The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-12-25 00:00:00

NEW OAS COMPANT.

An extreerdinary general seeking of the company
took place on Monday week, at the Guildhall, for the
purpose of receiving a report from the directors. A
large number of the shareholders were present.
In opening the procemiing• Mr. H. Tuomkg, the chair-
man, said be was pleased tome No many present, and among
them some of the most important shareholders in the
company, fort showed him there was no lank of interest
in the subject upon which they had been called toge-
ther. Ti.. directors were anxious to give the share.
holders a foil and explicit account of how the Board of
Directors had meted, so that the shareholders might
jadre of their oonduot in the proceedings than for, and
how the interest of the shareholders had been taken
svre of. He called upon the secretary to read the
report
_ _ _ . _

_
Mr. T•sard, who was suffering from • *old, deputed
Mr. .7. M. Ciente* to read the report, a very lengthy
document, in which woo set forth the efforts which had
bren made by the new company to get the old go. work.
from Mr. Burdon. The eorrespondenee objet had
peeved rupeeting this matter was at times productive of
• little ausesement.

The Outliner observed that the direetors bad
thought it aevieable that Mr. Penny, their engineer,
should hi present at that meeting so that they might
receive the benefit of big advice, and point out tee steps
they ought to take to meet with success.
Kr. POINT remark that from the report they would
gather that the company was going to Parliament for
an Act to enable them to supply the tows with gas.
They had heard that Mr. Burdon was very fluxion+ to
nye them from throwing away their money in linking
an application for an Act. He did not know whether
or not Mr. Burdon was aware of the fact, that it woe
impossible that the W. ymouth flu Consumers Company
could be transferred without the intervention of an Act
of Parliament, so that the gueetioe of expense alluded
to by Mr. Burdoe did not apply. Since he had
been connected with the company his advice to
the directors bad been to go on, and make application
to Parliannet, and take those steps whi h would
enable them to obtain the powen songbt for. Been
supposing matters went on as at present, he would tell
them that the old Gas Act ems • very antiquated affair
end almost out nt date. The mien were higher the.
they ought to be, and the illumiewing power was not
in accordance with present requirements, and further,
there was no purity clause in the Act. Even under
this objection the new compeny were entitled to go to
Parliament to ask for powers to amend at least. It
was a fact patent to all that the present state of light-
ing the town "maven objectionable. Instead of having
a company to whom they might look for a redrew of
their griennites, they had the proprietor residing over
300 miles away. When this company —for be war,
bound to treat it as •company, although It we. centred I
Inane individual—applied to Parliament for powers to
light Weymouth under Innen privileges, he took upon
himself certain ditties, but these had been out of his
power to fulfil by lean. Under the powers of this Act
he was bound under the Gas Works Mame, when their
dividend was equal to 10 per cent., to reduce the price
of gas, but by the management which Mr. Burdett, the
tompany, had made with the lessee, he or it had pat
this not of his or its power. At present there was no
means of knowing the profits or the sum which would
enable them to obtain • redoetion on the price of gas,
ea
there were no Lures to place before them. No
ansoents, he undentood, bed been file, and they had
tient been ableto a•certain whether or not they had
right to make application for • reduction on the trio
of gaa. This was so imnortant • matter that thi
omission alone would entitle them to go to Paella...it
and say, " Here we, as • large township, find
ourselves oppressed, bet find we have not that
control over the company which the Act of
Parliament intended we should have. We have
to pay • mnalt higher price for the gee thlult
Intended, and the Illuminating power is not sulllciet.t.
and there things entitle us to adopt the course we have 1
taken." We must not attempt to hide from them, how-
over, that being • company and having the sanction of
Parliament they stood in • strong position, and they did
no en long as they discharged the duties which they
had taken upon themselves. It would not do to go to
parliament, simply because they wished to get the work
in their own hands, but at the same time, if they could
show a fair case against the old company, and ask for •
redress of penance*, they were cure to be successful
According to the present state of things they had cause
to go bef ire radial:neat and incur reasonable expennie
is the interest of the town. The hill which had been
