Tue 28 Dec 1824
Request from Paul Beard to a lease for fourteen years for the piece of ground near Ryeford Bridge that he was already using as a wharf was granted provided he built a durable fence around the wharf.
Letter from land owners concerned about the Bill for a railway from the River Severn to Brimscombe Port discussed. The committee agreed with the land owners. A reduction of tonnage by 6d more on the whole canal to be made if the plan dropped.
Ordered that the dividend declared at the Half Yearly General Meeting on 20 October be paid on 5 January next.
£5 to be paid to William Hayers and £5 to William Purcell our clerk at Framilode for their attention to the interests of the canal proprietors; and particularly for their activity and trouble in the discovery of fraud committed and in prosecuting offenders.
Our solicitor Mr Croome is to apply to and engage as engineer for the Stroudwater Navigation either Mr McIntosh, Mr Walker or Mr Sturge in the opposition to the projected tramroad.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held at the Committee Room at Walbridge on Tuesday the 28th Day of December 1824
Present: Mr Jones, Dr Darke, Mr Snowden, Mr Fisher, Mr Holbrow, Mr Stanton, Mr Grazebrook
Examined the Books & Accounts of the Company.
Read a letter from Mr Paul Beard requesting a lease for fourteen year of the small piece of ground near the Ryeford bridge, now used by him as a Wharf for the deposit of Coals for his own use:- Ordered that his request be complied with, on the Terms proposed by him of surrounding the Wharf with a proper and durable fence; & that the Lease by not assignable, & to be otherwise approved by the Solicitor of the Company.
The following was read, viz:
"Cainscross December 27 1824
At a numerous and respectable meeting held this day in pursuance of an advertisement of which the following is a copy - "Intended Railway from the River Severn to Brimscombe Port. We the undersigned proprietors and occupiers of Land and Buildings on the Line of the above intended Railway, being aware that our Estates and Interests must be most seriously affected by such project, if carried into execution, earnestly invite other proprietors and occupiers to unite with us in opposing the Scheme, or in adopting such measures as may be thought necessary to protect our interests. With this view we appoint a Meeting to be held at The Golden Cross in Cainscross on Monday the 27 December 1824 at 12 o’clock."
It was moved by the Rev. J Pettat & seconded by John Hawker Esq, and [carried] unanimously.
Resolved that the projected Railway will be productive of great individual injury of the Land of proprietors through whose Estates it will pass.
It was reported that the Stroudwater Canal Company had already reduced their tonnage rates 1s out of 3s 6d on the whole line of their canal. It was therefore -
Resolved that a recommendation be made to the Stroud Canal Company to reduce their Tonnage Rates 6d per ton more on the whole line of their Canal, and so in proportion to distance; and that a Recommendation be made to the Tram projectors to abandon their projected road on such reduction being acceded to; and such recommendations are hereby made accordingly.
That copies of these resolutions be sent to the Canal Committee and to the Committee of the Rail Road; and that they be requested to transmit their replies to our adjourned meeting -
That this meeting is adjourned to Monday the 10th day of January next, and be then held at this place at 12 o'clock.
That this Resolution be published in the Gloucester Journal.
Signed by the request of the Meeting
C.O Cambridge, Chairman"
The above Resolutions having been taken into consideration:
Ordered that the Recommendation of the proprietors of Land as expressed in the foregoing Resolutions be acceded to, by a reduction of Tonnage by sixpence more on the whole line, and to proportionally on the distance; - in Case the projected Railway be abandoned according to the recommendations also expressed in the same Resolutions: And that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Proprietors of Land at their adjourned meeting.
Ordered that the Dividend declared at the General Halfyearly meeting of the Proprietors on Wednesday the 20^th day of October last be paid by our Treasurer on the fifth day of January next: And that our Clerk do transmit circular Letters to all the proprietors that they may draw upon the Treasurer of apply to him for payment of the same.
Ordered that the Sum of Five pounds be paid to William Hayers, our servant, & Five pounds William Purcell, our clerk at Framilode, for their attention to the Interest of the Canal proprietors, and particularly for their activity and trouble in the discovery of frauds committed, and in prosecuting offenders.
Ordered that our solicitor Mr Croome do apply to and engage as Engineer for the Stroudwater Navigation either Mr McIntosh, Mr Walker or Mr Sturge in the opposition to the projected tramroad.
[A section of minutes has been crossed out. The following is what can be read of it.]
"Ordered that the Clerk do apply to the Agents of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal requiring a Clause to be introduced into the Act intended to be brought into Parliament in the coming Session by them, laying the obligation on them of repairing from time to time the Works or Locks at the junction of the two canals, in consideration of our being obliged to continue to maintain the lock at the Walk, in consequence of their inability to keep up the water in that level to the height of the land above, as originally intended by them."
Ordered that this Meeting be adjourned to Tuesday the 11th day of January 1825 at 12 o'clock.