Southampton, July 26.
The largest graving dock in the world, capable of housing 100,000~ ton leviathans of the future, was opened today by the, King, who, accompanied by the Queen and the Dake and Duchess of York, steamed into the dock from Cowes in the [Royal yacht Vietorin and Albert.
"As the yacht entered the flower Jstrewn waters of the dock, her bows broke the white and blue ribbon across the entrance. The large [crowd which had gathered to wit Mess the scene signalized the arrival Jof the royal party with a vociferous outburst of cheering which momen-Itarily drowned the music of the miss-led bands present. Overhead a fleet lof aeroplanes circled, adding a picturesque touch to the pageantry of the occasion.
Among those who watched the scene were a thousand school-children specially accommodated Jaboard the luxury liner Empress of Britain "The King, who named the dock the "King George V Graving Dock, freealled that, in August, 1896, he had accompanied his father, the late King' award, in opening the Prince jof Wales Dock. He expressed his special satisfaction at inaugurating splendid. addition to the port, which, he said, had retained a foremost place in the commercial Britain, while its record lof embarkation during War would never be forgotter "Tt is ax true lo-day as ever, His Majesty, "that the welfare of ix country. is largely bound up with the prosperity of its sea-borne trade. Realising the vital need for Jeficiency in our ports, as in all other requirements of our merchant navy, look upon the opening of this, ithe largest graving dock world, ax a good augury for the future of Southampton."
The King took the opportunity of paying a tribute to the enterprise of the Southern Railway.
After his speech, the Queen [christened the dock by emptying a silver goblet of Empire wine on the twater, which had been transformed into a floating garden by garlands lof her favourite carnations, The King's address was delivered from a special platform which he Jand the other members of the royal party mounted after the Victoria and Albert had been moored.
The dock is 1,200 feet in length.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.