810 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 19, 1918. COKTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL ANO COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late tor inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last White pages. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Blean (Canterbury), April 22.—Coke (six months) for Blean Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 39, Castle-street, Canterbury. Leith, May 6.— 9,000 or 18,000 tors of washed singles (six or twelve months). Forms from the Burgh Electrical Engineer, Great Junction-street, Leith. Lochgilphead, April 22.— Coal for the Argyll and Bute Asylum, Lochgilphead. Forms on application. Roscrea (Ireland), April 25. —150 tons best White- haven or other suitable coal for the Guardians. Tenders to the clerk, Board Room, Workhouse, Roscrea. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, Ac. Dublin, April 23.— Boilers, etc.- For water-tube boilers, plimps, etc., tor the Corporation Electricity Supply Com- mittee. Forms from the City Electrical Engineer, Fleet- street, Dublin. Johannesburg, June 3.—Tar.—16,000 tons of coal tar for Johannesburg Municipal Council. Specifications may be seen at the Enquiry Office, Overseas Trade Department (Development and Intelligence', 73, Basinghall-street, London, E C. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Albion Steam Coal Company Limited.—The report for 1917 states that the net profit on trading amounts to £26,120; <£6,270 was brought forward, making <£32,390. The directors recommend a dividend of 5 per cent, on ordinary shares for the year, less tax, and to carry forward <£8,190. Armstrong (Sir W. G.), Whitworth and Company Limited. —The directors state that as it .will not be possible in existing circumstances to complete the 1917 accounts for some time, they have decided to meet preference dividends and pay for the half-year ended December 31 last a dividend of Is. 6d. per share, free of income tax, on the ordinary shares. IBede Metal and Chemical Company Limited.—The profit for the past year was .£25,780, less debit at profit and loss account at December 31,1916, £17,106, leaving a credit balance of £3,613, which it is proposed to carry forward less directors’ fees. Curtis’s and Harvey Limited. — The directors announce a further interim dividend of 10 per cent, (actual), less tax, upon the ordinary shares. Johnson and Phillips Limited.—The trading profit was £70,122 for 1917, compared with £56,061, but the reduced balance brought in makes the total available some £1,300 less than for 1916 The dividend is raised to 7 per cent. Depreciation takes £12,132, and £13,565 is carried forward. Kinneil Cannel and Coking Coal Company Limited.—Interim dividend of 3| per cent., less tax, subject to the consent of the Coal Controller. A similar dividend was paid a ye^r ago. Newton, Chambers and Company Limited.—Divi- dend of 71 per cent., free of tax, on both the ordinary and preference shares. This makes 12| per cent., free of tax, for the year, the same as for the previous year. For 1915 the dividend was 10 per cent. Richardsons, Westgarth, and Company Limited.— The poll on Mr. W. Dale Shaw’s plan for the reorganisation of the company’s capital resulted in 116,978 preference shareholders’ votes in favour of the proposal and 94 416 against, and 136,952 ordinary shareholders’ votes in favour and 92,530 against. The necessary three-fourths majority was therefore not obtained ; but as Mr. S. T. Coulson and his supporters have requisitioned another meeting of share- holders, Mr Shaw’s committee have decided to submit further proposals, one of which is that £21,000 be imme- diately paid towards the arrears of dividends on the prefe- rence shares. The Board appeal for a definite decision, so that the deadlock, with its vitally serious consequences, may be brought to an end. They say that 1,500 proprietors did not use their proxies on previous occasions, and it is only with their assistance that payment of dividends can be at once resumed. Samuel Fox and Company.—Second interim dividend of 2| per cent. Vickers Limited.—The directors recommend a final dividend for 1917 of Is. 6d. per share on the ordinary shares, making 2s. 6d., or 12| per cent., tax free (same as for 1916), for the year. Workington Iron and Steel Company Limited.— . It is announced that holders of more than 80 per cent, of the shares of each class have ratified the provisional agree- ment for amalgamation with Steel, Peech and Tozer, Samuel Fox and Company and the Rother Vale Collieries Company. NEW COMPANIES. Collis (J.) and Sons Limited.