Journal Entry – William Hooper – 29 Mar 1833

Friday 29th March 1833



Having received Mr Hunt’s valuation of the Away going Crop at Westwood, if taken in its present state, I sent for Mr Cowing, and after some discussion he consented to sign an undertaking to surrender quiet possession in May, and to abandon all claim to the Away going Crop, on my agreeing to place Three hundred pounds to his credit, in liquidation of his arrears – this may be £50 more than I shall get for it, but it leaves me free power to negotiate with any parties that offer, and as there is little or no chance of getting the balance of arrears, it is of no consequence compared with securing a tenancy for the farm.



Mr Weatherly, to whom I had written, requesting him to meet me at Berwick, on the 12th of April, and to inform me, if there were any matters claiming my attention there, beyond the disputes of Johnson and Pringle, and the Pier Railway, tells me that Messrs. Hogarth and Thompson have also disputes with Mr Johnson as to the price charged them for Coal for burning Lime, and I find this has been matter 



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Commissioners, particularly one stating that the Hudgill Burn Company declared themselves willing to submit to Arbitration, provided the whole matter in dispute were submitted to the Arbitrators – whereas it was unconditionally stated to the Board that they would not arbitrate. – Again, the claim upon which the Hudgill burn Company grounded their right to a Lease of the 4th Sun Vein, was distinctly stated to the Board to be upon the terms on which they held their General Grant, and the promise made them by the Receivers when a renewal of that grant was refused: And the principle upon which the Board hesitated to grant a Lease was, that their application for it was not made until long after the General Grant had expired; and that in fact they had not discovered it until long after; whereas the Gallygill Co. had made a prior discovery and a prior application. – But in the Bill it is alleged, that the discovery of this 4th Sun Vein was made in consequence of a new grant made to them in 1829, by the Receivers and Mr Taylor at Lowbyer, upon the express stipulation that a Lease should be granted of any Veins they discovered – Of this new Grant, the Board never heard until now. – as regards the result of the Bill, I have no fears, for I am quite sure that the position of neutrality which the Board has maintained throughout will keep the Commissioners harmless, but my annoyance and vexation arises from the legal expenses of answering these allegations, which, from the bulk of the Bill, assume a formidable appearance.  Before I can furnish correct answers to several of the allegations, it will be necessary for me to visit Alston, and this I fear I shall not be able to do until the first week in May, when I have arranged to settle up the purchased Ore accounts, and to receive the second half of the twenty penny fines payable this year.