Thu 17 Mar 1881
The culvert under the canal near the swing bridge at Saul was inspected on the 10 March and would appear to be in good repair. The measurements taken showed clearly that the watercourse above and below the culvert required deepening. Clerk to write to Mr Spire with the measurements.
Mr Mills instructed to appeal in respect of the land occupied by the Company in the Wheatenhurst parish - a legal precedent was referred to over the question of the rating: when a statute exempted the tolls of a Canal Co from payment of rates, the land occupied by the Company was also exempted.
Mr Mills instructed to take Counsel’s Opinion on the question of the injury to the Company’s trade caused by the excessive rates charged by the Great Western Railway Co for the carriage of coal from the pits in the Forest of Dean to Bullo Pill and the rates of the Severn & Wye Railway & Canal Co for carriage of coal from the pits to Lydney Basin, with a view to making an application to the Railway and Canal Commissioners.
Committee Meeting held at Wallbridge on Thursday the 17^th day of March 1881 @ 3,o,clock pm
Present: Mr G H A Beard Chairman, Mr H H Mills, Mr E C Little, Mr J Howard, Mr C H Hooper, Major Fisher.
[45] Ordered that the next Committee Meeting be held on Thursday the 18^th day of April next @ 3.o.clock pm and the General Half-yearly Meeting at 4,o,clock pm on the same day.
[11] Culvert under Canal near Swing Bridge at Saul.
The above was examined on the 10^th day of March 1881 and from what could then be seen was in good repair.
The depth of water at the mouth of the Culvert at the Saul end was 1'-6½" and the depth of water 14'-0" from the end 1'-0" giving 6½" of mud, etc. At the lower or Framilode end depth of water at the outlet 2'-11½" depth of water 14'-0" from the outlet 4" giving 1'-7½" of mud, etc, showing clearly that the water course above and below the Culvert requires deepening.
The Clerk was direct to write to Mr Spire and give him a copy of the above particulars.
See letter book C No 120.*
[41] Mr Mills brought forward the question of the rating of the property belonging to the Company in Wheatenhurst Parish, and having read the case of The King v The Calder & Hebble Navigation Company (1 (?) and Anderson 263) where it was held that where a Statute exempted the tolls of a Canal Company from payment of rates, the land occupied by the Company was also thereby exempted.
Resolved that Mr Mills be instructed to appeal against the current poor rate made for the parish of Wheatenhurst in respect to the land occupied by the Company in that parish.
[319] Major Fisher called attention to the injury which the Company's trade sustained through the excessive rated charged by the Great Western Railway Company for the carriage of Coal from the pits in the Forest of Dean to Bullo Pill, and also the rates charged by the Severn & Wye Railway & Canal Company, for carriage of Coal from the pits to Lydney Basin, which made it impossible for the Company to successfully compete with Railway in the carriage of Coal to Stonehouse, Dudbridge and Stroud.
Resolved that Mr Mills be instructed to take the opinion of Counsel as to the legality of the rates charged by the Railway Companies, with a view to making an application to the Railway and Canal Commissioners.
Cheques drawn: W^m James Snape: 37..10.0
M N Peyton: 10..8..0
[Total] £47..18..0.
* See Letter Book 9/6 page 120.
https://stroudwaterhistory.org.uk/document/7601/
