abroad on account of better prices. Northumberland and Durham. Ashington Company and Absenteeism—New Aged Miners' Homes Opened. Mr. B. G. Wilson, who has just retired from the position of manager of the Pelton Colliery, after having held the position for 30 years, was on Saturday night the recipient of a number of handsome gifts from the workmen and officials of the colliery, at the Colliery Hotel, Pelton Fell. The case in which the parents of 17 Shildon boys were summoned for the latter’s non-attendance at school, owing to their being employed by Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Company Limited, at the pit head at that firm’s Shildon Lodge Colliery, was mentioned at Bishop Auckland Police Court last week. The prosecution has aroused considerable interest in North Country mining circles, and great import- ance is attached to the result, for it is realised that a far- reaching precedent may be established. Mr. Samuel Hare,, agent for the firm, had agreed that, under ordinary circum- stances, the proceeding was wrong, but said that, in view of the depletion of the ranks of the workmen by enlistment and other causes, it was necessary to employ boys. By-product ovens were supplied from that colliery, and the boys were indirectly working on munitions.—Mr. T. W. Braithwaite, the chairman, said that the Bench had given careful consideration to the case, and was of opinion that the decision should be further postponed for a month, on the ground that the subject of the prosecution was now receiving the attention of Parliament. The Ashington Coal Company Limited has just issued what constitutes a somewhat striking indictment of a section of the workmen employed at the Ashington collieries. The statement, which is issued for the information of the firm’s employees, has reference to the amount of time lost at the Bothal, Carl and Duke pits of the Ashington group, not including Woodhorn, Linton and Ellington, during the last full fortnight. It is as follows :— Possible shifts. Shifts worked. Per- Shifts centage lost. of lost time. Hewers and fillers 8,544 .. . 7,217 ... 1,327 .. .. 15’53 Cutter men 1,989 .. . 1,769 ... 220 .. .. 11’06 Putters 2,430 .. . 1,963 ... 467 .. .. 19’29 Transit men 4,837 .. . 4,361 ... 476 . .. 9’84 Wastemen and deputies 1,554 .. . 1,355 ... 199 . . 12’80 Stonemen and shifters... 6,859 .. . 5,662 ... 1,197 . .. 17’45 In the case of the hewers, 487 of the 1,327 lost shifts were due to sickness or accident, leaving 860 shifts avoidably lost, or 10-06 per cent. This represents a loss of 3,010 tons per fortnight, or an annual output of 79,260 tons. In the case of putters, absentees have to be replaced by hewers and fillers, which entails additional loss of output. Sir Lindsay Wood, Bart., opened 12 aged miners’ homes at Hetton last Saturday. The cottages, which are to be known as the William Bobinson Memorial Homes, have been erected at a cost of F2,200, of which F500 was contributed by Sir Lindsay Wood, and the remainder—apart from the inside bricks, which were given by the Lambton and Hetton Collieries Limited—by the workmen employed at the three pits in the Hetton-district. Declaring the homes open, Sir Lindsay said that he had been associated with Hetton for 68 years. The homes were named after the late “ Willie ” Bobinson, a well-known miners’ leader he had known for a great many years in connection with mining affairs at Het ton. He understood that there had been raised by the association .£100,000, and that there were 1,100 old miners and their wives occupying homes. He trusted they would soon have the other 24 houses built. “ Fuel Economy from a National Standpoint,” was the subject of an address by Prof. W. A. Bone to the members of the Cleveland Institution of Engineers, at Middlesbrough on Tuesday last, in which the lecturer stated that the question of the re-imposition of export duty was almost certain to come up in the near future. Every shilling of duty imposed per ton of coal would bring in to the Treasury five million pounds per annum. The Government might well impose a duty, part of the proceeds of which should be earmarked for investigations upon coal and fuel economy, and for loans in aid of installing improved means of using fuel. Cumberland. An important conference of iron, steel, and metal traders was held at Carlisle last week, to consider the effect on the trades of the Order in Council dealing with speculation in metals, and other matters. It was resolved to ask the Minister of Munitions to receive a deputation to discuss matters arising from the Order. Lancashire and Cheshire. Mining Employment for Disabled, Soldiers. The High Sheriff of Lancashire (Mr. Edward Graham Wood), who has been visiting all the Lancashire towns with a view to securing the formation of local committees to co-operate with local employers of labour in finding employ-