British Whig (Kingston, ON), 21 Jun 1898

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Largest Boat Built In Toronto.

Toronto, June 21st - The R. & O. company's new steamer Toronto was launched this afternoon at the Bertram ship yards. About 500 invitations had been issued and a large party of visitors came in this morning from Montreal, including the following: L.J. and Mrs. Forget, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Forget, Col. J.A.R. Strathy, Col. A.F. Carrier, E. Pacaud and E.B. Garneau. The guests viewed the launch from the deck of the White Star. Mme. Forget, wife of president Hon. L.J. Forget, christened the vessel. The Toronto will make her trial trip on August 15th. The new boat is the largest ever built in Toronto.

Blocked Again - Valleyfield, June 21st - The Beauharnois canal, navigation of which had only been resumed after having been interrupted for some days, is blocked again. The trouble happened at six o'clock this morning. Work of repairing the break is now in progress and it is expected the canal will be ready for navigation again within a couple of days.

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MARINE INTELLIGENCE.

An open space near the M.T. company's elevator power house is being filled with clay and refuse.

The railway tug International, Prescott, entered Davis' dry-dock last evening for extensive repairs.

The steamer Algerian from Toronto, and the steamer Spartan from Montreal, touched at Swift's wharf today.

Arrivals: Tug Thomson, Montreal, five light barges; sloop Laura D., Bay of Quinte ports, 2,500 bushels oats.

The schooner Kate, bound up the Bay of Quinte, last night was forced to run back owing to the heavy wind and find shelter in Portsmouth harbor.

Departures - Tug Walker, Montreal, four grain-laden barges; S.S. Rosemount, Chicago, light; steamer Pueblo, canal, light; steamer Iron Chief and consort Iron Cliff, upper lakes, light; schooner Acacia, Oswego, light; schooner Fabiola, Oswego, light; schooner Two Brothers, Oswego, light.

Welland Canal Report.

Port Colborne, June 20th - Down: steamer Thomas Dobbie, Toledo to Kingston, corn; schooner Dunn, Toledo to Kingston, timber; steamer Topeka, Chicago to Kingston, corn; steamer St. Lawrence, Chicago to Kingston, corn; steamer St. Andrews, Fort William to Kingston, wheat; steamer James, Chicago to Ogdensburg, general cargo.

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The Steamer Caspian.

The steamer Spartan is in Cantin's drydock, Montreal, having her hull scraped. Her place this week will be taken by the steamer Caspian, which touched here this afternoon. The Caspian, formerly the Passport, appears with many new interior improvements, which have placed her dining room on the main deck and increased her saloon accommodation. She has been equipped with new furniture, etc., and is comfortably furnished. Capt. John McGrath is in command, and he is recognized as a careful pilot. The hull of the Caspian still bears the name Passport, which will be changed as soon as permission is obtained from the government.

Sporting Paragraphs - The L.Y.R.A. has provided for a new class in sailing yachts to be known as the cruising knockabout class. The boats are to be cabined, with a maximum racing length of twenty-two feet.....

Snips - The annual meeting of the St. Lawrence river steamboat company was held yesterday, but beyond electing the old officers no further business was transacted.