Tue 16 Jan 1900
Mr Haynes, surveyor of Stroud Rural District Council, withdrew notice to terminate tenancy of part of Dudbridge wharf.
£11 10s in unclaimed dividends transferred to Reserve Fund.
Sir W H Marling asked Company to repair the off bank of canal on his property at Ebley occupied by Mr Stephens. Company never recognised responsibility for banks opposite towing path and declined repairs.
Mr Lambourn, tenant of Wallbridge warehouse, painted his name on its front without permission.
In opinion of Mr H Hamilton Mills, Company solicitor, Company not relieved of all obligation to repair bridge at Ebley. Covenant of 1 January 1807 with William Read. Road over it might be taken over by Rural District Council. Notice to be placed on bridge that it is insufficient to carry weight beyond ordinary traffic.
Resources of Trust insufficient to complete restoration of Thames and Severn Canal. Proposal of Gloucestershire County Council to take over canal with view to entire restoration. Committee entirely approved. Unanimously adopted resolution to transfer canal to County Council.
Committee Meeting held at Wallbridge on Tuesday the 16^th day of January 1900
Present: Mr C H Hooper Chairman, Mr H Hamilton Mills Solicitor, Mr A B Hooper, Mr E P Little, Mr P J Evans, Sir W H Marling Bart, Mr W Davies, Mr W J Stanton.
The Clerk produced a further letter from Mr Haynes, Surveyor of the Stroud Rural District Council withdrawing the notice given to terminate their tenancy of part of the Dudbridge Wharf.
It appearing that the sum of _£11..10..0_ has been lying at the Company's Bankers, as unclaimed Dividends since 1873, and their Solicitor, advising that all claims upon the amount had lapsed, it was decided to transfer the amount to the "Reserve Fund", and remit the same by Cheque to the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit and Offices Company, Chancery Lane London.
A letter to the Clerk from Sir W H Marling Bart was read, asking the Company to repair the off bank of the Canal on his property at Ebley occupied by Mr F Stephens. It appearing that the Company had never recognised responsibility for the banks opposite the towing path, and had uniformly declined such repairs, the matter was not pressed by Sir W H Marling Bart, and was allowed to drop.
The Clerk reported that Mr Lambourn, the present tenant of the Wallbridge Warehouse, had, without asking permission, painted on its front, his name, etc. It was decided that he be required to recognise, by a memorandum, that he had done so, in view of any future termination of his tenancy.
Mr H Hamilton Mills, Solicitor of the Company, stated that he had carefully considered the deeds referring to the bridge at Ebley, and the matter of its repairs, with the result, that in his opinion the covenant of 1 January 1807, with William Read is not enforceable against the present owners of the property formerly belonging to the said William Read, and that therefore the Company could not hold itself relieved of all obligation to repair the bridge. As to the road passing over it, it was suggested that it might be mentioned at the Rural District Council with a view with its being taken over by that body. It was suggested as desirable that the usual notice be placed on the bridge, by the Clerk, notifying that the bridge is insufficient to carry any weight beyond the ordinary traffic of the district.
The Chairman called attention to the subject (on the agenda) of the restoration of the Thames and Severn Canal, which the resources at the command of that Trust had proved insufficient to complete. Also to the proposal of the Gloucestershire County Council to take over the Canal with all existing obligations and guarantees, with a view to its entire restoration. In view of the intimate connexion of the Thames & Severn with the Stroudwater, the Committee entirely approved the proposal, and unanimously adopted the following Resolution, on the motion of the Chairman seconded by Sir W H Marling Bart:- In view of an application about to be made by the Gloucestershire County Council to the Board of Trade under the Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1888 for a Warrant, authorising the abandonment of the Thames and Severn Canal, and its transfer to the County Council of Gloucestershire (with or without other authorities) by reason of the inability of the Thames and Severn Canal Trust to restore the Navigation of such Canal, and the Trust consequently being in default within the meaning of the above Act, We the Company of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation hereby signify our consent to the issue of such Warrant (all existing Guarantees and liabilities being retained and continued, and subject to details to be arranged) and to the making of a Provisional Order under such Act transferring the Canal to such County Council (with or without other authorities) and for other matters; And we hereby appoint Mr C H Hooper (Chairman), Mr P J Evans, Mr H Hamilton Mills (Solicitor) Mr E P Little and Sir W H Marling Bart a Committee with full powers to carry out the matter, and to affix the Seal of the Navigation to any documents that may be requisite, And we direct that a copy hereof be sent to the Secretary of the Board of Trade.
Dated this 16^th day of January 1900.
