GLASGOW'S PORT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 76, 20 November 1931, Page 6

GLASGOW'S PORT

great new dock KING PRAISES FAITH IN NATION'S FUTURE OPENING CEREMONY "I believe that those who have faith in the future of our nation will not be disappointed," stated the King, when he opened the new £2,000,000 Clyde Navigation Trust Dock — ftttingly named "The King Georve V. Dock." The ceremony took place on July 10. Their Majesties sailed down the j river on board the turbine steamer King George Y. As the steamer broke the ribbon at the entrance of the dock a Royal salute of 21 guns was fired by a battery of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Queen Mary was presented with a George III wine jug (1764), from which she poured wine into the water as she named the dock. The King, who wore the uniform of Admiral of the Fleet, then unveiled a memorial stone and declared the dock open for traffic. This occasion marked the successful completion of seven years' work. The scheme was started by the Clyde Navigation Trust during the chairmanship of Sir William H. Raeburn, Bt., and was designed by the eminent engineer, Sir Frederick Palmer, K.C.M.G., C.I.E. and the late Mr. P. D. Donald, M.Inst.C.E'., who was engineer-in-chief to ihe Clyde Trust. Replying to an address of welcome the King said that it was the third time he and the Queen had come to the Glasgow Docks and each occasion had marked a new step in their development. "What chiefly impresses me," he said, "is your present courage arid enterprise. At a moment of industrial depression you are steadfastly preparing for the long hoped for trade revival. I believe that those who have faith in the future of our nation will not be disappointed, and will reap the full reward of their foresight. "Two centuries ago Glasgow was the pioneer in the development of trade with North Ameriea. That enterprise, in the words of the best known Glasgow citizen in literature, Bailie Nicol Jarvie, was the most fortunate event in her history, 'since St. Mungo first caught herrings in the Clyde.' Moreover, it was the first step which raised Scotland from a poor and backward country to a foremost place in all human activities. "It has given Glasgow to-day the proud position of the second city in the Empire. She has been the window from which Scotland especially has looked out upon the world. She has I been the port from which Scotsmen have gone forth to colonise and develop new lands. For a century her ships have sailed every ocean, and there are few corners in the world; however remote, where you cannot : find a Glasgow engineer. Still New Worlds. "It is a great record, but I am convinced that it is not yet ended. There are still new worlds for Glasgow to conquer. "There is, for example, that southern half of the American Continent from which my dear son, the Prince of Wales, has recently returned, and which I believe will one day be bound to Britain with close commercial ties. The future lies in the hands of the men with brains, energy, and determination. These qualities the people of the second city of my Empire have never lacked. I have much pleasure in acceding to your request that this splendid dock shall be named after me." Then the Queen, taking the silver jug, walked to the water's edge to name the dock, and , as she leaned over the edge, heedless of the rain, and poured wine into the water, a great cheer went up, to be repeated when the King pressed a lever and released a Union Jack covering a tablet on which was the inscription: "This dock was opened by Their Majesties the King and Queen on 10th July, 1931, and named King George V. Dock." The total dockland area is approximately 52 acres, which provides for roads, quays, sheds, railways, etc. The dock itself is 2483 feet long and 350 feet wide, and its water area is 20 acres. The entrance is set well back from the river bank, so that a clear width of 650 feet is allowed for the canting of vessels, thus giving an additional nine acres to the river area at that point. The whole scheme cost approximately £2,000,000; 85 per cent, of this total went in wages through the various manufacturers and suppliers of material. This is easily understood when one considers the vast quantities of material which had to be transported. There were used in this job 400,000 tons of crushed stone and gravel, 150,000 tons of sand, 60,000 tons of cement, 45,000 tons of coal, and 3500 tons of steel. The Lord Provost of Glasgow later received a message on behalf of the King and Queen, thanking the citizens af that city for their welcome. "Their Majesties," the message ran, 'knowing only too well the deplorable sffect of the present trade depression m the industries of Clydeside, do not vish to let this occasion pass without i message of sympathy and encourigement to those to whom it has >rought unemployment and distress."