—Public company. Re^ istered office, 42 and 43 Regent Square, Gray’s Inn-road, London. Registered April 8 to carry on the business of ironfounders and engineers, etc. Nominal capital £120,000 in 120,000 £1 ordinary shares. Directors : —Sir H. G. O. Bax- Ironside, A. Collis, J. H. Collis. Qualifications of directors, £1,000. Remuneration of directors, £200 per annum. Haigh, (Joseph) Limited.—Private company. Regis- tered April 8 to carry on the business of colliery proprietors, coal owners, miners, etc. Nominal capital, £50,000 in 50,000 £1 shares. Directors, H. V. Haigh, A. R. Haigh, L. R. Haigh. Offord and Company Limited. — Private company. Registered office, 76, Belmont-row, Birmingham. Registered April 6. To carry on business as engineers and iron- founders. Nominal capital, £3,000 in 3,000 £1 shares. Directors (1 share) : C. H. Offord, W. E Parker. Qualifica- ti n of directors, 500 shares. Scott (Thomas) and Company (Liverpool) Limited. —Private company. Registered April 10. To carry on the business of iron, steel and hardware merchants, iron- mongers, &c. Nominal capital, £10,000 in 10,000 £1 ordinary shares. Subscribers (1 share): J. G. Scott, J. P. Spievs, G. Bell, Steel and Products Limited. — Private company. Registered April 10. To carry on the business of iron- masters, mechanical engineers, &c. Nominal capital, £7,000 in 7,000 £1 shares. The directors shall be appointed by the subscribers. Qualification of directors, £500. Sub- scribers (1 share): L. C Rawlence, A. Jackson. 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. THE FREIGHT MARKET. Business in the outward freight market during the week under review has been a little more active than was the case for the previous week. On the north-east coast chartering has been restricted by the lack of neutral tonnage, and business has been mainly confined to Scandi- navian destinations. Christiania has been done at the steady rate of 150 kr. from Tyne, Drontheim at 140 kr., and Gothenburg at 160 kr. Gibraltar has been fixed for at 100s. In other directions, save French Atlantic at scheduled figures, nothing has been done, albeit the enquiry f< r tonnage is as keen as ever, and rates on effer rie temptingly high. The figures quoted last week are steadily adhered to. At South Wales a little more variety is to be noted in the fixtures arranged. Thus, Dakar has been done : t 85s. for an Allied vessel, Huelva at 420s. for a neutral steamer, Rio de Janeiro at 120s., and Valencia or Barcelona at 400s. fora neutral cargo vessel, all loading at Cardiff. None of these rates indicate any weakening on recent figures. There has been some talk of cheaper freights from United Kingdom ports to Scandinavia, but nothing has resulted. In the homeward market, there is only a poor enquiry for neutral tonnage at the River Plate, and business is quiet on the basis of 200s. to the United Kingdom. At the United States the demand for steamers exceeds the present available supply, and rates are strongly maintained. The Far Eastern markets are fully firm. Mediterranean and Bay ports continue to quote full figures for cargoes of ore, pit props, etc, for the United Kingdom. Tyne to Christiania, 2,200, 150 kr. ; Drontheim, 1,750, 140 kr.; Gibraltar, 7,000, 100s.; Gothenburg, 1,900, 160 kr. ; and Treport, 700, 46s. coke. Cardiff to Caen, 700 and 950, 48s., neutral; Dakar, 4 500, 85s., Allied ; Huelva, 2,500, 420s., neutral ; Honfleur, 400, 48s., neutral; Rio de Janeiro, 4,400, 120s ; R^uen, 1,200, 1,300, 1,400 and 1,700, 48s 9d., neutral; 9(0 and 950, 25s. 6d., Allied; 1,000, 24s. €d. Allied; St. Nazaire, 5,200, 6is. 6d., neutral; 4,800, 60s. 6d., neutral; and Valencia or Barcelona, 2,000, 400s., neutral. Swansea to Caen, 1,100, 1,200 and 1,500,46s. 6d., neutral; 900, 48s., neutral; Trouville, 400, 48s., neutral; and Rouen, l,70<>, 48s. 9d., neutral. Glasgow to Barcelona, 400s. Later.—The following additional fixtures have leen arranged:— Tyne to Guthenburg, 2,600, 160 kr. Swansea to Caen, 800, 48s., neutral; 1,035, 46s. Cd., neutral; Rouen, 1,700, 48s. 9d., neutral; ard Sables d’Olonne, 1,100, 63s., neutral. Cardiff to Rouen, 1,800, 48s. 9d., neutral. Methil to Stockholm, 2,000, 180 kr. OBITUARY. Mr. Jos. Cook, who was killed by a fall of stone in Boulby Mine, Cleveland, was treasurer to the local lodge of the Cleveland Miners’ Association, and acted in a similar capacity for the local branch of the Miners’ Per- manent Relief Fund. Mr. John N. Hindmarch, of St. Helen’s, Bishop Auckland, whose death is announced, was formerly weigh- man at the local colliery. He had been in the service of Messrs. Pease and Partners Limited for over 50 years. Mr. Archibald Crichton, who died recently, was managing partner of Messrs. Jas. Ross and Company, Philpstoun Oil Works. Mr. Crichton began his business career with the Shotts Oil Company. Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Permanent Relief Society.—The forty-fifth annual report of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Permanent Relief Society states that on December 31, 1916, the society had enrolled 54,567 members, and that at the close of 1917 the members numbered 57,090, showing an increase of 2,523 for the past year. The revenue of the society has produced £67,997, and the expenditure has amounted to £50,309. The available balance at the close of the year was £235,456, and on December 31, 1916, it was £218,744. During 1917 there were 11,261 new cases of accident among the members, and during the year 93 deaths have resulted from accidents. The table of statistics in connection with these fatalities is as follows:—Number of deaths, 93; number of single men (or widowers) leaving no dependent I relatives, 39; number of widows, 51; number of members leaving dependants treated as widows, 3; number of children, 77. The figures show that 54 widows (including three dependants classed as widows) and 77 children have been placed on the funds. During the .year, 812 widows and 766 children have been in receipt of annuities from the society. During the past year, 1,326 members of the society enlisted, making a total of 16,651 members who have enlisted since the war broke out. A gratifying report on the quinquennial valuation of the society has been received from the actuary, Mr. R. Todhunter, M.A., F.I.A., and immediately on the receipt of the valuation report the board of management took steps to consider what increases of benefits could be made, in order to give the widows and children and other recipients the advantage of the greatly improved financial position of the society. As a result of their consultation with the actuary, an all-round increase of benefits was recommended by the board, the new scale being brought into operation . on July 1, 1917. “ It is a source of great satisfaction to the board and to the general body of members,” it is added, “ that the president of the society (Mr. Alfred Hewlett, J.P.) has seen the fulfilment of his oft-expressed hope that he might be spared to see the society attain complete solvency. Not only has this hope been realised, .but Mr. Hewlett has had the great joy of seeing the society able to make a substantial advance of benefits to the various classes of its recipients, and this without making any increase in the contribution of members.” No annual meeting will be held this year. The retiring members of the board of management are Messrs. R. B. Mawson, T. G. Dobb, J.P.. G. A. Howarth, Chas. F. Bouchier, and Clement Fletcher (honorary members) ; and Messrs. Frank Ryding, Arthur Baker, William Ingram, Jonathan Guy and Thomas D. Jones (ordinary members), and they are eligible for re-election. ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS RECENTLY ACCEPTED. 108314. Improvements in Inhaling Apparatus. Dragerwerk, Heinr. and Bernh. Drager, 53, Moislinger Allee, Lubeck, Germany.—This invention relates to an inhaling apparatus for inhaling oxygen or medicaments in the form of mist or vapour. Fig. 1 shows the apparatus for inhaling pure oxygen. Fig. 2 shows the same apparatus for inhaling medicated oxygen, and fig. 3 shows an apparatus in which, from a single supply of working medium, an oxygen inhaling device and a medicament inhaling device can be operated separately or simultaneously. Oxygen is obtained in the usual manner from a steel cylinder a (fig. 1) and reduced by means of a pressure reducing valve b to a low pressure, and caused to escape in regulated small quantities. The pressure reducing valve, however, is so arranged that the quantity required for inhaling, regulated by suitable nozzles in the outlet branch c, escapes at a low pressure, which is adjusted in accordance with a scale a1 on the pressure gauge d. Through a two-way joint e the escaping oxygen is first collected in the breathing bag f and thence can be inhaled through the tube g and the mask h. When medicaments are to be inhaled, the two-way joint e with the breathing bag f (fig. 1) must be removed, and in its place a device i for vaporising, atomising or pulverising medicaments is attached to the branch c. The device i be con- between branch c inhaling e. The pressure gauge d has a more extensive scale d2 required for the working of the device i, so that the oxygen nozzles in the branch c do not exercise a dis- turbing effect, and a sufficiently high pressure reaches the atomising or