The berths of Deptford yard, have been occupied since the commencement of iron shipbuilding there, over thirty years ago, with vessels for home and foreign shipowners, amongst others for such well known companies as the Peninsular and Oriental Company, the Union Company, the Royal Mail Company, the West India and Pacific Company, the Royal Netherlands Company, and the Hamburg and South American Company. In 1882 the _Mexican_, of 4670 tons gross measurement, the largest passenger vessel ever built on the North-East Coast, and one of the finest of the Union Company’s fleet of South African mail steamers, was launched from the stocks of Deptford yard. Including the _Mexican_, the following is the list of vessels launched by Mr Laing in the year named:— Name. Material. Owners. Gross Tons. S.S. Friary Iron, British, 2307 S.S. Mount Tabor do., do., 2302 S.S. Mexican do., do., 4669 S.S. Rhosina do., do., 2707 S.S. Govina do., do., 2221 S.S. Lero do., do., 2224 S.S. Dolcoath do., do., 1824 S.S. Ville de Strasbourg do., Foreign, 2372 S.S. Ville de Metz do., do., 2375 ------ Total 23,004 At present Mr Laing is building his 301st iron vessel, which represents the 460th vessel produced within the Deptford yard since its commencement in 1793. The work presently on hand chiefly consists of average size steam vessels, combining cargo-carrying powers with high-class accommodation for passengers, several being lighted throughout by electricity, and one being constructed of steel, and having engines on the triple expansion principle.