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LLOYD'S COMMITTEE AT NEWPORT.

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LLOYD'S COMMITTEE AT NEWPORT. Tuesday last will be memorable in the recollection of those connected with the docks and marine indus- tries of Newport from the fact that Lloyd's Com- mittee paid their first visit to the port on that day. The Committee are inspecting the principal ports of the United Kingdom, those on the west coast at pre- sent occupying their attention. When it transpired that the Committee were coming to Newport the public bodies of the borough and port determined to give them a warm reception, and we may here state that the cordiality shown to the representatives of Lloyd's during the few hours they spent among us afforded those gentlemen the liveliest satisfaction. On their arrival from Bristol by the 10.50 a.m. train the Committee were met at the railway station by the Mayor and Alderman Homfray represeotirg the Town Council Me.srs. W. E. Heard, T. E. Watson, and G. 1. Jones, representing the Chamber of Commerce Admiral Facte and Mr. J. Moses represeoting the Pilotage Commissioners Messrs. T. Pugsley and M. Mordey representing the Shipowners' Association Mr. J. S. Adam representing the Dock Companies Mr. E. H. Carbutt, M.P., Colonel Hill, C.B. (Cardiff), the secretaries of the reception committee (Capt. S. G. Homfray and Mr. S. Williams), Messrs. H. T. Tyrrell and A. E. Keydell, Lloyd's surveyors at Car- diff and Newport; F. S. Hockaday, C. Simpson, A. Blake, E. W. Wiilev, C. D. Phillips, &c. The Mayor cordially welcomed the Committee, which consists of Messrs. W. H. Tindall (chairman), H. J. Cornish, B. Weymouth, H. A. Scott, T. B. Walker. H. J. Bristow, H. E. Monigcmerie, F. B. B. Nutusch, VY. Strang C. R. Tatham, L. C. Wakefield, W. Parker, and J. Williamson. A few introductions having taken place, the whole party entered carriages in readiness and were driven to the Alexandra Dock. A large ocean- going steamer named the Suez was taking in a cargo of coal alongside number six hoist, and here there was a halt to enable the Committee to scrutinise the magni- ficent hydraulic machinery. They were evidently struck with the perfect loading arrangements at the dock, and listened with interest to some information OIl this subject by Mr. Dunn, the superintendent of the tips, wno mentioned that during the six months ending June, 1883, bC6,663 tons of black diamonds were shipped, the daily average being 5,555 tons, and per hoist (there being eight hoists) ô94 tons 7 cwt. In the half-year ending June last the total export had increased by 116,750 tons 16 cwt.. giving a total of nearly a miilion tons, or to speak exactly, 9S3.414 tons 3 cwt. This immense quantity had been stowed in 15,2:35 hours, or 6,303 tons IS cwt. Der day, and 7S7 tons per hoist. In 1883, 2,221 vessels entered the port. representing a toonage of 1,141,.)9; of these 1,167 were steamers. Compared with 1 jS2 that was a decrease in the number of vessels, but an in- crease of 6lJ,620 in tounage. Under the guid je of Mr. Swyche (ehLf engineer), Mr. Noble (;i.i^tant engin. rr), and Captain Parfitt (dock master), the com- pacy oext looked over the machine room, dttiog sboj a and dry dock of the Alexandra Dock Comply, and by the invitation of Mr. J. S. Adam partook of refreshments at the dock master's residence Visits were then made to the Uskside Shipbuilding Com- pany's premises (where an iron steamer 140 feet long is being built), the Usk Side Engineering W. rks, and the dry docks and yards of Mordey, Carney, and Company (Limited). The Committee were thus enabled to see what Newport can do in the matter of shipbuilding and repairing, and more than one of the members remarked that the river Usk was admirably adopted for the prosecution of iron shipbuilJing. The inspection over, the party was conveyed to the Albert Hall, where a most appetising cold collation was laid, the catering being in Host Dean's best style Here those who had been round the docks, &" re- ceived a considerable addition to their numbers between 90 and 1UO gentlemen sitting down to Inn. cheon. Tne Worshipful the Mayor presided, his immediate supporters being the guests of the day, Mr. E H. Carbutt, M.P., and Colonel Kill. There were also present Admiral Foote, Messrs. T. Gratrex, -j. A, Homfray, J. Colquhoun, W. Watts, B. De Angeb J. S. Adam, H. White, W. Needbam, A. Scott, T. Caygill, J. fJeid, T. Colborne, S. Batchelor, A. Henshaw, A. Mawson, G. Hoskins, R. Gethiog, H. Brimfield, E. Griffiths, J. Thomas, Thomas