The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-11-28 00:00:00

EAST LONDON WATER-WORKS.

Yesterday a Meeting of the Inhabitant House-
holders, and ethers residing in the Eastern District
of the Metropolis, took place at the City of London
Tavern, for the purpose of receiving the Report of
the General Committee appointed at the last Meet-
ing to consider of the alleged monopoly of the Wa-
ter Companies who supply this District.
The Chair was taken soon after oueo'clock by Mr.
J. B. SHARPE, who presided on the former occa-
lion. He was supported by Mr. BYRE, the
Member for Middlesex, and several Gentle-
men who take an active part in the business of the
particular Water Companies.
The CHAIRMAN called the attention of the Meet-
ing to the nature of the business which they
had met to tmusact. This, he said, would be best
understood by the pithhe advertisement through
which the Meeting had been convened.
The SRCREtARR read the advertisement in pur-
swarme of which the Meeting was convened.
The CHAIRMAN thin addressed the Meeting in
the following manner:—
" Gentlemen—As-Chairman of the Committee
appointed by the last Meeting, it becomes my duty
to recapitulate our labours in a summary manner, on
the present occasion. The Committee, in entering
upon their investigation, studiously abstained from all
personal considerations respecting their own private
interests, and solely directed their attention to
the discharge of the public duty which was con-
signed to them. The Report, which Would be
shortly read, contained a great part of the evi-
dence on which the Committee had acted. Soon
after they had entered upon their inquiry, they
heard that the Witter Companies were willing to
compromise the matter with the Committee; but
the Committee took a higher ground, and deter-
mined to hold no intercourse in the way of com-
promise with the Companies, unless the latter
merle a direct communication with them for that

purpose, on behalf of the public. The Commit-
tee was averse to any sort of underhand compro-
mise, and for this obvious reason, that it would
have been difficult, if not impracticable, to make
any such arrangement, except for the parties im-
mediately interested and engaged in making it, or
enter into any compact which would embrace the
public at large. The Committee have taken care
to make tin statement of facts without being in
possession of ample proof its their Support, except
in one particular case, where the proof involved
the interest of private individuals. It was there-
fore thought proper not to disclose this proof in the
particular instance, except before it Committee of
the House of Commons, to which they wete of
opinion it would be most desirable to submit the
whole case on the part of the public. The Secre-
tary would, with the permission of the Meeting.
now proceed to read the Report."—(Applause.)
The Secretary now read the Report, which was
of considerable length, and was entitled—
', The Report of the General Committee appointed by a
Resolution passed at • public Meeting of the Inhabitant
Householders and others in the Finsbury and Tower Divi-
sions, held on the 80th day of October, 1518, at the City of
London Tavern, upon the Combination of the New River
and East London Water-work Companies; suit the conse-
quent Monopoly of Water."
It reviewed the Acts of Parliament establishing these
Companies, sod asserted that they had nut been ftilllled—
the combination formed between them—the alleged mono-
poly which was the result of it---and the remedy by a new
•ppral to Parliament ; and in a long Appendix, set forth a
number of particular cases, in which the individuals named
therein had been saute: My assessed by the Companies fur •
supply of water, contrary to previous agrertnents, and were,
es the law now stood, without redress.

Mr. Bice rose to move, that this Report be re-
ceived and adopted by the Meeting.
Mr. LILLEY here interrupted Mr. Bigg, and oh-
jet•.ted to his being heard, as he was merely a
lodger, and not a contributer to either of the Water
COlOptiltlCll, whose affairs Wrft adder discusnon.
'fins interruption led to some altercation between
those who wiblted to hear Mr. Bigg, rod their op-
ponents,
Mr. YOUNGE rose to order. Ile said, that he
understand tlin, was a Meeting of the inhabitant
linti-rholders of the north-east district ut the me-
tropolis, he would, therefore, ask the Chairman,
elieths:r it was in order (ur any gtittlesidn. who