vapor- ising nozzle k (fig. 2). According to the construction shown in fig. 3, branches c and c1 are valve b for connection two, outlet can also nected in the outlet and the apparatus several, for instance, provided on the pressure reducing to either the device e for inhaling pure oxygen, or the device i for inhaling vapours of medicaments. The inhaling device e and the atomiser i can be opened or closed by special hand wheel valves m or n. The quantity of oxygen, or the pressure of oxygen, is adjusted as required in accordance with the pressure gauge d on the pressure reducing valve b. Another delicate regulation can be obtained with the hand wheels m and n, more particularly with the latter, by judging the density of the vapours of medicaments. (Two claims.) 113169. Compressed Air Boring Machines. Ellis Stevenson, 153, Walthew-lane, Platt Bridge, near Wigan. —This invention has reference to rock or coal drilling or boring apparatus of the type wherein compressed air is used as a motive power, and wherein the air, or part of the air, is exhausted through a port or passage at the front of the apparatus adjacent to the drill (or is liable to leak out at the front) and so blow dust out of the hole which is being drilled or bored, into the faces of the workmen. The drill usually delivers blows at the rate of about 1,600 per minute. The result is that in this type of machine, dust is blown into the faces of the workmen, which is very unhealthy for them to breathe. It is the aim and object of the present invention to provide means by which the air is deflected or turned aside so that the air cannot blow dust out of the hole, and thus both the workmen and the apparatus itself are protected from this deleterious dust. The invention is characterised by the provision in collection with the drill- ing or boring apparatus of a shield device which is pushed forward as the drilling tool advances, and which is so arranged as to deflect or turn aside the air current from entering the hole and thus screen the workmen and the apparatus itself from the evil effects of the dust. 113012. Improvements relating to the Distillation of Coal. G. E. Heyl, King’s House, Kingsway, London, W.C.—This invention relates to means for promoting the distillation of oil from coal, and its object and result are to improve the yield of oil from coal than hitherto has been obtainable by the known process whereby already an increased net yield of oil is obtained from coal by per- forming the distilling operation on the coal in the pre- sence of or together with a liquid hydrocarbon, such as mineral oil or coal-tar oil. According to the invention, the coal is soaked or steeped for a considerable period, for instance, for 24 hrs., or preferably longer, in the liquid hydrocarbon before being distilled therewith. Also the distillation is preferably effected in two or more stages, and a proportion of the liquid hydrocarbon is added to the coal between the stages. A small volume of liquid hydrocarbon relatively to the volume of coal will suffice for the operation. Using coal-tar oil which distils at about 220 degs. Cent., for example, a volume of oil equal to 10 per cent, of the mass of the coal is used first to steep the coal and the mixture is distilled up to andxat a temperature of 220 degs. Cent. The residue remaining in the still is then allowed to cool and another 10 per cent, of oil is added thereto, and this mixture is distilled to about 400 degs. Cent. The net yield of oil obtained by this process, after deduction of the added 20 per cent, of coal-tar oil, will be greater than is obtain- able by the distillation processes hitherto employed. (Two claims.) 113079. Improvements in the Destructive Distillation of Bituminous Coal. F. C. Blythe, 39, Welch-road, Southsea, Hants.—In Specification 19750 of 1914, a method is described to increase the yield of hydrocarbon oils by distillation of bituminous coal consisting in add- ing to the coal a certain amount of heavy hydrocarbon oils and distilling under pressure at a comparatively low temperature—the object of this mode of working being to avoid or hinder the “ cracking ” of the oils, thus decreasing the amount of the permanent gas produced by the ordinary system at the expense of the liquid hydro- carbons. By this new mode of working, the added heavy oils act as a kind of regulator of the destructive distil- lation of the bituminous coal, whilst the pressure applied to the mixture allows of a more intimate contact, thus greatly facilitating the action of the regulator. When this action has taken place, it is not necessary to distil under pressure; the distillation can be effected under