88 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
start was made at ten o'clock, on a beautifully fine summer morning, and those
on board soon had an opportunity of appreciating the great commercial
importance of the Lea as a waterway, as demonstrated by the crowded state of
the stream. At Bow Bridge, the President, Mr. Howard, F.C.S., and Mrs.
Howard, came on board, accompanied by Mr. Andrew Johnston (Chairman of the
Essex County Council, and member of the Lee Conservancy) ; and the company
included Mr. S. W. Squier, J.P., Mr.W. B. Whittingham, J.P., Mr. T. V. Holmes,
F.G.S., Mr. J. Spiller, F.C.S., Professor Almond, Mr. W. W. Duffield, Mr. H. S.
Bartleet, Mr. and Mrs. S. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Porter, Mr. W. M. Webb, F.L.S.,
Mr. A. Double, C.C, Mr. Knott, Mr. H. A. Cole, Mr. B. G. Cole, the Misses
Cole, Mr. G. E. Vaughan, Mr. Meggy, Mr. and Mrs. Borrow, and many others,
including the conductors.
The River Lea (to quote from Major Flower's admirable summary) has been
the subject of many Acts of Parliaments, the appropriation of its water has caused
much litigation, and "Millers' rights" have proved fruitful sources of trouble,
until very recent date. The two earliest Acts are those of 1424, 3 Henry VI.,
Bromley Locks, Low Tide. (August, 1890.)
cap. 5 ; and 9 Henry VI., cap. 9. These empowered the Chancellor for the time
being to issue commissions for the purpose of cleaning, scouring and amending
the River Ley,—which in both of them is stated to be "une des grandes rivers" of
England. In 1425 a petition was presented to Parliament, and answer granted,
for a Commission of Conservancy—the first conservancy of a river in England.
The present Board of Conservancy was established by "The Lee Conservancy
Act, 1868 "—31 & 32 Vic., cap. 154, supplanting the old Trustees, which body
was established by 13 & 14 Vic., cap. 109, "The Lee Navigation Improvement
Act, 1850," and of whom the late Lord Salisbury was Chairman. This was an
important Act regulating water rights. These were still more clearly defined by
the Act of 1855—18 & 19 Vic. cap. 196, "The River Lee Water Act, 1855." The
general result of these provisions is, that a paramount right is given to the Trust
for water acquired for the purposes of navigation ; and that the remainder of the
water is divided between the two water companies practically in equal shares.
Annual payments are made by the water companies as follows :—From the New
River Company, £1,500—this Company also contributed £42,000 to the Trust
for construction of works on the navigation ; the East London Waterworks Com-
pany pays £2,000 a year, and both companies pay a sum not exceeding £1,000 a