Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/498



NITH OR NIDD RIVER NAVIGATION.
51 George Ill. Cap. 147, Royal Assent 10th June, 1811.

THE River Nith or Nidd Navigation commences in the Solway Frith, and continues a course of about nine miles, in a direction nearly north, between the counties of Dumfries and Kirkcudbright, to its termination at Dumfries Bridge, through the whole of which distance the tide flows. The act which refers to this work is entitled, 'An Act for improving the Harbour of Dumfries, and the Navigation of the River Nith;' by which it appears that, though two several acts of George II. and III. had awarded a proportion of the taxes on beer and ale levied on the authority of those acts, for the purpose of improving Dumfries Harbour, the said harbour stands in need of repairs; the preceding acts are hereby repealed and the present substituted for them. By this act certain commissioners therein named have the requisite powers to cleanse, deepen and improve the said harbour and the River Nith, including both sides thereof from Southerness to the caul of Dumfries. The following are to be levied as

HARBOUR RATES.
All Custom-House, Excise or Post-Office Ships and Ships in his Majesty's Service. are exempted from the Rates.

Commissioners have power to license pilots, meters of timber and weighers on the river; they may also erect light-houses, quays and harbours, and make the improvements laid down by Mr. James Holinsworth, viz, throwing the course of the channel as close as possible to Glencaple Quay; lengthening the pier at Kirkconnel Banks, and making a new channel of the river from Glencaple Quay by Conheath to Kelton, from thence in nearly a straight line to the mouth of Cargenfrew; and from thence in a