Journal entry – John Grey – 9 Dec 1834

Tuesday 9th December



       Proceeded to go through those Farms in Newlands which I could not visit when in that district last week, informing the Tenants of the Boards decision respecting the reduction of Rent granted them from May day last, and inspecting their different grounds of claim for draining & new fences at the beginning of a fresh term.  Such applications require to be entertained with due caution, as it does not always follow, that a thing desired by the tenant, and that may be a convenience to him, is also a matter of permanent improvement to the property.   The Tenants however, in that district are respectable people, and not inclined to encroach or take advantage. Returned home in the evening.  Heard from my Son who had been to Chester hill to examine & measure the Drains I had set out when last there, & conveying applications from some of the tenants on that Estate, which I have desired him to postpone till I see them. 

       Heard also from Mr Nairn saying that in case of their taking a new Lease of their Mills they intended to erect one for bruising Bones for Manure, & think they could employ the Materials for a Water Wheel which we have on hand at Newcastle, if the Board would allow it.   Informed Mr Nairn, that if he should give an offer for a new Lease of his premises, on terms such as the Board should approve, including the use of those Materials, the Wheel so constructed, would not of course be included in that part of the Machinery for which he would expect to receive payment in leaving the Premises.   I should be glad of an opportunity of applying those Materials to any useful purpose, as they are dead Stock on hand and are not very disposable.  And though I should have been glad to press the purchase of them upon Mr Nairn, I feared to do so lest he should say, that if he were to pay for the Wheel, he would prefer buying a metal one, on one of different dimensions, & so deprive us of the chance of using them & all of Waren.