The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-02 00:00:00

THE GAS SUPPLY TO THE CITY.

The CHAIRMAN brought up a report from the
General Purposes Committee, stating that, having
had before them the references from the Court
upon the various subjects in connection with the
proceedings of the gas companies who were under
contracts with the commission, they had found con-

siderable inconvenience to arise from the circum-
stance that the Court had, in September last, ap-
pointed a special committee, to -whom all matters
having reference to the Gas Measures Act, 1860,
were referred. He (the chairman) thought the
Court would agree with him that it was not desir-
able this subject should not be under consideration
by two committees of the Court, and ho should
therefore beg to move—" That the resolution of the
Court of the 17th September last, appointing a
special committee to consider certain questions in
relation to gas be rescinded ; and that the several
matters which have been from time to time re-
ferred to the said committee, and are not yet dis-
posed of, be transferred to the General Purposes
Committee for consideration." (Hear_)
Mr. C. YOUNG seconded the motion, which was
put and agreed to ; and Deputy Harrison, Mr. J.
Waterrow, Mr. H. L. Taylor, Mr. L. Houghton,
and Deputy Lott were added to the General Pur-
poses Committee in the consideration of this ques-
tion relative to the gas supply.
Dr. ABRAHAM said he wished to make a refer-
ence to the General Purposes Committee in connec-
tion with this subject, which he considered was of
the greatest importance to the public. (Hear.)
Complaints were constantly being made of the gas
supply, and everybody knew the difficulties which
they had to contend with. It was admitted on all
hands that something ought to be done ; and it
seemed to him that they ought to see whether they
could not relieve themselves, by becoming more in-
dependent of the gas companies. It became, he
thought, a very serious question for the considera-
tion of the Court, whether they would not exercise
the powers given them by the Act of Parliament,
and burn the gas by meter. He was fully im-
pressed with the conviction that it would not only
be a matter of economy, but make the Commission
independent of the gas companies. They would
then be able to make any experiments that science
might suggest, and likewise be relieved from the
annoyance caused by companies, who, purely from
jealousy, were working against each other. He
therefore moved—" That it be referred to the Gene-
ral Purposes Committee to consider the propriety
of burning gas by meter in the- public lamps, and
the estimated cost of the same; and that the com-
mittee be authorised to procure and affix to public

lamps two or three dozen meters, and report the
result of the experiments to the Court."
Mr. S. GREEN seconded the motion, which was I
put and agreed to.
THE STREET RAILWAY PROJECT IN THE CITY.
Mr. C. YOUNG, in accordance with the previous
motion, moved as follows :—" That the resolution
of the Court of the 18th December, 1861, agreeing
with the report of the Improvement Committee of
the same date, so far as it refers to the laying down
of Mr. Train's street railway, from Ropemaker-
street to the south end of Moorgate-street, be
rescinded." In doing so, he alluded to the various
proceedings which have been taken from time to
time in reference to Mr. Train's railway, and to the
judgment given upon the subject by Lord Chief
Justice Erle. Ile (Mr. Young) said that the law
as laid down was that the public had a right to pass
and repass at all times at their free will and plea-
sure, and with horses, carts, and
.carriages every-
where on the highway and on every part of it.
Anything which, to a substantial degree, caused in-
convenience or danger to the exercise of that right
was a nuisance and a violation of the public right.
The tramway laid down by Mr. Train in the Bays-
water-road interfered with this right, and it
was in consequence that judgment had been given
against Mr. Train. Mr. Young then alluded to the
act passed in 1851, authorising the use of Bray's
traction engines, but there was a clause giving
Secretary of State a veto. This he exercised, and
notwithstanding that Mr. Bray was put to great
expenses in constructing these engines,the carriages
being required for the convenience of the public
for the Exhibition of that year, the Secretary of
State declared the use to be a dangerous nuisance
and. interdicted the use. In Mr. Train's case he
the
had been put also to great expense in laying down
his tramway, but the interests of the
public must
be considered before that of a private individual,
and he could not be permitted to continue that
which the jury cud also the Court had decided to
be a dangerous nuisance. (hear.)
t- Mr. GREEN seconded the !notion, which, after a