THE LARGEST DOCK IN THE WOULD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE LARGEST DOCK IN THE WOULD.

OPENED BY THE KING AT MAN-

CHESTER

London, July 14.—Although yesterday morning opened dull grey and somewhat. threatening) in a few hours the. clouds rolled away, and the visit ot the King and Queen to Manchester was favoured by the happiest of weather. By Royal proclamation the occasion was observed as a bank holiday, with the result that all places of business were closed, and that people from an early hour flocked into the streets, their numbers being considerably swelled by j those who poured into the city by special trains from outside districts. 'From the moment of their entry into Manchester, for the purpose primarily of opening the great new dock in the Ship Canal in the adjacent borough of Salford, to the hour of their departure their Majesties' visit was a triumphal progress. The King and Queen, with, their suite, arrived at half-past twelve at Victoria Station from Knowsley, where they had been the guests of the Earl of Derby. A very loyal welcome awaited their Majesties. The King wore the undress uniform of a Field-Marshal, and the Queen looked charming in a dress of light pink. Lord Stanley, having presented the Lord Mayor (Mr. T. Thorniiill Sliaun), the Lady Mayoress (Miss Shaun), the Recorder of Manchester (Sir Joseph Loeso, K.C., M.P.), and the High Sheriff (Sir John Thursby), His Majesty inspected the guard of honour, and then, 'a little later, amid a welcome burst of sunshine, the Royal procession was got into readiness to start. The King and Queen, with Lord Stanley, rode in an open carriage. V A LOVAL WELCOME. 11l tie succeeding carriages rode the Earl and Countess of Derby, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, the Countess of Lathom, Lady Wolverton, the Marquess de Soveral, Earl Spencer, and'others. On their way,'to the Town Hall the King and Queen passed through soma of the principal thoroughfares of the city. Everywhere many thousands of people had assembled 'to greet. their Majesties, their appearance being heralded with roars of cheering. Next came an. unrehearsed and picturesque incident. The King gave a signal to the Lord Mayor, who approached and knelt upon the lower step of the dais. Then His Majesty borrowed a sword from Lord Stanley, and, tapping the Lord Mayor lightly on each shoulder, bade hitm rise. The new knight regained his feet and kissed His Majesty's extended hand. Next the King formally received the French naval officers, and for some time conversed with Commander Boeheme. Afterwards their Majesties were conducted, to the banqueting hall, where lur.cheon was served. '/ OPENING THE DOCK. On arriving at the new dock their Majesties were received by the chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal Company (Mr. J. K. Bythcll) and were conducted "to the State chairs near the dock .side. The directors of the Manchester Ship Canal Company presented an address, which the King acknowledged in a few words, and His Majesty then proceeded to perform the opening ceremony. This was very simple. The dock was opened through the medium. of electrical machinery, which the King set in motion. His Majesty immediately declared the dock to be open. A Royal salute was fired the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. Soma steamers heavily laden with passengers passed in. The directors of the Canal Company having been presented, the proceedings at the dock came to a close. During the return drive the King and Queen stopped in Peel Park, Salford, where the Corporation presented an address. In reply the King thanked the Mayor and said that he had been very picked with the whole of the proceedings. THIS DOCK AM) TRANSIT SHEDS.

The new dock which the King and Queen opened is the largest of its kind in. the world, and has been constructed on 'part of the site of- the old Manchester racecourse. There is sufficient space adjoining for another dock of similar size when the neces'sity for further extension arises. Upon a portion of this land there stood until very recently the weather-beaten " grandstand" of the racecourse, a significant reminder of the change which the canal is gradually working in the character of the district' abutting on the docks. The " No. 9" dock, as it is named, is really the eighth dock which the Ship Canal Company ha's constructed. The new dock, together with the neighbouring transit sheds and railway sidings, has cost nearly half a million, sterling. The dock is 2700 ft long, 250 ft wide, and 28ft deep, and has a 1 water area of 15£ acres. This depth is two feet below the present bed of the canal, but the companyare now about to deepen the canal and make it 28ft deep from end to end. When this has been done it will be possible for the largest steamers to make their way with ease and safety into No. 9 dock. The dock differs in one] important matter from those which are already in use. Its walls consist not of solid masonry, presenting a flat surface to the water, but of a series of piers and arches with upward sloping banks behind them. This system has been adopted with the view of preventing the displacement of water which occurs under ordinary circumstances when a vessel enters or leaves a 1 dock. There is accommodation in No. 9 dock for ten of the largest vessels which .can use the canal. " ' l-'ERHO-CO.N'CKETE WOKK. On the south side of the dock are five new transit sheds, constructed throughout of fejTo-concrete and iron rods, and so absolutely fire-proof. The sheds are each four storeys high. They cover a floor area of 24 acres, and have a storage capacity of 400,000 yards. They are fitted with powerful electric cranes for the effective handling of cargo. The sheds are provided with a. double line of rails both in front and behind, and cargoes can be loaded or unloaded by 20 electric cranes, which run on a special road on the edge of the quay and command every floor of the sheds. The loading out from the sheds into waggons or lorries is done by two fixed electric cranes on the roof of each of the transit sheds and <s5 electric hoists in teagles at the back of the sheds. The sheds are further provided with a verandah on the south side to enable goods to be transferred to railway trucks or lorries under shelter from the weather.

On the opposite side of the dock— north side—there are a crane road and' two lines of railway, and behind, these is an open quay for dealing with timber, iron ore, and other cargo which doss not need to be placed under shelter. Behind this are a paved road and a double line of railways for the inland distribution of cargoes. The motive power, as well as the lighting of the docks and sheds, is electric, the electricity being distributed from a switchhouse at the easterly end of the dock.