Wed 25 Apr 1827
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3406 14s 8d. Balance after wages, etc, £2804 1s 5d. Dividend of £14 declared.
Committee for next year: Dr Darke, Mr Holbrow, Mr Fisher, Mr Grazebrook, Mr Snowden, Mr P. Fisher, Mr Eycott, Mr G. Wathen, Mr Jones, Mr James, Mr John Holbrow, Mr Stanton, Reverend Peter Veel.
Agreed actions to be taken to create a horse towing path as a possibly temporary measure for one year.
Enacted byelaws for the use of the horse towing path.
At a General half Yearly Meeting of the Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation held at the George Inn in Stroud on Wednesday the 25th day of April 1827
H C Eycott Esq in the Chair
The minutes of the last General Meeting were read and confirmed.
The several Books and accounts were produced respecting the affairs of the company (as directed by Act of Parliament) and were examined and confirmed.
It appears by the Accounts that the Sum of £3406..14..8 has been received for Tonnage etc from the 16^th day of October 1826 to the 16^th of April 1827 a part of which have been applied towards the payment of wages, disbursments, etc, and that there remains in the Treasurers hands after paying the last dividend the sum of £2804..1..5
Ordered that a dividend of fourteen pounds be paid on each Share by the Treasurer on the first day of May next & that our Clerk do transmit circular Letters to all the proprietors to inform them that they may draw upon the Treasurer or apply to him for payment of the same.
The following Gentlemen are appointed a Committee for the ensuing Year Viz:
Dr Darke, Mr Holbrow, Mr Fisher, Mr Grazebrook, Mr Snowden, Mr P. Fisher, Mr Eycott, Mr G. Wathen, Mr Jones, Mr James, Mr John Holbrow, Mr Stanton, The Revd Peter Veel.
Read the Resolution of the General Meeting of 18th October 1825 declaring the Expediency of making a Horse towing path from Wallbridge to Framilode; and
The Resolution of the Committee of the 27th March last, as to the probable expense of making such Horse towing path in case the proprietors of the adjoining Lands should require fences to be put up, in order to separate the same from their lands; and
Having considered the reasons for adopting a Horse towing path which have been advanced by the parties desiring the same, and particularly their confidant assurances that the Trade on the Navigation (and consequently the Tolls arising therefrom) will be greatly increased thereby -
Resolved that it is the opinion of this Meeting that it is expedient expedient to adapt the present towing path to the passage of Horses or other beasts drawing Vessels, but only as a temporary experiment, and with limitations, and on the express understanding that the same is not to be made permanent unless the success hereafter be found to justify its continuance:- Therefore
Resolved that such gates as are adapted to the passage of Horses on the Towing path of the Navigation shall forthwith be be put up where requisite, instead of the present gates; That the Bridges, and the Roads under or over the same shall, where requisite, be altered to allow of, and be adapted to the passing of Horses along the same - That the present towing path shall be repaired, where needful for the same purpose, and Horses or other beasts be permitted to draw Vessels along the Navigation (subject to such Bye laws as shall be deemed requisite and shall be made for the regulating of the same) until the expiration of twelve 12 months from the day where the Towing path shall be opened for Horses to travel thereon.
That in Case, from the failure of the expected Increase of Trade in consequence of the said projected alteration in the Towing path, or from the necessity of making fences to the same, or any other cause, it shall hereafter be deemed expedient to the proprietors to discontinue the Horse towing path and restore the same to a Man towing path as at present used. These the present resolution is not intended to bind, and shall not be regarded as binding or pledging the proprietors to continue the Horse towing path: But they shall or may alter the same and the Gates and Bridges so as to prohibit the use of Horses or other beasts in drawing Vessels and to re-enact the Bye laws adapted to a man towing path as heretofore.
Ordered and enacted as a Bye law for the good and orderly using of the said Navigation; That if any Bargeman, Waterman, boatman or other person shall shall haul any boat or other vessel on this Canal with more than one horse or other beast, or in case such horse or other beast shall be lower than the height of thirteen hands high, he shall for every such offence forfeit the sum of forty shillings.
Ordered and enacted as a Bye law for the good and orderly using of the said Navigation; That if any Horse or other beast used in drawing Vessels shall be used or found without being muzzled; or in case any such Horse or other beast shall be found trespassing upon, grazing or feeding upon any of the Lands or Grounds, near or adjoining the Towing path of the Navigation, without the permission of the owner of such Lands or Grounds, the bargeman, waterman, boatman, or other person belonging to, going with or attending such Vessel shall for every such offence forfeit any Sum not exceeding Five pounds.
