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THE LATE MR. DAVID DAVIES,…

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THE LATE MR. DAVID DAVIES, M.P. UNVEILING A MEMORIAL STATUE AT BARRY DOCK. ADDRESS AND CEREMONY BY LORD WINDSOR. INTERESTING SPEECHES AND PRO- CEEDINGS. TOUCHING LETTER FROM MR. ARCHIBALD HOOD, J.P. On Friday afternoon last, amid circumstances of a favourable and interesting character, a handsome and costly bronze statue, to the memory of the late Mr David Davies, M.P., deputy-chairman of the Barry Railway Company, ahd one of the pioneers of Barry Dock, was unveiled at Barry Dock in the presence of a large number of ladies and gentlemen, together with quite a concourse of the general public, the ceremony being per- formed by the Right Hon. the Lord Windsor, the noble chairman of the Barry Company, at the close of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the directors of the company. The statue, which was executed by Mr Alfred Gilbert, R.A., of 9, Duke- street, Portland-place, London, W., is a remark- ably faithful likeness of the deceased gentleman. It stands upon a massive pedestal of grey Cornish granite, and was erected by Messrs Burke and Company, of 17, Newman-street, London, with metal socket for the reception of the statue by Messrs Broad and Son, London. On one side of the pedestal is the incription DAVID DAVIES, Born 1818, Died 1890. On the other side is inscribed :— Deputy-chairman and Chief Promoter of the Barry Dock and Railways Company." The site of the statue is a most convenient and commanding one, occupying a portion of the elevated space to the north of the Barry Graving Dock and Engineering Company's general offices, and near the proposed site of the Barry Railway Company's permanent general offices. From the site a magnificent view is obtained of the Channel, the Island, Barry Roads, and the English coast opposite, together with the enterprising under- taking which the late Mr David Davies was so prominently instrumental in bringing into exis- tence. The statue has been very happily designed by the gifted sculptor, the figure representing Mr Davies holding in his right hand a scroll of an engineer's section or extended plan, which he is looking at as if consulting it. A noticeable feature in connection with the statue is the fact that the deceased gentleman is represented as attired in the homely costume in which Mr Davies was at all times so familiarly characteristic. The figure stands about nine feet in height, and the base and pedestal are an additional seven or eight feet, so that the structure many be seen from a consider- able distance around, and from the line of railway between Barry and Cadoxton a commanding view of the work is obtainable. Before and after the unveiling ceremony a large number of ladies and gentlemen were entertained by the Barry directors to light refreshments, at the general offices of the company, the catering arrangements being carried out by Mrs Brooks, the respected manageress of Culley's Hotel at Barry Dock. Amongst those present during the ceremony we noticed the following :—The Right Hon. Lord Windsor, chairman of the company; Mr Edward Davies, J.P., managing director; Messrs F. L. Davis, J.P., J. Howard Thomas, J.P., T. R. Thompson, J.P., and Louis Gueret, directors of the company Mr Williams, Bute Docks, Cardiff, the company's treasurer; Mr J. Wolfe-Barry, M.C.Inst.C.E., London, the con- sulting engineer Mr Richard Evans, general manager Mr Tames Bell, C.E., resident engineer; Mr W. Mein, secretary Captain R. Davies, dockmaster; Mr D. Roberts, shipping superintendent; Mr R. T. Duncan, superirfcen- dent of dock onice Dr Livingstone, Barry Dock Dr Sixsmith, do; Mr W. H. Miller, Barry Rev Canon Allen, M.A., rector of Barry; Mr J. H. Hosgood, locomotive superintendent; Inspectors Butler, Egan, and Osborne Mr H. M. Brunell, M.Inst.C.E., London Colonel Page, J.P., Llan- daff; Mr Edmund Handcock, senr., and Mr Edmund Handcock, junr., Cardiff; Captain E. O. Evans, Barry Dock Mr Edwin Seward, A.R.I.B.A., Cardiff; Dr Neale, Barry; Mrs Davies, Highmead Mr D. Evans, Board of Trade superintendent, Cardiff; the Misses Williams, Tynewydd Mr E. Evans, J.P., Cardiff; Mr W. Hopkins, Moulton Mr Smith Jones, Barry Dock; Mr J. H. Powell, do. Rev Christmas Lewis and Mrs Lewis, Barry Dr Powell, do. Mr W. P. Phillips, do. Mr Lewis Lewis, Barry Dock Mr J. Treharne, Cadoxton Rev Canon Thompson, M.A., vicar of St. John's, Cardiff; Mr J. Duncan, J.P., Cardiff; Mr E. S. Johnson, Barry Dock; Mr C. Howe, Cadoxton Mr J. L. Davies, do. Mr Isaac Thomas, do. Alderman J. C. Meggitt, Larry; Mr W. H. Thomas Cardiff; Mr R. 0. Jenkins, Barry Mr Dominic Watson, Cardiff; Mr H. C. Griffin, Barry Mr Lewis Williams, J.P., Cardiff; the Marquis Garadogin Mr J. C. Pardoe, surveyor, Cadoxton; Captain W. B. Whall, B.T., Barry Dock; Dr Lloyd Edwards, Barry Dock Mr Rees Jones, J.P., Cardiff; Mr Coleman, Mr W. Lester Jones, Cardiff; Dr Bray, Barry Dock Dr Kelly, Barry Mr B. Lewis, Cadoxton; Rev J. W. Matthews, do. Mr J. A. Owen, architect, do. Mr and Mrs R. S. Robinson, Barry; Rev