The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-11 00:00:00

IMPORTANT 70 GAS CONSUMERS.

•
Mr. Ricketts, solicitor, applied to Mr. nark.,,,er'
at the Clerkenwell Police-court yesterday, for sin''
monses against the Imperial Gas-light and G°ll
Company, at the instance of Air. J. Alurph99l,°
the Rose and Crown beer-house, 302, New N°r.ittf's:
road, under the following circumstances
Murphy, on entering his house, was required by r
company to deposit the sum of -R,l as security 1°
the gas to be consumed in the following sallartnery.
That sum Mr. Murphy paid, and the eensll.-h-0
now hold it in hand. The gas consumed in -,-„a
quarter ending the 29th September last anioub',:a
to £2 15s. 9d., which amount 11Ir. Murphy '".t
tendered to the collector at the chief office, but la
had been refused. Mr. Murphy then receive'o
letter demanding not only the £2 155. 9d., butt f
10s. for the present current quarter. Pallneu- and
thish large amount in advance was objected to, a--
ence the present application to compel tb° e°l3l'
pany to take less.
The magistrate inquired if Mr. Ricketts bad;
copy of the agreement signed for the 01104
gas. the
Mr. Ricketts replied that the companY held
.f
agreement and did not furnish a copy' but if
l
summons was granted he should serve upon thembe,
notice to produce it. It provided, however, betel,
lieved, that gas may be discontinued upon 3 C:nieff
dar month's notice being given by the eens- act-
or by the company, and for payment of gas j'rea.
vance ; and that, he contended, must meat 3 ;es.
sonable sum, and the amount required was
11n
er's
sonable as compared with the previous quo:
consumption. h see'
The magistrate replied that he thought 130-,t
bso
ing that the current quarter would be heavier
the previous one.
Mr. Ricketts said that by the 16th section 0f the
23d and 21th Vict., cap. 125, it was to be refforoid
to the magistrate to decide what security s' re..
be given. He objected to the amount 00vitrste
quired as far too large, and asked the inag,i3ooo-
- fix the sum which should be deposited. sits
panics were allowed to take such large dePuetis
they would be trading on the capital of theira de,
tomers. The amount that Mr. MurpbY 000
posited in the first instance, and which was the
A-- n3plf
demanded as security by the company,
of
sufficient. 0,0
The magistrate said that at present be W pOt
opinion that the amount demanded wBs
exorbitant.
Mr. Ricketts said that after the expreosl-
.no of
the
opinion by the magistrate he would not peed Of
.point as to the amount of security to be ass acre
h • lie, however, thought the comPlul t for
liable, under the 21st section of the same °"G a'rter
having cut off the supply of gas after the (11100'0
due had been tendered, without giving utheif
previous notice in writing to Mr. MurphY of
amount
there intention to discontinue the supply. py;
actually due had been tendered, and
as
notice only given before cutting off the 15 11e
00
base
contention was that a month's notice shoal
been given. t `` the
The Magistrate said he was of opinion Oa „ir,
rate due" meant the amount demanded for the'
rent quarter, and that had noL, been tendered.
do,
Mr. RiAetts contended th,,t the words i" claud
to what was aauaily Jac,
ion referred Only
not to the amount required in alvatic. ,0
re
The magistrate, however, held otherw
ise?
fused the application. •