Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/716



The last act of parliamnent respecting this canal was passed in 1815, and is entitled, 'An Act for enabling the Company of Proprietors of time Worcester and Birmingham Canal Navigation to complete and extend their Works, and for better supplying the said Canal with Water; and also for vesting in Trustees for the said Company of Proprietors, his Majesty's Rights and Interest in certain Lands and Hereditaments in the parishes of King's Norton and Northfield, in the county of Worcester, forfeited to the Crown.'  After several clauses prescribing the mode of making reservoirs, &amp;c. the act states that the company having purchased some lands for reservoirs, which they were not empowered by the acts of parliament to do, they had become forfeited to the Crown, but that his Majesty had remitted the forfeiture, and the act authorizes the company to re-sell such lands, provided, however, that if the debt of £27,096, 10s 4d. due from the company to their late treasurers, be not paid on or before the 29th day of September next after the passing of this act, the lands above-mentioned to be sold, and the above debt to be discharged from the proceeds.

The intention of making a basin at Lowesmore being abandoned, and one in lieu thereof being made at Diglis, that part of the former act which authorizes a tonnage rate of two-pence per ton on all barges or other vessels passing from the Severn into any basin belonging to the company, is repealed, but they are allowed to take the following additional

TONNAGE RATES.
The act also empowers the company to raise a further sum of £90,000, either amongst themselves, by the creation of two thousand two hundred and fifty additional simares of £40 each, or by granting annuities or mortgage of the tolls and rates.

The length of this canal is twenty-nine miles; its breadth at top 42 feet and depth of water 6 feet; and it passes through five