G. Ll. Williams and Mrs Williams, Cadoxton; Mr J. B. Ferrier, Cardiff; Mr W. W. Mitchell, Barry Dock; Mr J. Millward, Barry Dock Mr W. Miller, Cadoxton; etc. Mr Archibald Hood, J.P., deputy-chairman of the Barry Company, and Mr J. Robinson, M.Inst.C.E., Barry, the late resident engineer of the Barry Company, were unavoidably prevented from attending owing to absence from home upon urgent business. The scene during the ceremony was of an animated character, the greatest possible enthusiasm being shown by all present, and the shipping and principal buildings in and around Barry Dock were bedecked with bunting, showing the high degree of respect in which the late esteemed Mr David Davies was held by all connected with Barry. Mr Louis Gueret, one of the Barry directors, formally invited Lord Windsor to perform the ceremony, and the right hon. nobleman having duly complied amid applause, Lord Windsor addressed the gathering, and in the course of his remarks he said-We are assembled here this afternoon to unveil this statue, and to pay some slight tribute to the memory of one who, I am sure, has a warm place in the hearts and minds of every single person who is interested in this great undertaking. (Hear, hear.) It is perfectly impossible for us to give adequate expression to the deep debt of gratitude that we feel to the untiring energy of the late Mr David Davies, but we trust that this statue will be a permanent memorial of his great work; that it will remain here to be seen by all people to represent the feelings of the pro- moters and of those who feel an interest in the great Barry undertaking and that it will always serve to give some evidence of their great regard and affection for the late deputy chairman of the company. (Hear, hear.) There are many of us who have stood with him on this ground, who have been witnesses of his indomitable energy and perseverance since the year 1884, when the first sod of this undertaking was cut—who have been witnesses of the zeal, energy, and knowledge he displayed during the progress of the work the success with which he overcame the difficulties which from time to time presented themselves and now eagerly he looked forward to the time when he and we hoped, when the undertaking would be completed, to see it a great and glorious success. We wish, indeed, that he had been spared longer to see the undertaking growing as it has grown since that time. (Hear, hear.) But it was not only from 1884 till 1889 -when this dock was opened-that his energy was devoted to this undertaking. But let me remind you of the time when, during the great fights which took place in Parliament, not a little of his physical skill was spent in assisting, so successfully, in carrying the measure into law. (Hear, hear.) We deeply regret that his life should have been in any way shortened by the devoted attention he paid to the details of this great scheme. But the small amount that we can do, and that I have had the honour to do this afternoon, will, I hope, be a permanent memorial of the great affection and great gratitude we feel for the memory of one who devoted so much of his time, strength, and ability to the interests of the Barry Company. (Cheers.) I should only like now to express my regret-and I think a letter will be read also to express the regret of the individual himself—I refer in the first place to Mr Archibald Hood, the respected deputy-chairman of the Barry Company, who would have been present here this afternoon had it not been for an absolutely important en- gagement of a serious personal nature which has prevented him, and has obliged him to be in the North of England. I also greatly regret that Mr Alfred Gilbert, the gentleman who executed this statue, is prevented from being present owing to an important engagement in London, in which the Prince of Wales required his services. He would have been pleased to be here, and to join with us in the ceremony of unveiling this statue which he has so ably finished. Having performed my duty, I will now ask Mr Fred Davis to say a word. (Loud applause.) Mr Fred L. Davis-I did not know till this afternoon that I was expected to say anything on this occasion. But I am glad to have an oppor- tunity to be present at this ceremony to-day. I was not associated with the late Mr David Davies in this great undertaking. But my father was— (loud applause)-and had he lived he would have been here to pay his tribute to the memory of Mr Davies, for had it not been for the indomitable pluck, energy, and hard work which at the outset was displayed by the late Mr David Davies, there would have been little probability of this dock and railway ever having been made. (Hear, hear.) I will not occupy your attention any longer, for there are other gentlemen who wish to speak as well, but I wish to emphasise the fact that I am very pleased to be here on this interesting occasion. (Cheers.) Mr J. Wolfe-Barry, tl\e consulting engineer of the company, was the next speaker. He said it was a peculiar satisfaction to him to be allowed to be present on that occasion, and follow the