1000 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN May 25, 1917. Morrison, manager of No. 2 pit, Glencl eland Colliery, Dalziel, was charged with failing to have the cage pro- vided with suitable gates or other rigid fence. The under- manager, Geo. Cook, was charged with having failed to enforce to the best of his power the provisions of section 40 (7) of the Coal Mines Act, 1911. Both respondents pleaded guilty, and it was explained that the prosecution arose out of a fatal accident which had occurred at the pit on February 5, when a father and son were being raised to the surface, and the cage, coming to a bad joint in the slides, gave a jerk, with the result that the father was thrown out of the cage and killed. On behalf of the respondents, it was explained that the miners had a pre- judice against being raised and lowered by No. 1 shaft, where the cage was provided with gates, and that in conse- quence the practice continued of the men being raised and lowered by No. 2 shaft, where gates were not in use for the cage. The manager was fined <£10, with the alternative of 20 days’ imprisonment; and the penalty in the case of the under-manager was £5, or 10 days’ imprisonment. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Bell Brothers Limited.—The report and accounts will not be ready for presentation to the shareholders at the annual meeting. The directors are satisfied that the profits for the year will admit of the payment of a further dividend of 5 per cent, on the ordinary shares, making 10 per cent, for the year, and that rate will be proposed. In 1915, 10 per cent, was paid. Bell’s United Asbestos Company Limited.—The directors have resolved, in view of the audited accounts to December 31 last, and after providing for excess profits duty and munitions levy, to recommend payment of a balance dividend of Is. 6d. per share on the ordinary shares and a bonus of 6d. per share, which, with interim dividend paid in October last, makes a total distribution of 15 per cent, for the year; £20,000 is placed to reserve, and £8,214 is carried forward. Bengal Coal Company Limited (Calcutta). — It is announced that (including the balance of Rs. 1,38,321 brought forward) the available profit for the half-year ended April 30 amounts to about Rs. 14,40,000. It is pro- posed to pay a dividend of 25 per cent, (being at the rate of 50 per cent, per annum), to write off Rs. 2,60,000 for depreciation, to transfer Rs. 3,00,000 to development and additions account, and to carry forward the balance of about Rs. 1,30,000. British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Com- pany Limited. — At special meetings of shareholders in London it was resolved to increase the capital from £1,150,000 to £1,395,000 by the creation of 110,000 pre- ference shares of £2 each and 500,000 deferred shares of Is. each. Callender’s Cable and Construction Company Limited.— The net profits for 1916 were £76,860, after providing for debenture interest, and £207,347 was brought forward. A final dividend of 5 per cent, and a bonus of 10- per cent, are proposed on the ordinary shares, making 20 per cent, for the year, and carrying forward £249,207. The net profits for 1915 were £89,178, and the distribution was similar to that recommended for the past year. Carlton Main Colliery Company Limited.—The report for the year ended March 31 states that the profit, after writ- ing off £86,281 for depreciation, was £230,608, while £25,869 was brought in, making together £256,478. From this amount must be deducted the interim f dividend paid on the “A” preference shares last September (£2,250), and the interim paid on the ordinary shares in November 1916 (£59,400), together with a final dividend paid on the “A” preference in April (£2,250), thus leaving for disposal £192,578. The directors recommend the addition to the reserve fund of the sum of £80,000 (making that fund £250,000), the payment of a final dividend of 15 per cent., free of tax (making 25 per. cent, for the year), absorbing z £89,100, and carrying forward £23,478. Chesterfield Tube Company Limited.—Dividend of 5 per cent. (Is. per share) on ordinary shares, less income tax (interim^, paid May 16. Dickson and Mann Limited.