The Highland Enterprise was launched in January of the present year (1903). She is 385 feet long, between perpendiculars; with 45 feet beam, and draft laden 23 feet 6 inches. She has a carrying capacity of 6,500 tons. Like her sister ships, she is insulated throughout for carrying frozen meat, and fitted with the latest type of refrigerating machinery, as well as the most up-to date appliances for the effective handling of general cargo. Accommodation has been provided amidships for about a dozen passengers. Her engines, which are of the triple-expansion type, propelled her on her trial trip at a speed equal to 13¾ knots per hour.
In addition to a regular fortnightly service between Liverpool and Monte Video, Buenos Ayres and Rosario, the steamers of the Nelson Line sail at regular monthly intervals from London and Newport (Mon.) to the River Plate.
Fleet.
| Tons Reg. | Tons Reg. | ||
| Highland Brigade | 5,640 | Highland Heather | 5,500 |
| Highland Chief | 2,640 | Highland Hope | 4,500 |
| Highland Corrie | 4,050 | Highland Laird | 4,116 |
| Highland Enterprise | 4,500 | Highland Lassie | 2,488 |
| Highland Ghillie | 3,935 | Highland Mary | 2,974 |
| Highland Glen | 2,974 | Highland Scot | 3,060 |
| Highland Harris | 5,500 | Highland Watch | 5,500 |
| Total 57,377 Tons. | |||
R. & J. H. Rea.—In 1872 Mr. Russell Rea (the present M.P. for the City of Gloucester), commenced business as a coal merchant in Liverpool. After a lapse of seven years (1879), he admitted his brother, Mr. James Rea, into partnership, and the style of the firm was altered to R. & J. H. Rea. The firm own a fleet of five powerful modern coasting steamers, each having a capacity of about 2,500 tons dead weight, and named respectively the Bangarth, Calgarth, Dalegarth, Gatesgarth, and Throstlegarth. In addition to these vessels, the firm possesses five steam tugs and about 200 lighters. Messrs. R. & J. H. Rea have offices at London, Liverpool, Southampton, Bristol and Cardiff.
John S. Sellers.—Mr. Sellers commenced business as a steamship owner at Liverpool in the early nineties, the first steamer acquired by him being the Timbo. Although for a short time employed as a “tramp” she was soon placed in a regular general cargo trade, and during the past ten years she has maintained, with every satisfaction to shippers and consignees, the service between Liverpool and Preston. Mr. Sellers has also established a regular trade between Harlingen (Holland) and Liverpool, and since early in 1900 he has built up a regular weekly service between Glasgow and Preston, which is well served by the Thursby and other steamers.
Henry Tyrer & Co.—Mr. Henry Tyrer, the sole partner in this firm, commenced business in 1878, in Liverpool, and in 1892 opened a branch office at Preston. The Albert Edward Dock at Preston, was opened by the late Duke of Edinburgh in June of that year, and immediately after the opening ceremony, the steamer Lady Louisa, chartered by Messrs. Henry Tyrer & Co., commenced discharging, being thus the first steamer to unload in Preston Dock. This firm has continued from that date to be closely associated with the steam trade of Preston. In 1899 Messrs. Henry Tyrer & Co. built the steamer Prestonian, the first steamer to bear that name, shortly afterwards disposing of her to Messrs. John Bacon, Limited, in whose service she is still employed. The following year (1900) Messrs. Henry Tyrer & Co. purchased the steamship Hermann, of about 1,300 tons deadweight, which is regularly employed in the firm’s wood pulp trade from Baltic ports. The small steamer Princess was purchased the same year for employment in the firm’s regular London and Preston general cargo trade. In 1901 the steamer Prestonian, the first, was replaced by a new steamer of 1,600 tons deadweight, also named the Prestonian, and which, like the Hermann, is regularly engaged in the firm’s wood pulp trade.
During the present year (1903) the firm bought the steamer Minterne, and re-named her the Nancy Lee. She is a large steamer of about 4,750 tons deadweight, and has proved herself to be an excellent sea boat. A remarkable incident in connection with this ship is, that she has been chartered for six years, to run consecutive voyages between the Saguenay River (Canada) and the U. K., at a fixed rate of freight covering the whole period. In addition to their offices at Liverpool and Preston, Messrs. Henry Tyrer & Co. have also branch offices at London and Manchester, in connection with their extensive and largely developing wood pulp trade.
