Volume Two - The Era of Optimism, Investment & Development - Some newspaper reports from the 1900's . . .

• March 1906 - A New Dry Dock - Opposition of Cardiff Shipowners - "At a largely attended private meeting of the Cardiff Shipowners' Association, held at the Exchange on Tuesday, the various local Bills now before Parliament were considered. It was decided to support the Barry and Rhymney Railway Companies' Bills, but the Taff Vale Company's Bill, which proposes, among other projects, to construct a new dry dock by the Taff Vale Company at Penarth excited considerable discussion. Differences of opinion were expressed, and several shipowners made speeches in favour of a commercial, as opposed to a private dock ; but it was decided eventually to oppose the Bill." Cardiff Times [019] 14th March 1906.

• August 1906 - Taff Vale Railway Co. - Shareholders Meeting - A Record Half Year - "At Bristol on Wednesday, Mr. R. G. Vassall, chairman of the company, presided over the half-yearly meeting of shareholders in the Taff Vale Railway . . . . At Penarth Dock £5,859 had been expended on additional tips and roads. The erection of of two moveable tips had been completed on the north side, and they had also erected and heightened two of the tips on the south side of the dock. These tips worked remarkably well ; they fully answered expectations, and were as useful as those which had been erected on the basin. The dock and harbour receipts showed an increase of £3,730, and they had shipped in the dock no less than 2,137,383 tons - by far the largest total." Cardiff Times [019] 11th August 1906.

• October 1906 - Dock Hobblers' Grievances - Cardiff, Barry and Penarth Men Complain - "On Sunday, a meeting took place of hobblers of Barry and Penarth at the Regent Hall, Barry Dock, in order to discuss certain grievances of which the men complain. There was a very large gathering, and the proceedings were conducted in private. It was decided to hold another meeting at st. Andrew's Small Hall, Glebe street, Penarth, on sunday next, at 2.30 p.m. sharp. The grievances do not appertain to the employers, but the method of working, and the distribution of labour in trimming vessels at the docks." Barry Herald [216] 19th October 1906.

• October 1906 - Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Hobblers - Separate Organisation Promoted - "A meeting was held on Sunday last at the Andrew's Hall, Penarth, to further consider the position of the hobblers and the coal-trimmers in connection with their alleged grievances. At the meeting at Barry Dock on the previous Sunday the advisability was discussed of forming an organisation district for the Coaltrimmers' Union, to which the men had previously been allied.