excel- lent remarks of Lord Windsor and Mr Fred Davis. As one of the engineers of the Barry Dock undertaking, he felt peculiarly able to pay a tribute to the late Mr David Davies, whose experience and judgment in this great and grow- ing work was absolutely invaluable. In addition to being a man of unlimited pluck and ability the late Mr David Davies was one of the straightest men he had ever had anything to do with. (Loud applause.) Whenever he took anything in hand he would carry it out determinedly and straight- forwardly, and he thought the design of the statute struck a faithful likaness of the Mr David Davies as he looked upon an extended plan, which reminded him (the speaker) of the time when, in years gone by, he consulted with him upon matters of engineering importance during the construction of the dock. (Hear, hear.) It was a source of mournful satisfaction, therefore, that he regarded the fact that the ceremony which had been performed that afternoon would perpetuate the memory of one who had done so much to bring about the great success which attended the Barry Dock undertaking. (Cheers.) Mr Edward Davies, who, on ascending the base of the monument to address the gathering, was warmly received. He said-I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without thanking you person- ally for this token of your appreciation of my father's services in connection with this work. (Hear, hear.) It is not for me to add to the re- marks which have been made this afternoon, al- though I have great pleasure in confirming them. I feel very greatly your kindness in perpetuating my father's memory by this handsome memorial. (Applause.) Mr T. R. Thompson, in proposing a vote of thanks to Lord Windsor for his kindness in under- taking the duty which he had just performed, re- minded the company present that many of those who had passed through all the fights referred to by his Lordship could not but look at that occa- sion as a mournful page in the history of the Barry undertaking. He saw before him many of those who were employed working hard at the dock, but few were aware, perhaps, of the hard work and great anxiety which had to be gone through in promoting the scheme in Parliament, and otherwise, work and anxiety in which the late Mr David Davies so largely shared. He was very glad, however, to see that they retained amongst them the worthy son of a worthy father, and he was sure they would be studying the feelings of the late Mr Davies in assisting Mr Edward Davies as much as possible in the important work s-i which he was engaged in promoting the success of the Barry Company. (Applause.) Colonel Page, J.P., seconded, and remarked upon the great pleasure he felt in being present to join with the company in paying homage to the memory of the late Mr David Davies. (Cheers.) Lord Windsor returned thanks in suitable terms. He said-I only want to say one word in thanking you for the kind words which you have given utterance to in your expression of thanks. I consider it a great honour to be present on this occasion, and to perform the ceremony which we have just witnessed. In my position as chairman of the Barry undertaking I have always felt it would have been impossible for me to fill that position unless I had been associated with the late Mr David Davies, especially at the outset, and now it would be impossible for me to retain that position had it not been for the great assis- tance which I receive from Mr Edward Davies and my colleagues on the Board. (Applause.) This concluded the interesting proceedings, and the company gradually dispersed after minutely inspecting the monument. The portrait which we publish at the head of this report has been kindly lent us by the pub- lishers of the Western MaU. LETTER FROM MR ARCHIBALD HOOD. The letter alluded to by Lord 'vVindaor in his opening speech is as follows 6. Bute-crescent, Cardiff, & 1st, 1893. Dear Sir,-I have to leave h0171e to-night in order to render, at some considerae,le distance, an almost imperative duty to a decease relative, and it will not be possible for me to ge.t back in time to attend the important ceremon,, on Friday of unveiling the statue of the late Mr David Davies. Under these circumstances I will thank you to explain to Lord Windsor, my co-dirt ctorS) and all the others interested, that I am mu.,f, grieved at being unable to enjoy the satisfaction of assisting at this ceremony. My views have ajready been cordially expressed upon the propriety, of erecting such a memorial, and I need hardly farther ex- press my opinion that the labour besto wecj by our lamented friend in the promotion of ^he Barry undertaking merits even a greater m—I- ,,r appreciation of his services than we have it in our power to manifest. I have no doubt but his enthusiastic devotion to this matter did to some extent shorten his valuable life. Hoping that the ceremony will pass off with that success which it deserves.—I am, yours truly, ARCHIBALD HOOD. W. Mein, Esq., Barry Railway Company, Barry Dock.

VALE OF GLAMORGAN DIRECTORY.

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