The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-18 00:00:00

THE ADVANCE IN THE PRICE Or HAM.

Dr. AIRAHAV moved, "That it be referred to the
General PerTivies Committee to consider (with special
refereece to the provisions of the Great Central Gas Con.
ruiners Act of 1851) the letter dated Sept. Veil, signed by
the chairman of the three City gas companies, giving
notice to the gas consumers of the City, that on
and after Mieliaelnies next the charge will be at the rate of
4 04 Per 14101 f 40•6 kw_ ealiaary Nal gas; sod like-
wise to consider whether the interlude of the gas consumers
are sufficieetly protected by the Iletroryolitan Gas Act, and
if not, whether it is desirable to apply to parliament for
more efficient means to remedy complaints as to the quan-
tity and purity of the gee supplied, and for authority to
test the illuminating power and purity of the gas at the
places of consumption, instead of 1,000 yards from the
works, and to report thereon forthwith to the commission."
He said the circular issued by the companies alleged that
the act of parliament passed in 1860, under the provisions
of which the companies supplt ing the City were about
to come, imposed upon them the necessity of sup-
plying gas of a higher illuminating power and of greater
purity than that which they had hitherto supplied. lie
said that, referring to the reports of Dr. Letheby, he
found that such was not the OW, for during the last nine
yearn the gas supplied by the Great Central Gas Company
lied been equal to thirteen spenu candles, whereas the
new act only imposed a standard of twelve sperm amines.
The Great Central Gas Company, 110 said, was established
for the purpose of protecting the mummers ; but it appeared
that they bad entered into a confederacy with the other
companies prejudicial to the public interests. He then com-
mented at great length upon the previsions of the Metro-
polis Gm Act.
Mr. Alderman DARIN seconded the motion, which was
then put and carried unanimously.
Dr. ABRAHAM then moved that Mr. Deputy Harrison,
Mr. Deputy Farrar, Mr. Henry Lowman Taylor, Mr. Henry
De Jersey, Dr. Roes, and Mr. Walter be added to the
General Purpueest'oromittee, to consider the whole question
of the supple of ;as to thin City.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON remarked that the General Pur-
poses Committee would shortly i.e changing, and he thought
it would lie inconvenient if the question were referred to a
changing committee, and suggested that it should be re-
ferred to a special committee formed on purpose.
Mr. Deputy Fnee,in thought that if it were referred to a
special committee, the members ought to have nothing to do
with gas shares.
. .

Dr. Ross thought the oLjection a very proper one, and
thought it ought to go to a special committee so that they
might be able to teinain on the committee until the in-
quiry was finished.
A special committee was accordingly appointed, consisting
of twelve members, viz.: Mr. Deputy Harrison, Mr. Deputy
Farrar, Mr. Henry Lowrrutu Taylor, Mr. De Jersey, Dr.
Ross, Mr. Walter, Alderman Ruse, Dr. Abraham, Mr.
Waterlow, Mr. Deputy Lott, Mr. Houghton, and Mr.
Deputy White.
Dr. ABRAHAM then moved, "That it be referral to the
General Purposes Committee to causeevery house and build-
ing in New Broad-street to be marked or numbered in such
manner as they shall judge must proper for distinguishing
the risme."

Mr. Deputy HARRISON mowed RA an amendment, "That it
should be referred to the Ckneml Purposes Committee to
consider if it were desirable to mune every house and build.
io in New Broad greet t, be numbered, ke."
The amendment was ultimately carried.

THE !SANITARY CONDITION Or THE CITY.
Dr. LETHEUI, the medical officer, reported on the state at
1144 houses which had been inspected during the week, end
he submittal a list of 44 places for sanitary improvements.
All the markets end alaughttrihouses had been duly in-
spected, and the officers bad seized 3951b5. of meat as unfit
for human fon,l,6olbs. of which were diseased, lallta. putrid,
and the rest was from animals that had died from natural

The mortality returns for the week were greatly below
the average, chewing a favourable condition of public
health. Ouly deaths were registered during the week,
instead of 45, which is the average for the corruponding
week of the lastlve years. Nineteen of the deaths were
among children of less than live years of age, and four
among old persons of 60 and upwards. Thu deaths were
chiefly from diseases of a chronic character; six of them
were from phthisia, and six from meaenterie diseases of in-
fancy. There were only four dentba from inflammatory
affections of the. lungs—viz.: Three from pneumonia and
one from bronchitis. Of the aymoiiii class of maladies theta
were the following: Continued fever, 2 ; scarlet fever, 1 ;
whooping-cough, 2; croup. 1 ; and the diarrho,t of infanta,
3 ; making together but 9 deaths from the, diseases.
There wero 66 births registered during the week, of
which 43 were boys and 23 girls.