—The report for year ended March 31 states that the net profit for the year, including the balance of £674 brought forward from last year, after providing for administration charges, depreciation, and interest on overdraft, amounts to £3,479. From this sum there falls to be deducted three half-years’ dividend of 6 per cent, on the preference shares to March 31, 1913, less tax, leaving £2,129. The directors recommend payment of half-year’s dividend on preference shares to September 30, 1913, at 6 per cent., less tax, putting to reserve account (making £6,000) £1,000, leaving to be carried forward £679. Repairs, renewals, and patterns have been charged to revenue account as usual. The accounts of the year now closed have been considerably affected by legal, expenses incurred in a Court of Session case. Lothian Coal Company Limited. — The report for nine months states that after providing for the maintenance of works, depreciation, excess profits duty, and all current charges, there is a credit balance of £89,722, and £6,450 was brought forward. There has been placed to reserve fund £10,000, and the directors recommend to be paid to preference shareholders an extra dividend of 1J per cent., being at the rate of 2^ per cent, per annum, and to ordi- nary shareholders 25 per cent., free of tax, leaving £20,142. This result has only been attained by concentrating men at the coal faces, and postponing ordinary developments until labour becomes more plentiful. Metropolitan Carriage Wagon and Finance Company Limited.—The directors recommend a dividend on the ordi- nary shares at the rate of Is. per share for the half-year ended March 31, and a further Is. per share by way of bonus. Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited. — The directors recommend a final dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 10 per cent., and a bonus at the rate of 5 per cent., both free of income tax, making, with the 5 per cent, already paid, a total of 15 per cent, dividend and 5 per cent, bonus for 1916. Pease and Partners Limited.—The directors recommend final dividends of 25s. on both the ordinary and deferred shares, making 17^ per cent, for the past year on each class. The ordinary and deferred shares received 15 per cent, for 1915-16. Pumpherston Oil Company Limited.—The net profits for the past year were £202,527, and £17,931 was brought for- ward. It is proposed to add £15,000 to the depreciation fund, £20,000 to the plant suspense account, and £40,000 to the reserve, and set aside £4,373 for expenditure on plant. A dividend of 40 per cent, is recommended on the ordi- nary shares, carrying forward £22,500. The net profits for 1915-16 were £134,928, and 25 per cent, was paid on the ordinary shares, special appropriations amounting to £50,156. Rand Collieries Limited.—The revenue from rents, etc., amounted to £1,590, while, on the other hand, general expenses at the mine and head office totalled £2,219, and interest on advances amounted to £14,654. The financial position shows an excess of liquid assets over current liabilities of £4,522. NEW COMPANIES. Blast Furnaces and Equipment Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered office, 25, Victoria-street, Westminster. Registered May 16. To carry on business of mechanical engineers, iron founders, etc. Capital, £20,000. Directors : W. J. Foster, A. E. Owen, and J. Smith. Easter Iron Ore Mines Limited. — Private company. Registered May 14. To search for, get, work, raise, make manageable, sell, and deal in iron, coal, ironstone, ’brick earth, and other metals, minerals, and substances, and to carry on business of iron masters, etc. Capital, £10,000. Directors shall be appointed by the subscribers. Sub- scribers : P. W. Evermett and A. L. Exell. Maders and McKee Limited.—Private company. Regis- tered May 14. To carry on the trade or business of machinery, iron, and metal merchants, iron founders, mechanical and consulting engineers, etc. Capital, £12,000. Directors: D. and J. McKee. This list of new companies, is taken from the Daily Register specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons Limited, company, registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL ARD COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late for inclusion in this column, see Leader, and Last White pages. Cheltenham, June 8. — Tenders are invited for the supply of 800 tons of rough small steam coal, 60 tons of house coal, 10 tons large steam coal, etc. Forms of tender and further particulars may be obtained from the borough engineer, Municipal Offices, Cheltenham, to whom sealed and endorsed tenders are to be delivered on or before June 8. Dublin, June 2. — The Corporation of Dublin invite tenders for the supply of coal for their Electricity Works and Main Drainage Pumping Station for one, two, or three years, from June 30, a 12 months’ supply being approxi- mately 40,000 tons. Tenderers may submit offers for one- half the above quantity of 40,000 tons, i.e., 20,000 tons, for delivery as required throughout the year, and one-half the above rates per week, all the other conditions remaining the same. The