WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

The annual dinner given by the directors of the Wilts and Berks canal company to their employees, took place at the Goddard Arms Hotel and was attended by some 40 people.

An excellent repast was served up, and after partaking of the good things the company devoted a little attention to pipe and glass, a few complimentary speeches alternating the proceedings. After the loyal toasts had been submitted from the Chair, "success to the Wilts and Berks Canal company" was proposed by the Chairman who expressed the pleasure it gave himself and co-directors to meet once again, as they were doing that afternoon with their employees.

Taking a retrospective view, he said they had found a little more than they wanted in the way of mud and weeds in the water. They desired to put the canal in such a working condition that it should meet local requirements and canal trading generally. The first thing to be done was to clear the canal and restore it to its original condition. In the next two or three years, our canal would be the most used canal in the country. No canal in the kingdom was better situated in regard to its natural resources.

Mr Boxall rose to respond, he observed that not one man had died last year whilst working on the canal either through accident or naturally. The canal had also entertained visitors recently in the shape of the cavalry brigade at Coate during manoeuvres.

Mr C.H Masters proposed the next toast "The Canal Employees" in it he said he was gratified that the whole 70 miles was open and free of weeds for navigation. Boats loaded with 21 tons could now come up to Swindon but they were of no use to the North Wilts Canal because little had been done to the Thames and Severn Canal.

Swindon Advertiser