Mon 7 Apr 1788
Clerk of works of Thames & Severn Canal to give Clerk of Stroudwater Canal Company account of all coals sold by him or any other agent, paying him tonnage for them. Any practical regulations to detect frauds against the interest of either company ought to be mutually adopted. Clerk to examine and combine cheques of tonnage with their books previous to General meetings.
Messrs Lane and Whitcombe have again written to Mr Keck but have not yet received a reply.
Owner Pugh's vessels broke some of rails of swivel bridge at Ryeford. Order that he repair same or be prosecuted.
Agreement to let all the withy beds at Whitminster to Seth Cox for 2 years at 5 guineas per annum. Company to bring them up to Wallbridge twice.
John Pashley to receive cheques from owners leaving canal. Also to keep lock full during spring tides to prevent mud coming in to canal. Additional payment of 1s per week.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held this 7^th day of April 1788 at the George Inn in Stroud.
Present: Nathaniel Winchcomber, John Colborne, John Hollings, Ben^n Grazebrook, Thomas Arundell.
Read the Minutes of the last Meeting.
Our Clerk Reported that he has applied to the Committee of the Thames & Severn Canal & have produced a Copy of their Order made 26^th March last Viz: "Ordered that the Clerk of the works do wait upon the Clerk of the Stroudwater Canal Co: and deliver to him a particular account of all the Coals that have been sold by him or any other Agent upon the account of this Company, paying him the Tonnage for the same, and that he do shew the said Clerk such Books and papers as may be necessary to verify the said account if required and further to inform him that any practical Regulations to detect any Frauds that may be practiced against the Interest of either Company ought in the Opinion of this Committee to be mutually adopted and that the Committee be acquainted with the readiness to concur with them". In consequence of which Ordered that our Clerk do examine and compare the Cheques of Tonnage with their Books previous to the General Meetings.
Our Clerk Reported that he has applied to Mess^rs Lane & Whitcombe and received a Letter from them to say that they have again written to M^r Keck but have not yet received any answer.
Ordered a Bill to be drawn on the Treasurer for the sum of One hundred & Sixty three Pounds Nine Shillings & four pence for the use of the Navigation, being the Ballance of the Cash Book to this day.
Our Clerk Reported that Owner Pughs Vessel has broke some of the Rails of the swivell Bridge at Ryford. Ordered that he be applied to the next time he is in the Canal to repair the same, & in case of his refusal that he be proceeded against according as the Act directs.
Agreed to let all the Wythy Beds at Whitmister to Seth Cox for two Years at five Guineas per Annum from Lady day last, the Company to bring them up to Walbridge upon their being delivered to the Boat, provided they are brought up at twice.
Agree'd with M^r John Pashley to receive the Cheques from the Owners on their leaving the Canal, also to be particular in keeping the Lock full during the Spring Tides in order to prevent the Mud from coming into the Canal, for which We do agree to pay him and addition of one Shilling per Week.
Adjourned this Meeting to Tuesday the 8^th Instant at Eleven O'Clock in the forenoon at the George Inn in Stroud.
