Tue 2 Jan 1798
Messrs Smith and Bird to be paid £100 on account for oak timber.
Company Clerk Mr Hains' business had increased since dismissal of Mr Sam Baylis and John Pashley and the taking in of William Smith, saving Company £28 per annum. Mr Hains should be permitted to occupy new house at Wallbridge free of rent and taxes.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held at the Committee room at Walbridge on Tuesday the 2^nd of January 1798
Present: J I Wathen, Nath^l Wathen, Rev^d W^m Ellis, Jos^h Grazebrooke, Benj^n Grazebrooke, Tho^s Grazebrooke, Jn^o Allaway, Sam^l Smith.
Read the Minutes of the last Meeting.
Ordered that Mess^rs Smith & Bird be paid One Hundred Pounds on Acc^t for Oak Timber purchased of them, agreeable to an Order of the 11^th of April 1796.
The Committee took into their Consideration the Terms upon which M^r Hains the Company Clerk should be permitted to occupy the New House at Walbridge. M^r Hains stated to the Committee that his business had increased since the dismission of M^r Sam^l Baylis and Jn^o Pashley from the Companys Service, and the taking in of W^m Smith, by which arrangement the Company made a saving of 17^£ per Annum. The Committee are of Opinion that M^r Hains should be permitted to occupy the House as the Companys Clerk free of Rent and Taxes, and refer that Opinion to the ensuing General Meeting for their determination, and Order that he be permitted to occupy the House upon those Terms untill the ensuing General Meeting.
Adjourn'd this Meeting to Tuesday the 13^th of February at 3 o'Clock in the afternoon at the Committee room at Walbridge.