H. Howell, Henry Mullock, A. J. Stevens, E. Webber, D. LI. Evans, Charles M. Jacobs, T. E. Watson, Geo. Woods, J. Parfitt, George R. Martyn. A. P. FilJenl, J. L. Smith. H. J. Davis, E. W. Willey, C. H. Jones, A. J. Murphy, H. J. Parnall, John Warren, H. D. iorath, W. Verrioder, W. C. Pain, J. D. Pain, T. J. Beynon, George Sparke, W. H. Williams, W. H. Parsons, C. D. Phillips, W. jt. Wilkinson, William ■M°WL ^omaa Dawson, George Fothergill, George Marsh, W. S. Smythe, Thos. Pugsley, J. H. Carney, A rJ' YNTER> J- Summers, J. H. Winn, F. Orders, A. C. Ponsonby, R. W. Jones, T. Richards, A. Sivier- din, A. E. Southall, A. E. Keydell, T. Jones, P. A. Williams, M. Mordey, W. E. Heard, G. 1. Jones, G. H. Llewellyn, Charles Ingram, W. Pickford, S. G. Homfray, and S. Williams. Mr. C. Lyne and Mr. T. Beynon, the representatives of the Harbour Commis- sion on the reception committee, were absect, being away from home. Both wrote regretting their inability to be present, and expressing a hope that Dot only would Lloyd's Committee enjoy themselves but that their visit might be of great advantage to the port. Three toasts were set down to be proposed from the chair. The first was that of The Queen," and in remark- ing that her Majesty took the utmost interest in her I suljccts the Mayor referred with pleasure to the fact that she had consented to act as patroness of the forthcoming National Eisteddfod. The toast was drunk right loyally, as was that of The Prince and Princess of Wales aud the rest of the Royal Family." The Mayor then proposed the toast of Lloyd's Committee," the mention of which was received with prolonged applause. His Worship said he felt it to be a great compliment that the first visit of the Com- mittee to Newport occurred during his year of office a3 Chief Magistrate. He pointed out that the fact of them coming here stamped the port—which he con- sidered second to no other in the Bristol Channel—as an important one-(hear, hear)-and before the Com- mittee left he hoped they would say Newport possessed advantages which they did not know of in any other port in the Channel. The river was a splendid one, and he saw no reason why shipbuilding yards should not be erected on both sides of it. Newport possessed more special facilities for the deve- lopment of iron and steel shipbuilding than any other port, excepting the sister port of Cardiff, because she was nearer the steel-making works of Tredegar and Ebbw Vale, where the iron could be converted and roiled at a cheaper rate than elsewhere. He asserted that the leading men of the town ought to utilise the large industries which existed in the rear of the port for its development, and he trusted that many years would not pass before shipbuilding yards would become numerous on both sides of the Usk. (Applause.) His Worship then referred to the circumstance that this year is the fiftieth or jubilee year of the forma- tion of the Committee, and spoke of the benefits which they had been the mean of conferring on ship- ping generally, by the special knowledge brought to bear on the question of naval architecture, reinaiking that he believed the Committee's labours were tho- roughly appreciated not only by the shipowners and merchants of Newport, but by private shipbuilders throughout the country. In one or two instances the Committee bad been able to give assistance to the Government in the solving of difficult questions, S Jch as the load-line and other matters, which affected not only the property, but the lives of their fellow- subjects. (Hear, hear.) His Worship regretted that it was impossible to keep th* Committee at Newport that evening, but trusted the members, in their water journey to Chepstow, would become thoroughly irnl ued with the idea that Newport was not the insig- nificant port which she had been thought by some foreigners. