Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - The Penarth Harbour, Dock & Railway Co. dispute with Messrs. Smith, Knight & Co. . .

A proper deed or deeds to carry into effect the above arrangement to be forthwith prepared and executed at the joint expense of Smith, Knight and Company (Limited), and Messrs. Smith and Knight.

Mr. Knight said he believed that their claim against Penarth Harbour Company was a good claim. The proposal had been drawn up to suit all parties. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings." Cardiff Times [019] 4th May 1866.

In May 1866 'The Engineer' published a concise report of the meeting and predicted ongoing litigation :

'At the second annual meeting of Smith, Knight, and Co. (Limited), held at the London Tavern, on Tuesday, the chairman (Mr. O. Ommanney) laid before the meeting a document which stated that the old firm of Smith, Knight, and Co. claimed from the Penarth Dock and Railway Company £137,163 2s. 7¼d. in respect of work done, and of plant and materials belonging to them seized by the company, and of stone quarried by the company from certain quarries seized or taken possession of by the company.

On the other hand, the Penarth Dock and Railway Company have sent in a claim (on the 15th of April) against Smith, Knight, and Co., amounting to £118,216 7s. 8d. There is not much doubt but that the matter will lead to costly litigation.' - The Engineer [015] [499] 4th May 1866.

The foregoing article has assisted clarification of the status of the companies. Messrs Smith, Knight, and Company was an older company since the report references the second annual meeting of Smith, Knight, and Company Limited. Probably the new Limited company was formed to limit the liability of the Directors and to protect their personal assets. The new company didn't last too long as the Penarth Company had their teeth firmly into them :

1866 (July) - In the matter of the Companies Act, 1862, and of Smith, Knight and Company (Limited). - "Notice is hereby given, that a petition for the winding up of the above-named Company by the Court of chancery, was on the 19th day of July, 1866, presented to the Master of the Rolls, by Arthur John King, Gentleman and Henry Beale, Organist ; and that the said petition is by special leave directed to be heard before the Master of the Rolls, on the 28th day of July, 1866 . . . " London Gazette [100] 20th July 1866.