Wed 20 Feb 1788
Clerk to write to Committee of Thames & Severn Canal that Committee are of the opinioin that no coals having passed for works on Thames & Severn Canal should be sold. Also that, as owners of barges having passed Thames & Severn Canal do not leave cheques with our Clerk, that he can be permitted to compare copies they hold with their books every six months.
Clerk to apply to Messrs Lane and Whitcombe respecting Mr Keck's business.
Clerk Joseph Grazebrook's resignation at next General Meeting accepted. In future two clerks to be appointed, one to keep Company's books, attend meetings, obey orders of Committee, attend and receive tonnage of all vessels at Dudbridge and upwards, pay money to Treasurer every week and give business his constant attendance. The second clerk to attend and receive tonnage of all vessels below Dudbridge and account to first clerk every week. First clerk to give security of £200, second clerk £100. Mr Samuel Baylis becomes first clerk, salary £45 per annum, Mr Edward Hains second clerk at salary of £40 per annum.
Mrs Ewin's claim for 2 guineas for damage to trees, etc, destroyed on Mr Ruddall's land in which she had a life interest. Payment ordered.
All pass tickets to be left with John Pashley at Framilode before he allows vessels to pass the lock. Tickets to be filed and brought to every meeting regularly.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held this 28^th Day of February 1788 at the George Inn in Stroud.
Present: Nathaniel Winchcombe, John Allaway, John Hollings, Thomas Arundell, Henry Burgh, Ben^n Grazebrook.
Read the Minutes of the last General & Committee Meetings.
In Compliance with an Order of the last General Meeting, Ordered that our Clerk do waite upon the Committee of the Thames & Severn Canal Company respecting their Selling Coals after the same has pass's the Navigation for the use of the Works, and represent to them that it is the opinion of this Committee that no Coals after having pass'd for the use of said works should on any pretence be sold. And also as the Owners of Barges after having pass'd the Thames & Severn Canal do not leave their Cheques with our Clerk, that he may be permitted to compare copys thereof with their Books every six months previous to the General Meetings.
Ordered that our Clerk do apply to Mess^rs Lane and Whitcombe to know what has been done respecting M^r Kecks Business.
Our Clerk Jos: Grazebrook having signified to us his intention of resigning at the next General Meeting, We do agree to accept the same.
Resolved that in future two Clerks be appointed, each to take a separated department, Viz: the first Clerk to keep the Companys Books, attend Meetings, obey the orders of the Committee or any three of them, and to attend and receive the Tonnage of all Vessels at Dudbridge and upwards, to pay the money into the Treasurers hands every week, and to give the Business his constant attendance. The second Clerk to attend and receive the Tonnage of all Vessels below Dudbridge and to account to the first Clerk every Week also to give his constant attendance. That the first Clerk do give a Security of £200 and the second Clerk of £100 for any deficiency that may happen, and in case either of the Clerks shall not attend by reason of Illness or otherwise, that the other Clerk shall do the whole Business, and the absent Clerk shall pay the other a proportion of half his Sallary during the absence.
M^r Samuel Baylis having offered himself as first Clerk agree'd with him at the Sallary of Forty five pound per Annum to commence at the next General Meeting, but that he do enter upon it on Monday next to get himself acquainted with the nature of the Business.
M^r Edward Hains having offered himself as second Clerk agreed with him at the Sallary of Forty pounds per annum to commence at the next General Meeting.
M^rs Ewin having attended & made application to the Committee for payment of two Guineas for Damages of Trees, etc, which were destroyed on M^r Ruddalls Land in which She had a Life Interest but hitherto has been in dispute between her & her husband, he being since dead, Ordered that She be paid the above Sum.
Drawn a Bill upon the Treasurer for the Sum of Two hundred & thirty seven pounds three Shillings & one penny for the use of the Navigation, being the Ballance of the Cash account to the last General Meeting.
Ordered that all pass Ticketts be let with John Pashley at Framiload, before he suffers the Vessels to pass the Lock and that the said Ticketts be carefully filed and brought to every Meeting regularly
Adjourn'd this Meeting to Monday the 7^th of April next at five O'Clock in the afternoon at the George Inn in Stroud.