prepared and duly lodged embodied all the clatpes of
modern legislation necessary for the protection of the
tows. Instead of the mairisanas price of gas being fused
at 6.. it was put at As &I. But there seemed to he
• great dentine in the minds of the public ea to the
marinate price of gas. It was not fixed as the prim
which should be charged, but simply as • precautionary
measure, PO that in case any difficolties should aria*, if
war should break forth, the company would have an
opportunity of increasing the prioe so that they should
not be. at • lam in carrying out their undertaking. It
was probalale the old gas company might put their
orient unite this age, and aty " We have done everything
undo" the bill. We have Ono you 10 candle gas. The
limit of the penis fle. hat we have only charged yom
fia. Ild." That was not a fair interpretation of the act.
Although that price was rained in the bill, a Gemming
Placed in the position to supply a town with gin, could
only depend on having • monopoly, and eould only
depend that monopoly, by Its being well regulated, by
travelling with the times and in the selling
their commodity at • fair and reasonable
giving to the town that which the town was Etri;
entitled to ask for, and that they should net feel that
other towns were paying tem by ZS per cent, than they
were. Under those eircoutaceneer they had • rod
richt to adopt the course they had taken, and with •
fair prospect of income, which was most important to
their,. so fur as regarded the position of this new sem-
pany, his arnica to the directors had alwar been to
deal liberally with the old company. It was • fact that
these works had been eetsblll-hed for many years, bo
It wan no matter, whether it was the proprietor's fan
or not, that she works had not been remunerative. That
would doubtless Came oat before • commit tee of the Bosse
of CoMMOOP, and generally had great weight with them,
for if the company could show that thew made but little
profit out of the works. that alone would have induenoe
with the colonsittee, notwithstanding it might he urged
thet the concern was badly managed, as before obeened.
He had sleeve advised the new company to deal
liberally with the old company, for it would tell well
with the committee if it weld be shown that the new
company had not attempted to wrest the works from
the company, but had treated with them on fair terms.
All this had been done. No one could peruse the
seareseostrienee wltish had &Aso pine without bele@
ismer& with the fast that the directors of the new
sompany had been moot anxious to treat with Mr.
Bordon in an equitable meaner. Having dome so they
eould go before the committee with • good case, pompous
name, and achieve imenies—(applauas.) There was
another thing which he wished to urge upon the
meeting, and which would have groat weight with
Parliament. There was no doubt • etrong feeling in the
town with reference to the gm supply, and be would
suggest that all the consumers QS gas should be appealed
to—end every shareholder In this company should
make it his busbies, to advise them to sign •
@Detract to take gas for • aerials time. This would see
is two ways. It would show the committee that the
town was in favour of the now company, and it would
present what might possibly happen from the old 00113-
pany in its saying " We will me that yeti shall get no
grant out of your undertaking, we will reduce the price
of gee la toll." If the new company oould obtain the
consent of gas coesioners to burn their Ina they would
bane something upon which to work, and be the means
probably of preventing any opposition injuring them.
He did not think there would be any difficulty Is
obtaining the consent of persona to sign a contract to
take gas at 4e. 6d. per 1,000 for • certain term of years.
If they could do this, it would be cutting the ground
completely from under the feet of the old company, and
wood be an assurance in (erne of the new company.
He had no more to say, but if they wished to ask him
any qestiona he should be pleased to answer them.
Several questions were then pat and answered, and
Mt. J. J. ROLLS proposed a vote of thanks to the
director., expressing the confidence of the shareholders
and desiring them to continue their exertions in the
Interest of the company.
Mr. CoLetill said the notice only spesified to "receive
• report from the directors." What were they called
epos to do?
Mr. J. E. ROBINS ezplained the reason of their lasing
brought together that day.
Mr. COll/011 deprecated any hostile feeling.
Mr. Roues readily acquitted him of say unfriendly
spirit to the new company.
Mr. R. G. NZWIMIGTON seconded Mr. Bone proposi-
tion, with the addition that the di:aeon be empowend
to apply for an Act of Parliament.
In answer to Mr. COLSON, Mr. TELL= severed him
that the noolution was perfectly legal.
The resolution was then put sad earned, and the
meeting separated.