The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-12 00:00:00

RA.ILIVAY BILLS.

Yesterday, in Lord Redesdale Committee, the
Bodmin Bill was passed with amendments ; the
Garstang and Knotend Bill was passed without
amendment ; and the Hope Bill was passed with
with special amendments.
In the House of Commons, in Group No. 1, the
Great Northern (re-committed) Bill was passed
with amendments. In Group 3, the Ilfracombe,
the Devon and Somerset, and Somerset and Bristol,
and Exeter, the Devon and Somerset, and the
Devon and Somerset (Extension) were again pro-
ceeded with and adjourned.

IMPERIAL GAS.
The half-yearly general meeting of this company
was held yesterday at the offices, John-street, Bed-
ford-row ; Mr. E. V. Richards, governor in the
chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, an abstract of which has appeared iu The
Sun, said that, owing to the increased value of coals
and wages, the company were unable to pay the
usual 10 per cent. without having recourse to the
reserve fund. The new shares had been well taken
up, but there remained a few which the directors in
the present depressed state of gas property bad
not taken extraordinary means to place. There
was, however, no doubt that they would ulti-
mately be applied for. He then reviewed the
Parliamentary gas legislation from 1847, issuing
in what was known as the " districtng " in 1866,
which secured to the metropolitan companies a
dividend of 10 per cent. so long as they faiithfully
performed the duties imposed upon them. Those
duties, it was well known, had been rigorously ful-
filled. However, the present Government had thought
proper to introduce a bill which was absolutely un-
precedented in its character, because it was proposed
14-candle gas should be supplied at the rate of 3s. 6d.
per 1,000 feet of gas, whereas the company now
charging 4s. per 1,000 feet for 12-candle gas could
only earn a dividend of 9 per cent. No less than
3,000 petitions had been presented against the bill,
many from water companies ; and the railway com-
panies were ready to come forward, because it was
felt that every species of property was menaced.
He had no desire to say a word against the gentle-
men who drew the bill, but speaking in racing phra-
seology, it seemed to him to be got, by a pleader out
of an analytical chetuist—(a laugh)—and was alto-
gether impracticable. Then certain tests as to the
amount of sulphur were proposed, but these were so
unsatisfactory that it might result iu penalties hav-
ing to be paid to the extent of £lO,OOO or £12,000
during the half-year, because they all knew hoW
astute chemists might be to detect the sulphur. Then
at the end there came a clause enabling their much
respected friends, the Metropolitan Board of WorkS
laugh)--to buy them at a reduced rate. (Hear,
hear.) lie had no &sire to say anything disrespect-
ful concerning Sir S. Nortlicote, whose courtesy on
all occasions he acknowledged ; but he hoped that
when the bill was brought forward after Easter it
would be found that the British House of Commons
respected the rights of property. (Cheers.) He con-
eluded by moving the adoption of the reports and
accounts.

A PROPRIETOR said he understood the bill was

withdrawn.

The CHAIRMAN replied that that was not the case.
Dr. BEATTIE inquired who was to pay the charges

of the inspectors.
The CHAIRMAN said that one of the many admir-
able features of the bill was that the companies were
to pay for the broom out of which the birch was
made, and the pickle, too. (A. laugh.)
The resolution for the adoption of the report and

accounts then passed unanimously, as also did a
motion for the payment of a dividend as recom"
mended by the Board.
The CHAIRNIAN, in answer to a proprietor, said

he did not know whether anything had been done
to form a Shareholders' Defence Association, as

suggested by the Surrey Consumers Gas Company•
The retiring directors and auditor having been
re-elected, a cordial vote of thanks to the Board,
and also to the secretary, brought the proceedings
to a close.