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Selby, July 6, 1831
We, the undersigned, being the Treasurer and Committee appointed for the purpose of “protecting the interests of the watermen navigating the rivers and cuts from Knottingley to Selby,” beg to call public attention to the following statement:-

It appears there are now upwards of ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY VESSELS stopped in the SELBY CANAL and HADDLESEY CUT for want of Water – many of which have been detained upwards of TEN DAYS, with valuable Cargoes on Board, and some of them of a very perishable nature.

Our attention has been directed to the best means to be employed to obtain relief, and we are sorry to inform you that though we have made the most urgent appeals to the Managers of the Aire and Calder Company for an ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF WATER, they do not think fit to afford us any Redress, though it appears they have ample means within their power; as it can be clearly proved that there is at present FIVE INCHES of WATER flowing over the Haddlesey Dam, which might easily be diverted into the Selby Canal, and thus set all the Vessels now detained at liberty. It therefore only remains for us to resort to the legal means afforded us by the ACT 9th GEO. 4, CAP. 98, SECT. 118, to compel the Proprietors to carry into effect the following Clause, viz.:-

That the said Undertakers shall be bound and obliged to maintain the Navigation of the Cut or Branch from the Knottingley and Goole Canal, into the River Aire, at or near a certain place called Bank-Dole, and of the said River Aire from thence to Haddlesey Old Lock, and of the said Canal from Haddlesey to the River Ouse, at Selby, at all times of the depth of Five Feet and no more, above the Sill or Threshold of the highest Lock on the said last-mentioned Line of Navigation, from the Goole Canal to Selby.

Had the intention of the Legislature in this respect been carried into effect, the detention now complained of, could not have taken place, for none of the Vessels before-mentioned draw more than Five Feet Water, and many of them, though drawing no more than Three Feet Six Inches, are unable to navigate the said Canal. An action has been commenced against the Undertakers for damage arising from the present detention; and as the Law Expenses attending the proceedings will be considerable, we confidently hope that the Public will come forward and contribute towards a Fund which it will be necessary to raise, in order to defray the expenses. We consider it highly necessary, that on the present occasion the Merchants, Ship-Owners, and Others interested in the internal Navigation of this County, should cooperate for the purpose of procuring redress; and any Sum contributed by them for this purpose, will be thankfully received by the Treasurer.

I.B. PITT, Treasurer.
COMMITTEE
John Adams
John Richardson, Jun.
John Dobson, Jun.
Joseph Parr
Thomas Fisher
John Foster

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Original

Selby, July 6, 1831
We, the undersigned, being the Treasurer and Committee appointed for the purpose of “protecting the interests of the watermen navigating the rivers and cuts from Knottingley to Selby,” beg to call public attention to the following statement:-

It appears there are now upwards of ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY VESSELS stopped in the SELBY CANAL and HADDLESEY CUT for want of Water – many of which have been detained upwards of TEN DAYS, with valuable Cargoes on Board, and some of them of a very perishable nature.

Our attention has been directed to the best means to be employed to obtain relief, and we are sorry to inform you that though we have made the most urgent appeals to the Managers of the Aire and Calder Company for an ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF WATER, they do not think fit to afford us any Redress, though it appears they have ample means within their power; as it can be clearly proved that there is at present FIVE INCHES of WATER flowing over the Haddlesey Dam, which might easily be diverted into the Selby Canal, and thus set all the Vessels now detained at liberty. It therefore only remains for us to resort to the legal means afforded us by the ACT 9th GEO. 4, CAP. 98, SECT. 118, to compel the Proprietors to carry into effect the following Clause, viz.:-

That the said Undertakers shall be bound and obliged to maintain the Navigation of the Cut or Branch from the Knottingley and Goole Canal, into the River Aire, at or near a certain place called Bank-Dole, and of the said River Aire from thence to Haddlesey Old Lock, and of the said Canal from Haddlesey to the River Ouse, at Selby, at all times of the depth of Five Feet and no more, above the Sill or Threshold of the highest Lock on the said last-mentioned Line of Navigation, from the Goole Canal to Selby.

Had the intention of the Legislature in this respect been carried into effect, the detention now complained of, could not have taken place, for none of the Vessels before-mentioned draw more than Five Feet Water, and many of them, though drawing no more than Three Feet Six Inches, are unable to navigate the said Canal. An action has been commenced against the Undertakers for damage arising from the present detention; and as the Law Expenses attending the proceedings will be considerable, we confidently hope that the Public will come forward and contribute towards a Fund which it will be necessary to raise, in order to defray the expenses. We consider it highly necessary, that on the present occasion the Merchants, Ship-Owners, and Others interested in the internal Navigation of this County, should cooperate for the purpose of procuring redress; and any Sum contributed by them for this purpose, will be thankfully received by the Treasurer.

I.B. PITT, Treasurer.
COMMITTEE
John Adams
John Richardson, Jun.
John Dobson, Jun.
Joseph Parr
Thomas Fisher
John Foster

522 words.

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• Aire and Calder Navigation (4), canalised section of the Rivers Aire and Calder in the West Riding, built 1699-1905 ·
• Canal (2) ·
• Ferrybridge (2) ·
• Goole (7) ·
• Knottingley (2) ·
• River Aire (25) ·
• River Ouse, Yorkshire (19) ·
• Selby Canal (1) ·
• Selby (8) ·
• West Haddlesey (1) ·

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