Thu 27 Mar 1879
Special Meeting to consider the T&S Canal Co’s Bill. The position of the Mill owners and others as to the Locus Standi was changed by the alteration of the Thames & Severn Canal Co’s Bill, in a manner which could not have been foreseen at the time the Petition of the Mill owners and others was presented.
Upon consideration of Mr Kearsey’s further report, the Committee do not feel justified in continuing the opposition on the ground urged in Messrs Martin & Leslie’s letter, but considering that the Thames & Severn Co’s Bill proposes to raise money upon faith of the present tolls, which to a large extent arise from the arrangements made with the Canal, which by reason of altered circumstances this Committee deem to have become most inequitable and injurious to the interests of the Stroudwater Navigation, this Committee cannot but think that on this ground, though on this ground only, the Parliamentary Committee would listen to their opposition. Under these circumstances the Committee consider that their Solicitor should communicate with the promoters of the Thames & Severn Canal Co’s Bill stating to them the grounds of the opposition of this Company with an intimation that this Committee are desirous to enter on the matter in a friendly spirit with the wish to establish permanent and satisfactory relations with the T&S Canal and that if a satisfactory arrangement can be made on the question of readjusting the tolls, opposition should be withdrawn.
Adjourned Meeting of the Committee from the 20^th March to this day the 27^th March 1879, @ 3,o,clock pm, to consider the T&S Canal Cos Bill & petition of the Stroudwater Canal Co
Present: Mr G H A Beard Chairman, Mr J T Fisher, Mr E C Little, Mr T M Croome, Mr J T Stanton.
[52] Mr Kearsey's further report on the matter of the T&S Canal Bill before Parliament was read and after reading the letter from Messrs Martin & Leslie emboded in such further report, the Committee understand why the position of the Mill owners and others as to the Locus Standi was changed by the alteration of the T&S Canal Cos Bill, in a manner which could not have been foreseen at the time the petition of the Mill owners and others was presented, so that the portion of the resolution of Thursday last bearing on the question of this Locus Standi appears to have been arrived at in error.
Upon consideration of Mr Kearsey's further report the Committee do not feel justified in continuing the opposition on the ground urged by Messrs Martin & Leslie's letter, but considering that the T&S Cos Bill proposes to raise money upon faith of the present tolls, which to a large extent arise from the arrangement made with this Canal, which be reason of altered circumstances this Committee deem to have become most inequitable and injurious to the interest of the Stroudwater Navigation, this Committee cannot but think that on this ground, though on this ground only the Parliamentary Committee would listen to their opposition. Under these circumstances the Committee consider that their Solicitor should communicated with the promoters of the T&S Canal Cos Bill stating to them the grounds of the opposition of this Co with an intimation that this Committee are desirous to enter on the matter in a friendly spirit with the wish to establish permanent and satisfactory relations with the T&S Canal and that if a satisfactory arrangement can be made on the question of readjusting the tolls, opposition should be withdrawn.
Ordered that the Half yearly Meeting be held on the 24^th day of April next @ 4,o,clock pm.
