Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - Various dock schemes which failed . . .

The gentlemen above-named with "two other persons to be nominated by them or the majority of them," are, under the powers contained in the Bill, to be the first directors of the company, the board of which is to be consist of seven directors, with the power to subsequently to reduce the number to "not less than three." The qualification of a director is to be in the possession in his own right of not less than 50 £10 shares.

The Proposed Dock Works - The works proposed to be constructed and maintained by the company are set out in great detail in the Bill. Briefly stated, the main works consist of two sea-walls, one commencing near the south-west corner of the Windsor Slipway Yard of Messrs. Mordey, Carney, and Co., and terminating 370 yards north of the north-west corner of the basin of Penarth Dock, the second commencing on the Penarth Floats enclosed by these embankments and the existing sea-wall on the west side of the floats the dock will be constructed, with a lock entrance at its south-eastern end from the River Ely. The area of the dock will be, it is stated, about 30 acres.

In connection with these main works two jetties will be constructed, together with railways of an aggregate length of one mile seven furlongs eight chains, running from the railway at the Penarth Company to the dock. In a long series of clauses the Bill provides for exhibiting lights at the dock works, for diverting and using for purposes of the dock the waters of the Rivers Ely and Taff and of the Bristol Channel, and for pitching the sea face of the embankment with stone, "or in such other manner as will effectually prevent any materials being carried by the wash of the sea into the entrance channel leading to the Bute Docks."

Time for Completion of the Works - The time sought within to complete the works is seven years from the passing of the Act.

The 81 clauses of the Bill cover the £57,000 Capital required, subscription restrictions, guaranteed dividends and payment of interest during construction, etc. In addition it covers the provision of warehousing, steam tugs and to supply water, gas and electric light to vessels, "and generally perform every duty possible by a dock company." Western Mail [036] 23rd December 1895.