The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-11 00:00:00

THE GAS QUESTION.

Last evening a public meeting of the inhabitants
of Lambeth and Southwark was held at the Literary
Institution, Borough-road, to take into consideration
the measures to be adopted for obtaining a reduction
in the price charged for gas by the various com-
panies; Charles Pearson, Esq., M.P., in the chair.
Mr. SAVAGE read a report, which stated that, in
consequence of the high price of gas in the metro-
polis, compared with the price paid in the provincial
towns, a committee was appointed to inquire into the
matter, and to consult the large consumers in the
district, in order to ascertain whether they were pre-
pared to take any measures for remedying the evils
complained of. The committee had gathered a great
quantity of information, and had waited upon the
board of directors of several gas companies, who had
declared their intention of reducing the present
charge to 7s. per 1,000 cubic feet, after Christmas
next; but the committee considering that price too
high, had come to the following resolution :
" This Committee, on looking at the position it has
taken, with the view to obtain a reduction in the
price of gas from Bs. to 6s. per 1,000 cubic feet, feel
that the more information they collect, and the further
they prosecute the inquiry as to the comparative
charges of other companies, the more evident is it
that 6s. is a price that ought to command a good sup-
ply of first-rate gas, especially when they take into
consideration that the gas companies charge 6s. in
Greenwick, supplying the railways at ss. 6d., and the
eastern end of the metropolis at 6s. The price of
gas in large country towns is only 3s. 31d. per 1,000
feet."

Mr. THWAITES moved "That the report meets with
the cordial approbation of this meeting, and that the
proposal made to the several companies of 6s. per
1,000 feet is a just and liberal one." It would be
understood, Mr. Thwaites remarked, that the gas
movement was becoming a most important one, and
it would ere long take a strong hold on the public
mind, in consequence of the vast amount of the in-
terest involved. He proceeded to call attention to
receipts of several gas companies, and he found that
in Ratcliffe, and the east end of London, the price
was 6s. per 1,000.

. .
The resolution was carried, and a committee was
appointed to carry out the objects of the meeting.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the pro-
ceedings.

THE REPEAL OF THE WINDO IV-
TAX AND SANITARY REFORM.

Yesterday a numerous meeting of the delegates
appointed by all the Metropolitan parishes,look place
at the Court-house, Marylebone, for the purpose of
considering the steps necessary to be taken " for en-
forcing upon the Government the necessity of an
immediate repeal of the Window-tax, without which,
they have themselves declared any measure of sanitary
reform, an absurdity."
Lord DUNCAN, the Member for Bath, was present,
and communications were made from Sir B. Hall,
Lord Dudley Stuart, and other Metropolitan Mem-
bers, expressing regret at unavoi•lable absence, but
giving their cordial concurrence to the movement.
Mr. GEORGE DANIELL, of Marylebone, was called
on to preside.

Lord DUNCAN, M.P., on rising to address the
meeting, was loudly cheered. After entering slightly
into what had taken place last session with regard to
the repeal of the Window• tax, he said he intended
again to bring the repeal of the Window-tax before
the House immediately after the Christmas recess,
and he was happy to say that he had not only a great
accession of strength from gentlemen of his own
political opinions, but from a number of gentlemen
who, in politics, generally, were opposed to him.—
(Cheers.) The English people were too quiet. They
should take a leaf out of the book of those parties on
the other side of the water, whose vociferous clamour
called for eight millions, and obtained it.—(Hear,
hear.) He had no doubt they would be met by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer with the same bugbear
as formerly, namely, that he admitted the impolicy
and impropriety of the tax, but the state of the finances
of the country would not permit him to take it off.—
(Hear, hear.) He (the Noble Lord) again said this
country must copy the example of those over the
water, and demand it boldly, and not be so quietly
put down as they had been. He (Lord Duncan)
should bring forward his motion in the most tangible
shape possible, but if he found the Government offered
him opposition, he should bring the repeal of the
Window-tax forward as an amendment to some of the
Government measures, let the result be what it might.
Mr. GEEsIN then moved, " That at the adjourned
meeting of the Conference the whole of the Metro-
politan Members of Parliament be summoned to at-
tend."

This resolution was carried nem. con.
Mr. SODEN moved the following resolution :---
" That it is the opinion of this meeting that no
measure of sanitary reform can be effective or useful
unless accompanied by a repeal of the most obnoxious
and unhealthy impost of the Window-duties."
Mr. SAVAGE seconded the resolution, and
_ _

Mr. H. Jackson, of St. James's ; Mr. Breton, of
St. Martin-in-the-Fields • Mr. Crouch, of St. Pan-
cras; Mr. Michie, Mr. Nicholay, and several other
gentlemen addressed the meeting, and, after a vote
of thanks to Lord Duncan and the Chairman, the
Conference adjourned.

ENGINEERING IN THE 19TH CENTURY.—We have
an engineer in England who has made a double path-
way, and reared a range of arches under the belly of old
Father Thames; there is another, who has formed the
bold scheme of suspending an aerial tunnel over the
Menai Straits; there is another, who has made the cliffs
of Dover topple into the sea like snow from a house side,
and would think it no great achievement to plaee the
rock of Gibraltar on the other aide of the strait. We
have engineers in England who have put London and
Edinburgh cheek-by-jowl; there arc others who propose
to join the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and also the Red
and Mediterranean Seas; and last, but not least, there
are others who propose to bore a hole through the Alps.
All this and much more they have done, and propose to
do.— The Builder.

THE OAK FARM IRON WORKS.—The total liabili-

ties are upwards of 260,0001., the whole of which is
guaranteed by the old firm, except 36,0001., the old firm
holding as security the works. The assets, including
machinery, stock, and book-debts, are over 100,0001.
The liabilities of the new firm are less by 100,0001.
than when the dissolution of partnership took place
in 1845.

DR. lIAMPDEN.—The deanery of Wenlock. in the
diocese of Hereford, under the guidance of its Rural
Dean and two Honorary Canons of Hereford Cathedral,
is about to set the noble example of transmitting a poti-
tion to Lord John Russell and the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, expressive of the warm approval of its clergy at
the appointment of Dr. Hampden to the bishopric of
Hereford. It will be numerously signed.
BlRMlNGRAM.—Notwithstanding the strong agi-
tation in sane parts of the diocese of Worcester, several
of the leading clergy here have signed an address of
congratulation to Dr. Hampden. Among these the
Rural Dean (Rev. J. Garbett), the Rev. John C. Miller
(Rector of St. Martin's), Rev. Sydney Gedge (of King
Edward's School), Rev. E. aarbett, and Rev. J. O.
Oldham.

Mr. Murphy, the weather prophet, whose death we
announced a few days ago, died of influenza. His age
was sixty-five. He deserves to be remembered as a man
of considerable scientific attainments. His " Lunar
Barometer," which he has tested for the last three
years, has been applied to the predictions of the weather
for the next year in his almanack just published.
RUSSIAN BEEF.—An importation, consisting of the
very large quantity of 530 tierces of beef, has lately
arrived from the port of Archangel, the produce of
Russia. So large an arrival of beef from that northern
state is very unusual and remarkable.