British Whig (Kingston, ON), April 2, 1884

p.1

A New Steamer.

The Smith's Falls Independent says: About the first week in July the inhabitants of this town, as well as those living along the line of the Rideau Canal, will have the pleasure of seeing a magnificent new steamer, to be known as the Ida, which will ply between this port and Kingston, and commanded by Capt. W. Garrett, of this place. The contract for the building of this new steamer has been let to H.B. Rathbun & Son, of Deseronto, who expect to have her completed about July 1st. Her size is to be 91 feet long, with 20 feet beam, will have a speed of about 11 miles an hour, thus making her the fastest boat that ever plied on the Rideau. She will be adapted for both freight and passengers, and is to be fitted out with all the modern improvements. The boiler and engine are now being built at Brockville by the Black Bros., who are supposed to be the best in Ontario in that business. Another advantage this steamer will possess is that coal will be used instead of wood, thus avoiding any delay along the line, which would be occasioned if it were otherwise. To tourists and others the Ida is sure to become popular as a pleasure boat; to merchants and all business men she will prove to be an excellent boat for the carrying of their freight; in short she will serve a long felt want on the Rideau Canal in every particular. Another boat has been chartered to handle the freight traffic until the new steamer is ready.

Lake Yachting Association - The Lake Yachting Association has formed in Toronto with the following officers: John Leys, President; Mr. Mott, 1st Vice-President; Hugh C. Dennis, 2nd Vice-President; Geo. E. Evans, Secretary-Treasurer. Kingston was not represented but the new association hope for their cooperation as the club here have adopted the Seewanhaka rule of measurement which governs the new Association.

p.3 Raising of Wrecks -The Dominion Wrecking & Salvage Company have several important contracts upon which a commencement will be made as soon as navigation opens. The principal are to raise the tug Huron, sank at the Limestone entrance to Parry Sound; to raise the steamship Ottawa, of the Dominion Line, which went down two years ago between Montreal and Quebec.

Court of Assize - Rees vs. Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co. - This case occupied yesterday forenoon and most of the afternoon. It was an action to recover the value of milk supplied the boats from 27th May, 1883 to October 27th, 1883. The amount sued for was $324.91, a balance of account. The Company paid $90 into Court, the amount they claimed to be Rees' due. The Company, it was shown, through C.H. Hatch, told Mr. Rees in August that they were no longer liable for the milk supplied, that he would have to make arrangements with Mr. Victor Ollivant. Mr. Rees billed the Company and they refused to pay him. When the plaintiff had presented his case Mr. Walkem, Q.C., asked for a non-suit, on the ground that the Company was not liable. Mr. Britton, Q.C., dissented, and after considerable talk the Judge sent the case to the jury, they to decide whether Mr. Ollivant or the Company was liable. After a lengthened absence the jury found that the milk, the price of which the plaintiff sued for, was supplied to one Ollivant who was not an officer of the defendants' Company, and was not supplied on the Defendants' credit, except as to 510 gallons delivered on and after Sept. 6th, 1883. The Judge therefore entered judgement for the plaintiff for $2.70, being the difference between the price of the milk delivered and the $90 paid into court.