coal is to be of the best washed single nuts from Scotch collieries, delivered alongside the- wharf at the Pigeon House, Dublin. Tenderers may submit alter- native tenders for other classes of .Scotch, Welsh, or Irish coal which will comply with clause 6 of the specification. No tender will be considered unless it is furnished on the printed form, nor will any tender in which any alteration of the form had been made, and no tender can be with- drawn within three months from delivery. Copies of the specification (5s. each) can be obtained from the town clerk, City Hall, Dublin. Tenders must be sent in not later than June 2, marked “Tender for Coal for Electricity Works,” and addressed to “ The Chairman of the Supplies Committee, Town Clerk’s Office, City Hall, Dublin.” The Corporation does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Edmonton, June 5.—Tenders are invited for the supply and delivery of coal and coke at the elementary schools in Edmonton for the year ending June 30, 1918. Forms may be obtained from the architect, Town HaU, Lower Edmonton. Tenders must be delivered to A. Heap, secre- tary, Education Offices, Brettenham-road, Edmonton, N. 18, by noon on June 5. Rochdale, May 30.—The Gas and Electricity Committee of the Rochdale Corporation invite tenders for the supply of coal (screened, unscreened, or nuts) to the Gas Works for 12 months from July 1, or for such portion of that period as may be sanctioned by the Controller of Coal Mines. Tenders, endorsed “ Gas coal,” and addressed to “ The Chairman of the Gas and Electricity Committee, Town Hall, Rochdale,” must be sent in before noon on May 30.—Wm. Henry Hickson, town clerk. < Torquay, June 11. — The Torquay Electric Lighting Committee invite tenders for the supply of 5,500 tons'of rough slack, washed peas, or screenings, delivered free from dirt and excessive moisture, during the 12 months ending July 31, 1918. Must be a free burning bituminous coal of not less than 12,000 British thermal units, suitable for use in underfeed type stokers. Ash not to exceed 10 per cent, by weight. Specification and form of tender may be obtained from the town clerk, to whom tenders, endorsed “ Tender for coal,” must be sent not later than June 18. The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Adlington, June 4.—About 1,400 tons screened Arley nuts for Adlington Gas Company. Tenders to the chair- man. Andover, May 29.—200 Cwmaman, Dowlais, Merthyr, or other hard best quality large steam coal. Tenders to the town clerk. Bakewell, June 9.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, Bakewell. Barming Heath (Kent), June 18.—3,900 tons steam coal, 1,200 tons household coal, 800 tons gas coal, and 105 tons bakers’ coal, for Asylums. Forms from the clerk, Barm- ing Heath Asylum. Belfast May 29.—3,250 tons' Scotch and 1,250 tons Eng- lish coal for Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Work- house, Belfast. Bingham (Notts), May 31.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Market-place, Bingham. Birmingham, June 1.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, Edmond-street, Birming- ham. Cardiff, June 4.—Coal for schools. Forms from the clerks of the respective groups : Bridgend group, Mr. E. Preece, 61, Park-street, Bridgend; Caerphilly group, Mr. A. H. Bullock, 5, Queen-street, Cardiff; Gelligaer group, Mr. F. T. James, Council Offices, Hengoed; Gowerton group, Mr. P. J. Arnold, 7, Rutland-street, Swansea; Maesteg group, Mr. R. Scale, Maesteg; Neath group, Mr. E. Powell, solicitor, Neath; Ogmore group, Rev. Charles Williams, Ogmore Vale; Penarth group, Mr. J. E. Williams, Herbert Chambers, Cardiff; Pontardawe group, Mr. A. W. Samuel, King’s Chambers, Swansea; Ponty- clun group, Mr. W. T. Gwyn, Town Clerk’s Office, Cow- bridge ; Port Talbot group, Mr. A. H. Deer, Port Talbot; Swansea group, Mr. A. H. Thomas, Llansamlet. Chester, May 29.—Steam coal, washed slack, and nuts (six or 12 months) for the Waterworks Company. Par- ticulars from the secretary, 15, Newgate-street. Cork, June 2.—200 tons steam coal for Cork Sanatorium. Particulars from the secretary, Court House, Cork. Cuckfield (Sussex), May 29. — Coal and coke (three months) for the Cuckfield Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Haywards Heath. Dawlish, May 31.—1,200 to 1,400 tons good class gas coal for the Gas and Coke Company. Particulars from the manager. Ellesmere Port, May 29.—2,000 to 2,500 tons gas nuts (12 months) for Urban District Council. Forms from the Council Offices, Ellesmere Port. Ennistymon (Ireland), May 29.—160 tons Irish or best Wigan screened coal for Guardians. Particulars from the clerk. Hounslow, June 2.