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Mr. Tindall responded to the toast, stating at the outset that while Lloyd's Committee had existed for 50 years Lloyd's Registry of British and Foreign Shipping had attained the age of 150 years. HejEar. ther said it was very pleasant to come down to New- port and be welcomed in a place like this, which they saw was full of enterprise—where there were docks, and where accommodation was being made for those who wished to build ships. He hoped at some future time to see building yards in full operation here, for the river provided every possible accommodation. By 20:ua the Committee were deemed rather a nuisance than otherwise, but at any rate they would be happy to CO ae to Newport again and visit works which were ic probpect as well as renew their acquaintance with tt;(M already existing. One point he wished those who intended to build ships to take into consideration. a was he use of steel. Newport was in a district Z Steel was made, and in the belief of fnr^vr0^61"8 8tee* w<"ild be the metal of future for shipbuilding. He did not know how corrosion would affect the utility of steel as a material; time alone would show that; but he hoped that this beautiful metal which made such good work might prove as lasting as iron. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion the speaker complimented the municipal authorities as being the chief encouragers and promoters of the improvements on every side, as compared with what lie saw on the occasion of a visit several years ago. and proposed the health of the Mayor. (Loud ap- plause.) Mr. Carbutt, M P., who seemed to be under tà. impression that Mr. Tindall had proposed a vote of thanka, asked to be allowed to put it to the meeting. It 1 a I been his intention to propoee the health of the Mayor, but the words were taken out of his mouth. However, all would join in paying a compliment to his Worship, who had conducted himself in such a splendid manner that everyone would be quite satis- fied. (Applaase). He felt delighted that Lloyd's Committee had paid the port a visit, because enough had not been done by the inhabitants to advertise their magnificent river. (Hear, hear). He regarded the Usk as the finest river in England, and he knew of no other port with a river where the tide rose 36ft to 40ft which had no bar, and where ships, once in dock, need never be afraid of neap tides to interfere with their getting out whenever or however they pleased. (Hear, bear). If the same enterprise had been shown by the people of Newport in times past as had been shown by them during the few years he had known ke believed it would now be one of the first ports in the kingdom. At the present time more iron ore was imported, and more iron and steel rails exported, tiian by any other port in the Channel. The Alexandra Dock possessed facilities for shipping 2,500 tons of coal in a vessel under 18 hours and when the new dock which was begun was completed he was told the acreage of dock accommodation would be equal to that possessed by Cardiff. He regarded the intro- duction of steel into shipbuilding as of the utmost importance it would, in fact, be the salvation of the shipping trade and if it had been used in times past, they would not, he believed, have heard so much ab'.ut the shipping legislation which had been proposed, and which, as they knew, had not been carried.' (Hear, hear). It had been noted that poor and inferior iron had been put into ships, and that it was mainly owing to the efforts of such gentlemen as those com- posing Lloyds' Committee, with their gseat army of inspectors, that ships had been built in a fair and workmanlike way. (Hear, hear.) At the meeting of the Mechanical Engineers at Cardiff recently, Mr. Lowtbian Bell said that the workmen of England were receiving 25 per cent. more wages than the workmen abroad, and that it was only by making use of scientific knowledge that Englishmen could hope to maintain their position in the markets of the world. Mr. Car. butt counselled the shipbuilders of Newport to utilize their scientific knowledge, and the steel-making power of the industries in the hills, in order to maintain and advance the position and prospects of the port. (Applause). The hon. member concluded by compli- menting the mayor on the success of his year of office, as far as it had gone, The Mayor briefly replied to the compliment, and the proceedings terminated. The Committee, and most of those present at the luncheon, were then conveyed to Chepstow in the steamer of that name belonging to the Great Western Railway Company. There was a profuse display of junfcing at the docks, and one of Messrs. Morel and Co s tine steamers lying at the Ebbw Vale wharf had all her signal flags floating in the breeze. At Chepstow the castle flag was hoisted ia honour of the visit. A considerable number of persons assembled to witness the arrival of the Committee, who disembarked at Messrs. Finch and Co.'s building yard amid much cheering. the Chjpsiow theo returned to Newport, Kodney wnarf being reached soon after 8.30 p.m.

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