The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-01 00:00:00

SUPPLY OF G AS TO THE METROPOLIS.

DEPUTATION TO THE PRESIDENT OF
THE BOARD OF TRADE.

Yesterday a numerous and influential deputation,
consisting of representatives from most of the ves-
tries and district boards of the metropolis, waited
by appointment on the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson,
at the Board of Trade, Whitehall.

The deputation was accompanied by the follow-
ing members of Parliament :—Sir J. V. Shelley, Sir
J. Duke, Sir C. Napier, Mr. J. Locke, Mr. E. James,
Q.C., Mr. Roupell, and Mr. W. Williams, and con-
sisted of Dr. Bachhoffuer, Mr. Hodge, and Mr.
Wingfield, from Marylebone ; Messrs. Chinnock,
Foxley, and Stevens, from St. James's, Westmins-
ter ; Messrs. Clarke, Godson, and Hughes, from
the Westminster district ;Mr. Jeffree and the
Assistant Vestry-clerk from Lambeth ; Mr. Mar-
shall and the Vestry-clerk from St. Martin-in-
the-Fields ; the Clerk of the Strand district
board; Messrs. Cameron, Eldridge, and Farrer,
from St. Pancras ; Messrs. Fox, Langley, and
Walker, from St. Olave's, Southwark ; Messrs. Hol-
land, Price, and Redfern, from St. Mary's, Newing-
ton ; Messrs. Dowden and Bertolacci, from St.
George's, Hanover-square ; Messrs. Perry, Watkins,
and the vestry clerk from Chelsea; Mr. Fitchew,
from Fulham ; Mr. Morphew, from Lewisham ;
Messrs. Jackson. Lobjoit, and Tolcher, from Wands-
worth ; Messrs. Gilbert and Wilkins, from Kensing-
ton ; the Rev. J. Carlyle, from Woolwich ; Messrs.
Grant, James, Elt, and the vestry clerk, from
Islington ; Mr. Waring, from St. Giles's district ;
Mr. Wyatt, the Parliamentary agent ; Mr. J. Beal,
the hon. secretary ; and Mr. S. Hughes, the hon.
engineer.
Sir J. V. SIIELLEY, IvI.P;, in introducing the de-
putation, observed that in addition to the members
of the Legislature present, it consisted of repre-
sentatives from most of the vestries and - dis-
trict boards of the metropolis. Of the entire
number of 38 separate vestries and district
boards constituted under the Metropolis Local
Management Act, no less than twenty-three had
joined most heartily in the prosecution of a bill to
regulate the supply of gas to the metropolis. Of the
remaining,. 15 several had hitherto held aloof be-
cause they were already supplied with gas at the
low rate 4s. per 1,000 feet, which was below the
price proposed to be enacted in the bill of last ses-
sion. Since the delegates, however, had determined
to press for a maximum rate of 4s. per 1,000 feet, it
was confidently anticipated that every vestry and
district board in the metropolis would co-operate in
the movement. In consequence of an arrangement
entered into by the gas companies to divide the
metropolis into districts, each of which was to be
supplied by a single company, the others agreeing
to withdraw from competition, numerous petitions
were presented to Parliament in 1857, and in con-
sequence two successive committees were ap-
pointed, one in 1858, and another in the following
session. The composition of these committees was,
he thought, evidently unfair, inasmuch as there
were five members representing the metropolitan
boroughs opposed to five members having a direct
pecuniary interest in gas companies. The other
five were independent members, nominated by the
Government. The committee being thus peculiarly
constituted, the result was, as might have been
anticipated, that no agreement was arrived at. A
great mass of evidence was adduced before the last
committee by the promoters of this inquiry, which
gave rise to many conflicting divisions ; and such
was the effect produced, and such the difficulty of
coming to an agreement, that the committee at
length determined to hear no more evidence, and
to report the whole to the house. In the last ses-
sion of 1859 a bill was brought in by the associated
vestries and district boards ; but, owing to the late-
ness of the session, it was unavoidably introduced
without the proper notices being given, and it was
consequently withdrawn at the instance of the
Standing Orders Committee. A new bill, however,
was now in course of preparation, having for
its object the regulation of price and quality,
the limitation of dividends, and a variety
of other matters usually introduced into gas
acts, but from which most of the London
companies were exempt, having obtained their
acts on the distinct basis of competition. The ex •
penses incurred by the vestries and district boards
in prosecuting this measure had necessarily been
very heavy. Contributions towards the object were
at first made with great liberality ; but opinions of
counsel had lately been given, tending to throw
doubt upon the legality of such contributions.
Under these circumstances he feared that much
difficulty would be incurred in meeting the ex-
penses of next session, and the attention of the
Government was therefore earnestly directed to the
(ileucott‘sesia the tylor interference. Sir S. Shelley then
proceedings taken by the Government
in the metropolis water inquiry in 1852, and read
an extract from a speech by Mr. E. Jilmes' QC.,
who was then counsel fur the Government, s ~ etfin
:Dah the grounds on which the Government
deemed it desirable to interpose. That was a pre-
cedent which lts: thought might now be followed
with advantage.
Mr. LOCK E, M.P., entered into an account of the
negotiations which had been attempted in the com-
mittee of 1859. These negotiations had at one time
so nearly been successful that the maximum price
had actually been agreed upon by both sides; and
the principal question remaining for settlement was
as to the illuminating power of the gas—whether
it should be equal to 12 sperm or 12 wax candles.
The lion, gentleman also dwelt upon the ill conse-