Tue 16 Mar 1869
Report from sub-committee on tonnages. With reference to the request from Mr G Ford they recommended that the arrangement be entered into on their writing to accept the terms outlined: i.e. that until further notice Messrs Ford Brothers undertake to pay tonnages of 6d pence per ton on 10,000 p.a. whether carried or not for all coals and other things carried on the canal both up and down to and from Ryeford Mills for those Mills or forwarded by the Stonehouse & Nailsworth Railway; they shall be charged at the same rate per ton for any number of tons in excess of 10,000 tons so carried. Number of sacks of wheat to be 10 and flour 9 for a ton and all other traffic at its dead weight. Arrangement to commence from 1 March next.
The sub-committee reported that since their former report the new steam coal from Holmes Level pit carried by the Great Western Railway has come largely into use and that as this coal, if brought by water, is to be shipped at Bullo Pill instead of Brimpspill (a port designed by the Forest of Dean Central Railway and which would afford a cheaper exit to the water) the railway charges to Bullo Pill render its cost by water higher than the present rail charges throughout by railway. To meet the competition they recommend that until the present state of things is allowed by a port being opened at Brimpspill the tonnages on steam coal on the canal at Eastington and Dudbridge and all intermediate places be lowered to a uniform rate of 6d per ton.
The sub-committee feel that every endeavour should be made to procure the shipment of coals at ports in the Severn and Channel at as low rates as possible and they recommend the Canal Company to use their best endeavours to procure a port at Brimpspill and also to prevent high charges to the water at Lydney being levied under the Bill for the Severn & Wye Railway now before Parliament.
The sub-committee regret that the terms of arrangements for tonnages between the Stroudwater Navigation Co and the Thames & Severn Canal Co have not been accepted by the latter company. The Sub-Committee consider the terms to be fair and see no reason to alter them except that from a loss of steam coal traffic between Wallbridge and Ham Mills which has occurred since their last report they consider a reduction of 2d per ton might be made applicable to the district between Wallbridge and Ham Mills.
Clerk reported an exchange of letters with Messrs Ford brothers. A letter was sent back from Ryeford Mills to accept the conditions laid out but it was pointed out that if the Company wished to encourage the trade on the Stonehouse & Nailsworth Railway they must agree to the drawback asked for on the excess of 10,000 tons p.a. for that traffic. If this was agreed to “they would go into this trade in good earnest”
A letter had been received from the Midland Railway Co at Stonehouse Station stating that in future they would cease to be carriers of coal from Stonehouse Wharf to stations on the Nailsworth Branch. While the Committee dispute the position they assumed, further consideration of the letter was deferred in consequence of the arrangements made with Messrs Ford Brothers.
Mr Ward to be allowed to make contracts at 6d per ton on steam coal to expire not later than 25 March 1870.
The question of the allowances to be made to Mr Knee and Mr Ward in respect of coal at Dudbridge Wharf from Christmas 1867 to the 25 March 1869 was considered. Mr Ward to be allowed £18 10s 11d, the amount of his coal account to Christmas last and Mr Knee to be allowed for the same period for coal landed at Dudbridge a sum of £15 and £39, and his rent at Wallbridge up to Christmas last making together £54. Both parties attended and were satisfied with the respective allowances.
Goods and merchandise landed or taken aboard at Wallbridge to have charges reduced from 1s 6d to 1s per ton until further notice.
The Surveyor attended the meeting and stated that he had inspected Mr Clegram’s plans for the new Walk Bridge and the Graving Dock (a dry dock) on the G&B Canal and reported that he saw no objection to them. Clerk to apply to Mr Clegram for a tracing of the new Graving Dock.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held at the Committee Room at Wallbridge on Tuesday the 16^th day of March 1869
Present: M^r S Phipps, T M Croome Chairman, G H A Beard, W W Kearsey, F S Thornton, C H Fisher, J T Fisher.
The SubCommittee on Tonnages presented the following Report:
"Stroud March 10^th 1869
Further Report of Mess^Rs Beard, Fisher & Kearsey the SubCommittee on Tonnages.
You SubCommittee have taken into consideration the proposals of Mess^rs Ford Brothers referred to in the Resolution of the Committee of the 16^th February 1869 and they recommend that the following arrangement shall be entered into with Mess^rs Ford Brothers on their writing to say they accept such terms which your SubCommittee are informed Mess^rs Ford Brothers are willing to do, viz: That until further Order on Mess^rs Ford Borthers undertaking to pay tonnages at the rate of 6^d per ton on 10,000 tons per annum whether carried or not for all coals and other things carried on the Canal both up and down to and from Ryeford Mills for those Mills or forwarded by the Stonehouse & Nailsworth Railway, they shall only be charged at the same rate per ton for any number of tons in excess of 10,000 tons so carried.
The number of sacks of Wheat to be 10 & of flour 9 to be reckoned for a ton and all other traffic at its dead weight. This arrangement to commence from the 1^st day of March Ins't.
