Wed 20 Nov 1850
Following death of Mr Sikes a General Meeting of Proprietors is to be called for 18 December to select a new committee member.
As a check on vessels paying tonnage, all vessels to produce a Framilode Ticket countersigned by the surveyor, at present Nathan Driver, specifying the quantity and discharging point of their cargo between Framilode and Ryeford. Vessels not to pass out of canal without such. Vessels from Ebley to Wallbridge to pay tonnage to clerk at Wallbridge.
Nathaniel Hamlet to be successor to Robert Miles. Detailed instructions as to his responsibilities were recorded in the minutes.
3 dozen Port wine and 3 dozen Sherry requested for use of General Meeting.
Gratuity of ten pounds to Mr Driver.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held at the Committee Room at Wallbridge on Wednesday the 10th day of November 1850
Present: M^r Jn^o H Warman, M^r Will^m Fryer Chairman, Fred^k Eycott, Rich^d Martin, G H A Beard, Cha^s H Fisher, Cha^s Hooper, Tho^s C Croome.
M^r Hawker produced an Agreement signed by himself on behalf of the Company and M^r Biddle for building a Warehouse on the Company's Wharf at Wallbridge for the use of the latter Gentleman as settled by the Committee appointed for that purpose pursuant to a Resolution passed at the last Half Yearly Meeting.
In consequence of the death of M^r Sikes one of the Committee the Clerk is ordered to give public notice by advertisement that a General Meeting of the Company of Proprietors will be held at the Committee Room at Wallbridge on the 18th day of December next at 12 O'Clock at Noon to choose another Member of the Committee in his stead.
Resolved that as a Check upon all Vessels that are allowed to clear out and pay tonnage to our Clerk at Framilode when their Cargoes are discharged at Walkbridge, Bristol Road Wharf, Eastington, Chippenham Plat, the Ocean, Hill's Mill Stonehouse Wharfs, and Ryeford that our Surveyor do watch all such Vessels and require the Person having the Rule of Command of them to produce and deliver to him the Surveyor (at present M^r Nathan Driver) the Framilode Ticked and then for him to specify thereon in writing the quantity and at what place the Cargo has been discharged and signing his name thereto and that the Gatekeeper at the Junction and our Clerk at Framilode be instructed not to allow any Vessel to pass without such appearing on the Ticket.
Resolved That all Vessels coming up the Canal to Ebley and places above shall clear out and the tonnage be paid to our Clerk at Wallbridge.
M^r Clegram the Clerk to the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Company having given notice that their Committee had determined on removing Rob Miles from the Junction his age having incapacitated him from fulfilling his duties properly and that they had appointed Nathaniel Hamlet to be his successor and requesting the approbation of this Committee to his appointment such approbation being required by Statute,
Resolved that the approbation of this Committee be given to such appointment and that a copy of the duties required to be performed by such Officer on behalf of this company be forwarded to M^r Clegram, he having requested that a copy might be sent.
The Duties required to be performed by the Gate or Lockeeper at the Junction for the Company of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation will be as follow:
That he is not to permit any Vessel entering the Stroudwater Navigation at Framilode to pass the Lock below the Junction whether going up to Gloucester or merely crossing the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal at the Junction and passing up the Stroudwater Navigation without requiring the Person having the Rule or Command of such Vessel to produce and deliver to him the Ticket he has obtained from their Clerk at Framilode and which he must see is numbers and signed by their Auditor (at present Edwin Cooper) at the Top of the said Ticket in Red Ink and if so he is to return it to the Person having the Rule or Command of such Vessel and allow it to pass having previously signed his name to such Ticket.
That when Vessels come down the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal from Gloucester or up from Sharpness Point the Person having the Rule or Command of any such Vessel must apply to the Clerk of the Stroudwater Navigation at Framilode for a Ticket which must be produced and delivered to the Gate or Lockeeper at the Junction before he allows any Vessel to enter the Stroudwater Navigation observing that such Ticket be numbered and signed by their Auditor as before mentioned and signing his own name thereon and then returning it to the Person having the Rule or Command of such Vessel.
That when Vessels go down the Stroudwater Navigation he must not allow them to pass the Junction without the Person having the Rule or Command of such Vessel producing either a Pass or Ticket signed by the Clerk of the Company of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation for the time being at Wallbridge except that when Vessels discharge their Cargoes at Walkbridge, Bristol Road Wharf, Eastington, Chippenham Plat, Bonds Mill, the Ocean, Hill's Mill, Stonehouse Whards and Ryeford in which case the several places where the Vessels have discharged their Cargoes will be entered on the Ticket by the Surveyor of the Stroudwater Navigation (at persent M^r Nathan Driver) and signed by him and the Tonnage to be paid to the Clerk of the Stroudwater Navigation at Framilode.
That the Gate or Lockeeper at the Junction shall be paid Five shillings weekly by the Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation for the foregoing duties.
In addition to the foregoing duties it is provided by the Acts of Parliament of the 33rd of George 3rd 1793 pages 58 & 59 and confirmed by the Acts of 37th George 3rd 1797 page 14 and the 4th of William 4h 1834 page 14 that the Gate Keeper at the Junction or other person or persons appointed by the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Company shall superintend the Weir or Weirs and other Works hereby authorized to be made for the purpose of taking Water from the Stroudwater River of River Froome and shall attend to and take care of the said Lock called Whitminster Lock for the preservation of the Water in the said Level or Reach of the said Stroudwater Navigation called the Bristol Road Level for which payment is made by the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Company.
Ordered that Mess^rs Martin & C^o be requested to send 3 Doz^n Port Wine and 3 Doz^n Sherry for the use of the General Meetings.
In consequence of the efficient way in which M^r Driver has performed the duties of his office it is Resolved that he be presented with a gratuity of Ten pounds.
Ordered that the following Bills and Accounts be paid:
Chas Hawker 1 Quarter Salary: 25..-..-
Jn^o Burbidge 2 months Salary: 10..-..-
General Assembly Oct 23rd: 10..6..5
N Driver a Gratuity: 10..-..-
