Wed 22 Dec 1875
Meeting to consider the questions between this Company and the Thames & Severn Canal Co.
The case submitted to Mr Arthur Charles with his opinion was considered, as well as a letter from Mr Prideaux, the Clerk to the Thames and Severn Canal Co.
Mr. Prideaux to be informed that this Committee cannot accept his statement as to the state of repair of the Thames and Severn Canal or depart from their former expression of opinion on this point.
Sub-committees of both companies should confer on the question of tonnages, it being an instruction to our sub-committee to get a mileage rate for coal traffic passing from this canal into the T&S Canal and if this be not acceded to, to endeavour to induce the Thames & Severn Canal Co to consent to a reference of all questions between the two companies to the Railway and Canal Traffic Commissioners. The sub-committee to be: Chairman Mr G H A Beard, Mr W W Kearsey, Mr J M Croome, Mr J Marling.
Committee Meeting held at Wallbridge on Wednesday the 22^nd December at 12,o.clock noon adjourned from the 16^th inst to consider the questions between this Company and the Thames and Severn Canal Co.
Present: M^r G H A Beard, Chairman, M^r J T Stanton, M^r S Phipps, M^r J S. Fisher, M^r C H Hooper, M^r T M Croome, M^r W W Kearsey, M^r T Marling.
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The Case submitted to Mr Arthur Charles with his opinion was considered, as well as the following letter from Mr H Prideaux, the Clerk to the Thames and Severn Canal Co.
London E C
Goldsmiths Hall
19^th November 1875.
Dear Sir,
I am directed by the Committee of Proprietors of the Thames and Severn Canal Navigation to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8^th November inst and of the copies of two resolutions passed by the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation at a Special Meeting of the Committee held on the 4^th Nov. inst, and I have to make the following remarks thereon.
In the first place as the Committee of the Thames and Severn Navigation have no information as to the nature of the report of Messrs Williams & Beardsmore referred to in your letter, and therefore not in a position to reply to it. I have to request that you will send me a copy of it for their consideration.
I am directed however to remark that the Thames and Severn Canal has been proved to be in an effective state of repair by the fact that the Company’s own boats have, during the last four months, passed regularly and uninterruptedly throughout the whole length of it, and the traders can have no substantial grounds of complaint, as the same water-way is open to them, if they would avail themselves of it.
I must also remind you that the Committee of the Thames and Severn Canal disposed of allegations of the same character as those now made, by the letter of Mr Taunton to the Chairman of the Stroudwater Navigation of the 23^rd April 1875.
The Committee of the Thames and Severn Canal have no objection to a reconsideration of the Tolls, in accordance with the existing arrangements between the two Companies, and I beg to suggest that your Company do appoint a sub-committee to confer with a sub-committee of the Thames and Severn Canal for that purpose.
I am
Dear Sir
Your obedient Servant
Walter Prideaux
Clerk of the Thames & Severn Proprietors.
To
William James Snape Esq
Stroudwater Navigation
Wallbridge
Stroud.
And it was Resolved, that Mr Prideaux be informed that this Committee cannot accept his statement as to the state of repair of the Thames and Severn Canal or depart from their former expression of opinion on this point.
And it was Resolved, that a sub-committee be appointed to meet the sub-committee of the Thames and Severn Canal to confer on the question of Tonnages, it being an instruction to the sub-committee to endeavour to get a mileage rate for coal traffic passing from this Canal into the Thames and Severn Canal and if this be not acceded to, to endeavour to induce the Thames & Severn Canal Company to consent to a reference of all questions between the two Companies to the Railway and Canal Traffic Commissioners & that the sub-committee to be the following gentlemen (viz):
The Chairman, Mr G H A Beard, Mr W W Kearsey, Mr T M Croome, Mr T Marling.
