Mon 17 Apr 1843
Mr Samuel Marling willing to subject works of his present mill to powers given to company by Acts of Parliament. Time of shutting hatches not to commence until pond filled sufficiently for water to flow into navigation through feeder. Company to resume control feeder at Ebley. Servants to ascertain by experiment any practical difficulty in keeping up supply of water to Navigation.
Letter from Mr Biddle complaining of stoppage of Navigation. Threat to deduct loss incurred from tonnage. Mr Mason reported that before he made stoppage for works at Lockham Bridge he consulted Mr Biddle’s captain Longney. Vessels not delayed. For time being only passage for vessels drawing 4 feet of water.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation held at the Committee Room at Walbridge On Monday the 17^th day of April 1843
Present: {In time 3/6]
M^r Cosham, M^r J F Fisher, M^r Sam^l Fisher, M^r H^y Beard, M^r R^d Hughes, M^r R^d Martin, M^r P H Fisher, M^r H^y Wyatt, M^r T C Croome, M^r G Wathen.
[Mess^rs Marling]
The Chairman of the last Committee reported that he had written to Mess^rs Marling as directed; & handed in their reply promising to communicate, when they should have heard from their professional advisor.
[Sub Comm]
The Sub Committee also reported that they have since had an interview with M^r Samuel Marling; the result of which was that he was willing to _subject the works_ of his present Mill to all the powers given to this Company by their Acts of Parliament in relation to the "Ebley Mill" mentioned in those Act. And that (on a suggestion of the _loss of time_ in filling their large pound, _before_ the water would flow into the Navigation by means of a feeder:) -- {M^r S Marling offer as to shutting their Hatches] M^r S Marling offered to engage that the time of shutting their hatches should not commence -- (so far as the Company, _if_ _desiring the same_, would be _liable_ to pay for the _time_) -- _until_ their pond should be so filled, as that the Water should begin to flow into the navigation by means of the feeder: --
And, without regarding the above propositions as satisfactory to meet the desires and rights of this Company in regard to the feeding the Navigation: -- It is
Ordered that the Company do resume the Control of the Feeder at Ebley, & their Servants do attend to the supply of Water to the Navigation at that place; -- with a _view_ to ascertain by experiment whether there will be any practical difficulty in keeping up the supply of Water to the Navigation, _under existing circumstances_; and for the purpose of determining whether this Company shall be under the necessity of taking further proceedings in the matter.
A letter of this days Date having been read from M^r Biddle complaining of a stoppage of the Navigation; and threatening to deduct from his tonnage account (!!) any loss he should incur by the retention of his Vessels:
And M^r Mason having reported that _before_ he made the stoppage ( for doing the works near Lockham bridge), he had consulted M^r Biddle;s Captain Logney; as also that the Navigation was opened this morning, and consequently that M^r Biddle's Vessels had not been and need not be delayed: --
Ordered that M^r Biddle be informed thereof; but that it will be requisite to navigate, for the present, only with vessels drawing 4 feet water and a Letter was written to M^r Biddle by the Chairman to that Effect.
