The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-24 00:00:00

THE LONDON GAS COMPANIES.

Yesterday morning, at the meeting of the select
committee on the supply of gas to London—Mr.
Cardwell in the chair—the discussion of clauses in
the Metropolis Gas Bill was resumed. Mr. Davison,
on behalf of the Board of Trade, proposed a modi-
fication of the clause regulating the payment of
dividends. Mr. Hope Scott, who represented the
gas companies, said his consent to the progress of
the bill had been given under a misapprehension
with regard to the intentions of the committee as
to the recognition of the 10 per cent. dividend.
The chairman said the committee had no wish to
bind the companies by any such consent. Ulti-
mately the difficulty on this point was obviated,
mainly by substituting the words " as near as may
be," for "at least approaching to," in connection
with the maiirnurn dividend of 10 per cent. Mr.
O'Malley, on the part of the corporation of the city,
and Mr. Grove, for the Metropolitan Board of
Works, stated that they would much rather have
the bill thrown out altogether than have the fore-
going alteration admitted. Mr. Hope Scott then
asked whether the committee intended to allow the
continuance of the paying up of back dividends, so
as to make a total of 10 per cent. in cases where
this had not been realised ? The chairman said the
committee intended to omit that part of the clause.
Mr. Hope Scott signified that this would prevent
the gas companies from giving their asse►:t. The
chairman replied that this being the case, the com-
rnittge would not proceed any further with the bill,
but would report their opinion to the house. .11€

regretted that this long and, doubtless, very expen-
sive inquiry had led to no further result at present,
but he hoped by the next session of Parliament the
companies would be able to introduce a bill which
would be considered satisfactory.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

HUNTINGDON RACES-TUESDAY.

The Fitzwilliam Selling Stakes of 5 soy's each, with 50
added. Three-quarters of a mile.
Marquis of Hastings's Lady Barbara; by Lambton—
First Fly, 2 yts, sst 71b (X3O) (Butler) 1
Lord Weistmorland's Osprey, 2 yrs, bst 101 b (ear sst 131 b)
(£30)..: . (Kenyon) 2
Mr. Ten Broeci's LtSbrreittina, 3 yrs, 7st 71b (.£3O)
_ _ (Barlow) 3

Sir W. Booth's The Cure colt, 3 yrs, 4t 101 n (ISO)
' (Wilson) 4

Betting-2 to lon Lady- Barbara, 9to 4 agat Osprey,
and 20 to 1" bar two." In taking the preliminary canter
The Cure colt bolted, and jumped the rails. After one
ineffectual attempt the quartette were despatched, The"

Cure colt holding a slight lead of the favourite, La Sor-
rentina bringing up the rear. This order was maintained
for nearly half a mile, when the leader dropped into the

rear, Osprey being left at the quarters of Lady Barbara ;
but it was apparent that the favourite had the race in
hand, and retaining the advantage to the end, won with

ease by a length. La Sorrentina was a bad third, and
The Cure colt last. The winner was bought in for 110

guineas.

The Hinchingbrook Stakes of 15 sovs each, 2 ft, with 100
added, for two year olds. T.Y.O. (about half a mile,
straight)

Count Lagrange's Jenny, by Drumour —Richmond Hill,
7st 131 b
Mr. Padwick's Milton, Bst 51b
Prince D. Soltykoff's Coup d'Eclat, 7st 131b...(5. Mann) -I.

The following also ran :—Nutriment, Lord Darby, and
Grimston. '

Betting-2 to 1 agst Coup d'Eclat, 9to 4 agst Grimston,
8 to 1 agst Jenny, 10 to 1 agst Milton, and 100 to 6 agsl
Lord Derby. Milton made running with a slight lead o

the favourite and Jenny, next to whom, close up, came
Grimston. The race throughout was a splendid one, the
three placed running almost head and head till the last
stride, when Jenny, who was in the centre of the pair, just
got in front, winning by a head. The favourite and Mil-
ton ran a dead heat for second place. Nutriment was next,
and Grimston last.