WINS. Ladybird approaching the ribbon, whi Mrs. H. E. Arnhold out while Performing the opening ceremony the ow dry-dock constructed by the New Engineering & Shipbuilding Ca, of steel and: lumber had to be! imported from abroad, and I think' you will agree with me that Mr. Alfred Blechynden and Mr. George MeMurdo, our Dock Master, on whom the burden of the work fell, are to be congratulated on having completed the construction in such short period as five months. 'The principal dimensions of the Dock' are:
Length at top oseesieccese 38 0 Width, entrances' at' bottom on Gi seressvstzeceeeesees GLO Water at sprig tides 222002 16 0
Although we had to forego our! original ambition to build the large dock, the new one is capable of accommodating: all vessels operat ing on this coast and river steamers, and will relieve: the strain on the larger dock leaving it available for vessels of greater size.
I would there: digress for a moment and. tell: you that it is now: our intention to widen the entrance of the old Dock. I have just said that some: years ago. we lengthened it by 126 ft, but as it was impos-to widen the entrance proportion ately at the same time without closing the Dock for; a protracted' period and as) this tie.e could -ot be given owing to. pressure of business, the Dock was only ingthened. "In consequence we have. from time to time found ours tives compelled to refuse certain Iaige vessels, having suf-ut lenctn, but not sufficient breadth to permit them to enter. With two docks we are now able to take inuwedicte steps to correct this diss advantage, and whereas now we can wits complete safety only handle vessels of 575 ft. beam, we hope before th: end of this year, to be able to take care of ships with beam of 60 ft. o: slightly over.
Revertiny to te new dock, construction was carried out entirely by the Works metagement and staff and with ne outside technical assistance or advice, The type is an entirely new departure from the ordinary deck in Shang! the principal fe-turs being that the entirely of British sheet.
jing suita: ly reinforced The bottom avily piled ard. strong beams are' fitted righ: a: ross at suitable intervals and heavily concreted wh.re necessary. The sump and the whole. bottom and sides, have been planked giving a very neat finish. ko caisson is con-attracted of ste, this work again by our own staff. that enables it to be taken away ard replaced in position at any state of the tide. The purips.ere powe-fal and are operat-being capable of emptying (zo dirk in one, to one and a half how s tine, according to the size of the ship accommodated Although to-'cy is the official opening eeremor.y, I feel sure you will be inb.cst~2 to hear that work was compared in January, and a vessel wa. docced purely for test] purposes. i: was our intention to have this. immediately followed. by the official oven: ~g ceremony if the tes prov.d tue: the construction was in every. way The opening te: t proved 30, but happily enough, instead of be -g acle +0 @.ange to invite you down here within a few days of this firs: fest, Id wa- f und that the Dock was kep* s" continually busy affording service to orr customers, that thre did no: perx't of arrangements belt g made to-ack you on any Hiewlar dots, hence the delay that tas taken place. I feel, having told: you this, that you will understand my opening remarks when T said: was a day of encouragement for this Company, not only to see its ambition realised of having a second Dock, but to find that its enterprise' became immediately justified.
Mesfurdo as here to-day. 1 Tam particularly glad to sce Mr.
have already referred to the 5 did work he performed in connection with the construction of our new Dock. Unfortunately towards the end of the work he was. taken seriously: ill and has been laid up for many weeks.
We thought at tone time he would not be well enough to attend the opening. cere-many, and it is a matter of surprise and particular pleasure' that I see im with us. Although he is not yet strong enough to resume duty, it is our earnest hope, in which I am sure you will join, that it will not be long before he is superintending the docking of vessels in the new Dock in the construction of which he took auch an active part.
T will now ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to charge your glasses C; and to drink success to the Yangtszepoo Dock No. 2.
This having been accomplished with acclamation, Mr. Blechyndea thanked Mis. Arnhold for her presence and presented her with a watch-clock and the shears. with whick she previously had cut the entrance ribbons. Three cheers were given and the ceremony ended.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.