Tue 21 Dec 1897
Agreement with Tom Taylor for tenancy of cottage at Framilode.
Offer from Sharpness Docks Co to share cost of dredging Bristol Road Level of Stroudwater Navigation if Company renounces claims. Act of 1874 rendered Whitminster Lock ineffective for retaining water in Bristol Road Level. Proposal accepted, share of cost limited to £75. Company declined to commit themselves to diminish terms of Act in regulating mutual arrangements and would not pass on cost of appointment of gate keeper sanctioned by Act.
Sir William Marling, Chairman of Thames & Severn Navigation Trust, explained T&S Canal now open to eastern end of tunnel, but had run out of money. Sharpness Dock Co willing to increase guarantee to restoration of Navigation by £1000 if Company increased theirs by £500. Unanimous agreement.
Walter Henry Fisher and Alfred Hugh Wake claimed share no.116, will of Judith Fisher.
Committee Meeting held at Wallbridge on Tuesday the 21^st December 1897 @ 3 o'clock pm
Present: Mr C H Hooper Chairman, Mr H Hamilton Mills Solicitor, Sir W H Marling Bart, Mr E Palling Little, Mr A B Hooper, Mr W J Stanton.
The Agreement with Messrs Strachan & C^o Ltd permitting them to take water for their reservoir at Froomhall from the Painswick brook, was read by the Chairman, and the Clerk was authorized to sign it on behalf of the Company.
An Agreement with Tom Taylor for tenancy of a cottage at Framilode was read, and an authority for its sealing given.
The transfer, after December 31, of the Reserve Fund to the "Chancery Lane Safe Deposit and Offices Company Limited London", was authorized for the present, the rate of Interest being 2½ per cent per annum. A suggestion was made that a Mortgage, at a higher rate, might be sought in the meantime.
The Solicitor of the Company Mr H Hamilton Mills reported the result of his conference with the Directors of the Sharpness Docks Company on the subject of the responsibility of that Company under their Act of 870, to preserve the water in the Bristol Road Level of the Stroudwater Navigation (sec 92) and communicated an offer on their part to share the cost of dredging that level under the superintendence of their Engineer, suggesting that, in return, this Company might express their renunciation of their claims herein, which the Act in question establishes. After full discussion in which it was seen that the sanction of the Act of 1874 to the raising of the level of the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal to 18½ feet had had the effect of rendering the Whitminster Lock ineffective for retaining the water in the Bristol Road Level, as contemplated by the Act of 1870, the Committee decided to accept the proposal of the Sharpness Company, but limiting their own share of the cost to £75. The Committee, however recognising the statutory character of the provision, laying upon the Sharpness Company the responsibility for "preventing any waste or loss of water from the said reach or level, in consequence of variation from time to time in the height of the water" at the Junction, declined to commit themselves to any expression that might in any degree diminish the effect of the terms of the Act regulating the mutual relations of the two Companies. They could only meet the suggestion made, so far as to say, that for the present they would not press on the Sharpness Company the cost of the appointment of the gate-keeper sanctioned by the Act (sec 92-93).
Sir W H Marling Bart, as Chairman of the Thames and Severn Canal Trust, explained to the Committee the circumstances under which the funds available had proved insufficient for the restoration of that navigation, although the Canal was no in working order from Wallbridge to the Eastern End of the tunnel, and stated that the Sharpness Docks Co of which he is Chairman, had agreed to increase their existing guarantee to by one thousand pound if this Company would increase theirs by and additional Five-hundred Pounds. It was unanimously agreed to sanction the addition of this amount to the Six Hundred Pounds already guaranteed by the Stroudwater Navigation.
Mr Stephen James Dudbridge of Stroud in the County of Gloucester Accountant, attended for an on behalf of and under a written authority from Walter Henry Fisher of S^t Francis Vicarage Aston Gate Bristol Clerk in Holy Orders, and Alfred Hugh Wake of 148 Aldersgate Street in the City of London Solicitor executors of the Will of Judith Fisher late of 12 Canton Place, Analaby Road Hull, in the county of York, Widow, deceased (who died on the 14^th day of October 1897) and who at the time of her death had one share in the Undertaking of the Stroudwater Navigation numbered 116, and made out their claim to the said one share now standing in the name of the said Judith Fisher deceased in the Books of the Company of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation by producing the ticket or title to the said one share and the Probate of the Will of the said Judith Fisher deceased, the said Will bearing date the 16^th November 1894 and proved by the said executors in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of Her Majestys High Court of Justice on the 10^h day of December 1897 and the claim was admitted accordingly and a new ticket of title ordered to be made out on the ticket or title of the said Judith Fisher being delivered up.
Cheques drawn:
W J Snape: 37..10..0
W Fredericks: 6..10..0
Vizard Winden & Sons: 1..14..1
Stroud Hospital: 2..2..0
[Total] £47..16..1