—Coal and coke (12 months) for the Education Committee. Forms from the secretary, Council House, Hounslow. London, May 30. — Coal for the Metropolitan Police Offices and Courts. Forms from the Receiver, New Scot- land Yard. London, June 6. — Coal for the Holborn Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 53, Clerkenwell-road, E.C. London, June 9. — Nottingham hard steam coal (12 months) for the University College Hospital, Gower-street, W.C. Particulars from the secretary. London, N.W., June 11.—Coal for Electricity Works and Baths (12 months) for St. Pancras Council. Forms from the Electricity Department, 57, Pratt-street, Camden Town. Maidstone, May 30.—House and steam coal for Maid- stone Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, King- street, Maidstone. Marple, May 29.—Gas coal (12 months) for the Council’s Gas Works. Forms from the gas engineer, Marple Bridge. Norwich, June 11. — Coal for the Guardians of St. Faith’s. Forms from the clerk, 1, Redwall-street, Norwich. Omagh, May 30. — 2,000 tons or less of gas coal for Urban District Council. Forms from the gas manager. Oswaldtwistle, May 31.—7,000 tons screened gas coal, unscreened coal nuts and slack (12 months) for the Urban District Council. Forms from the manager, Gas Works. Paddington, June 25.—Coal and coke (12 months) for the Borough Council. Forms from the town clerk. Paisley, May 29. — Coal and dross (three, six, or 12 months) for institutions. Particulars from the clerk to Paisley District Board of Control. Plymouth.—Coke for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Workhouse, Greenbank-road, Plymouth. Rathmines (Dublin), May 29.—500 tons of coal for the Council’s Electricity Works. Forms from the Works. Salisbury,- June 4.—About 25 tons house coal for Salis- bury Municipal Charities. Tenders to the clerk, 12, Rolle- stone-street, Salisbury. Salisbury, June 15.—220 tons Derby cobbles and 200 tons coke for Salisbury Infirmary. Forms from the secre- tary. Solihull, June 4.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Union Offices, Streetsbrook-road, Solihull. Stepney, May 31.—Steam and other coal for Stepney Guardians. Forms from the Offices, Barnes-street, Stepney. Stoke-on-Trent.—Coal and slack (12 months) for Elec- tricity Works. Forms from the borough electrical engi- neer, St. Peter’s Chambers, Stoke-on-Trent. Tiverton, June 2.—4,000 tons freshly wrought gas coal, screened or unscreened, for the Town Council. Forms from the gas manager. Tyldesley (Lancashire), June 2.—5,000 tons gas coal, nuts, and slack, for the Urban District Council. Forms from the manager, Gas Works. Warwick, May 31.—Coal (12 months) for Education Committee. Forms from the County Education Offices, Warwick. Wombwell, May 31.— 5,000 tons (more'or less) best screened gas coal or 2 in. washed gas nuts for the Urban District Council. Forms from the manager, Gas Works. The date given is the latest upon ivhich tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, &c. Cardiff.— Pitwood.—Cutting, converting, and hauling pitwood in South Wales. Particulars from the secretary, Colliery Owners’ Pitwood Association Limited, Park-place, Cardiff. South Hetton, June 2.—Stores.—Iron, oils, wire rope, castings, English timber, and other colliery stores, except electrical (six months). Forms from J. R. Lambert, South Hetton Colliery Company, South Hetton. National Alliance of Employers and Employed.—A meet- ing of the general committee of the National Alliance of Employers and Employed was held on Tuesday at the head- quarters of the Alliance, 64, Victoria-street, London, S.W. The Hon. F. H. Jackson (chairman) presided, and among those in attendance were Sir K. Crossley, Bart. (Crossley Brothers Limited), Sir V. Gaillard (Vickers Limited), Mr. F. D. Docker, C.B. (president of the Federation of British Industries), Sir A. Firth, Bart. (Firth and. Sons Limited), Mr. F. Gilbertson (Pontardawe Steel, Tin-plate, and Galvanising Works), Mr. I. Gwynne (Tin and Steel Mill- men’s Union), Sir R. Hadfield (Hadfields Limited), Mr. J. S. Hill (Engineering and Allied Trades Societies Federa- tion), Mr. A. Pugh (British Steel Smelters’ and Kindred Trades’ Association), Mr. A. Todd (Ironfounders’ Friendly Society), Mr. V. H. Smith (Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company). The constitution, as adopted at the meeting, seeks to secure the co-operation of employers and employees in all labour questions, and the suitable re-employment (at the close of the war) of men now serving with the Forces. A resolution urged the Government to abstain from any action affecting conditions of employ- ment until the advice of employers and employees -has been obtained.