Your SubCommittee find that since their former Report of the 24^th November 1868 the new steam coal from Holmes' Leel pit carried by the Great Western Railway has come largely into use as the Coal is not if brought by water to be shipped at Bullo Pill instead of Brimpspill (a Port designed by the Forest of Dean Central Railway & which would afford a cheaper exit to the water) the Railway charges at Bullo Pill render its cost by water higher than the present Railway charges throughout by Railway. They therefore in order to meet this competition recommend that until the present state of things is altered by the Port being opened at Brimpspill or other circumstances the tonnages on Steam Coal on the Canal at Eastington & Dudbridge and all intermediated places be lowered to a uniform rate of 6^d per ton.
Your SubCommittee feel that endeavour should be made to procure the shipment of coals at Ports in the Severn & Channel at as low rates as possible, and in this view they recommend the Canal Company to use their best exertions to procure a Port at Brimpspill and also to prevent high charges to the water at Lydney being levied under the Bill for the Severn & Wye Railway now before Parliament.
Your SubCommittee regret that the terms of arrangement for tonnages between this Company and the Company of Proprietors of the Thames & Severn Navigation recommended by your sub Committee in their last Report have not been accepted by the latter Company. Your SubCommittee however consider these terms to be fair and equitable and see no reason to alter them except that from a loss of Steam Coal traffic between Wallbridge and Ham Mills which has occurred since their last Report they consider the reduction of 2^d per ton on the terms referred to might be made applicable to the district between Wallbridge & Ham Mills which was not included in their former recommendation with advantage to both Canals."
Resolved that the same be adopted and confirmed as from this date and that a Copy of the latter portion relating to the Thames & Severn Canal be sent to M^r Taunton to be laid before his Committee.
A Letter from the Clerk to Mess^rs Ford Brothers of March 136th & their reply of March 15^th were read & are in the following ternsL
To Mess^rs Ford Brothers Canal Office March 13^th 1869
Gentlemen
"On the other side is a copy of the Resolution of the SubCommittee on tonnages relative to a special arrangement with your Firm & shall be obliged by a reply not later than Tuesday morning next when the Managing Committee meet a letter stating that your Firm accept the terms of the Resolution.
Your respectfully
N A Partridge, Clerk to the C^o."
"M^r N A Partridge Ryeford Mills March 15^th 1869
Dear Sir,
We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13^th Ins't and we hereby agree to all the conditions therein contained but if you wish to encourage the trade on the Stonehouse & Nailsworth Railway you must give the drawback we asked for on the excess of 10,000 tons per annum for that traffic. If you can agree to this we shall go into that trade in good earnest.
Yours etc pro Ford Brothers
Signed A Nicholls."
The following letter from the Midland Railway Company was read:
(Stonehouse Station March 5^th 1869
"Subject Traffic from Stonehouse Wharf to the Nailsworth Line
Mess^rs the Stroudwater Navigation C^o
Gent^n I am requested to inform you that for the future we shall cease to be carriers of Coal from Stonehouse Wharf to Stations on the Nailsworth Branck.
Signed Danial Heath")
and while the Committee dispute the position assumed the further consideration of the letter was deferred in consequence of the arrangements made with Mess^rs Ford Brothers.
Resolved that M^r Ward be allowed to make contracts at 6^d per ton on Steam coal to expire not later than March 15^th 1870.
The question of the allowances to be made to M^r Knee and M^r Ward in respect to coal at Dudbridge Wharf from Xmas 1867 to the 25^th March 1969 was considered.
Resolved that M^r Ward be allowed £18..10..11 the amount of his last account to Xmas last and that M^r Knee be allowed for the same period for Cola landed a Dudbridge a sum of £15..0..0 and £39 also his rent at Wallbridge up to Christmas last making together £54..-..-. Both parties attended and were satisfied with their respective allowances.
Resolved that for Goods & Merchandize landed or taken aboard at Wallbridge the rate to be reduced from 1^s/6^d to 1^s/ per ton until further notice.
The Surveyor attended the Meeting and stated that he had inspected M^r Clegram;s plans for the new Walk Bridge and the Graving Dock on the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal and reported that he saw no objection to them. The Clerk was directed to apply to M^r Clegram for a tracing of the new Graving Dock.
Ordered that the General Half Yearly Meeting be held on Tuesday April the 27^th at 2 o'clock & that the Committee Meeting be held on the same day at 12,30.
Ordered that the following Bills be paid: £ s d
N A Partridge 1 Q's Salary due March 25^th: 30..0..0
E Peyton 1 Q's Salary due March 25^th: 30..0..0
M N Peyton 1 Q's Salary due March 25^th: 15..0..0
W Coley Auditing ½ year: 7..17..6
J Elliott Stationery: 7..5..3
W W Kearsey ½ year Salary: 7..10..0
W W Kearsey Law Expenses: 171..4..4
R^d Berry Ironmonger: 0..5..10
