Wed 19 Mar 1851
James Nurse attended to request abatements on tonnage to prevent lose of trade by water carriers to the railways. Resolved that tonnage be reduced to 6d per ton between Chippenham Platt and Stonehouse Wharf, 8d from Stonehouse to Ryeford, and 9d between Ryeford and Upper Wharf at Dudbridge to secure trade.
Investigation to be made regarding Mr Davies’ complaints as to bridge over canal leading to his house and mill, and to view and report on state of bridge near gasworks.
£5 per annum to be paid to Inspectors of Caincross for lighting the canal bridge and wharf entrance at Dudbridge.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held at the Committee Room at Wallbridge on Wednesday the 19th day of March 1851
Present: M^r Cha^s H Fisher, M^r Hen^y Harris Chairman, G H A Beard, T C Croome, Will^m Fryer, Jn^o H Warman, Rich^d Martin.
M^r James Nurse attended and stated that in consequence of the Rate charged by the Railway for the carriage of Goods and Merchandise from Bristol the trade would be lost by the Water Carriers unless an abatement could be made from the present charge and he recommended an abatement on the part of the Carriers as well as by this Company.
It appears that the charge for tonnage on Goods and Merchandise to various Wharfs is as follows viz;
To Chippenham Plat: 6^d per Ton
To Stonehouse: 9^d per Ton
To the Ryeford: 1/ per Ton
To Dudbridge: 1/4 per Ton
To Wallbridge: 1/6 per Ton
and that the Water Carriers can only secure their trade by reducing their rate to an uniform change of 4/ per ton to the several Wharfs at and below Dudbridge. He therefore proposed that the Company^s tonnage should be reduced to an uniform charge of sixpence per ton at or below Dudbridge.
Resolved that such a Drawback be henceforth allowed out of the Tonnages above mentioned on Goods including Iron brought from Bristol as shall reduce the tonnage to Sixpence per Ton between Chippenham Plat and the Wharf at Stonehouse, Eightpence between Stonehouse and the Ryeford & Ninepence between the Ryeford and the Upper Wharf at Dudbridge. No Drawback shall be allowed on Goods or Iron carried East of the Wharf at Dudbridge.
Resolved that the General Half Yearly Meeting be held on Wednesday the 23rd April at 2 O'Clock PM at the Office at Wallbridge and that M^r Hawker do publish the usual Notices.
Resolved that he next Meeting of the Committee be held on Wednesday 23rd April at 1 O'Clock PM.
Resolved that M^r Beard, M^r Fisher, M^r Fryer and M^r Croome be appointed a Sub Committee to meet M^r Driver at Stonehouse and investigate M^r Davies's complaints as to the Bridge over the canal leading to his House and Mill and also to view and report on the state of the Bridge near the Gas Works.
Resolved that the following Bills and Accounts be paid:
M^r N Driver 1 Quarter Salary: 17..10..-
Jn^o Burbidge 2 months Salary: 10..-..-
E Cooper Auditor ½ year: 7..17..6
J P Brisley Stationery: 5..19..2
Dan Hewlett painting, etc: 11..8..7
H Howell Smith's Work: 29..19..7
Hen^r Harrison Masons Work: 8..12..1
Geo Williams Okum: -..16..6
Jn^o Andrews Smiths Work: -..18..6
Ben Beaver Smiths Work: -..10..6
Stroud Gas Comp^y Tar: -..8..9
Resolved that Five pounds per annum be paid to the Inspectors of Cainscross for lighting the Roads there towards the expense of lighting the Canal Bridge and Wharf Entrance at Dudbridge where the Lamps have been erected.
