The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-12 00:00:00

Metropolis Gas Supply.

A deputation waited by appointment on Saturday,
the 10th inst., on the Right Hon. Sir Stafford North-
cote, M.P., President of the Board of Trade, and
the Vice-President, to invite the action of the Go-
vernment, in pursuance of the recommendation of
the Committee of the House of Commons of the
last Session, that amendments should be introduced
into the Metropolis Gas Act of 1860. The follow-
ing gentlemen attended :—.Mr. M'Cullagh Torrens,
M.P., Mr. Donald, Mr. Kneestub, Mr. Staunton,
Mr. Merriman, Mr. Comyn Ching, Mr. Bradshaw,
Mr. James Beal, Mr. Dyer, Mr. Dresser Rogers,
Mr. Samuel Hughes, Mr. Dowden, Mr. R. H.
Wyatt, Parliamentary agent. The Committee to
whom it was referred in the last session to consider
the City Gas Bill, and also to inquire into the ope-
rations and results of the Metropolis Gas Act, 1860,
reported that they found the illuminating power
greater, and the quality of the gas Better in Man-
chester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Plymouth, and
other towns, than in London ; that the purification
is imperfect in London ; that the effect of the Act
was to raise the market value of the shares, and to
increase the dividends of the companies, so that all
now pay 10 per cent., and many have in addition
paid large sums in the form of back dividends, and
have laid by reserve funds. The Committee also
reported in favour of a higher illuminating power
and a reduction in price ; that a chemical board
should be appointed, at the cost of the gas
companies, to regulate the analysis of purity
and illuminating power, with adequate power ; that
the testing place should be provided at the cost of
the company ; that proper testing officers should be
appointed for each district, testing continuously,
and registering every test; that a chief analyst should
be appointed to direct the operations of the testing
officers, that the limitation of the power of making
up former deficient dividends should be reduced from
six years to three years. They reported in favour of
the district system sanctioned by the act of 1860,
and in favour of the consolidation of companies, or
of the disposal of their interests to the bodies repre-
senting the ratepayers. They recommended a more
summary mode of recovering penalties against gas
companies, and that the act should be amended to
carry out the report.
Mr. J. BEAL said—There is no public body autho-
rised to act in the name of the ratepayers to repre- •
sent their interests in thequestion, unless the several
vestries agree to nominate some deputed authority
to represent them as a whole, as was done in the
proceedings out of which resulted the Metropolis Gas
Act, 1860. The difficulties, however, which the
joint action involved were so great that it will hardly
be again resorted to. At that time the companies
having parliamentary powers to light the same dis-
trict gave up the competing policy and divided the
metropolis into districts. It was to regulate the mo-
nopoly so established that the vestries joined their
forces. The Government had been communicated
with, and had, relying on Sir W. Congreve's report
in 1823, in which districting was suggested, stated
they could not help us to oppose districting, but
thought a regulation act was necessary, and would
agree to a committee to consider the question. No-
thing resulted from the committee, and subsequently
a bill was introduced, and was sent to a committee
upstairs in the usual way. After sitting 21 days
the bill as passed was reported to the house, where it
met with great opposition from the overwhelming
joint-stock interests in the House of Commons, and
was subsequently referred back to the committee,
who reported in a few days a bill largely mutilated
of provisions in the interests of the public. Such
bill ultimately became law. The suggestions for
amendment now made by the committee mainly
relate to points upon which we were defeated by the
adverse action of the house. There is likely, there-
fore, to be much opposition in the house. I think
it only right frankly to put this to you in asking you
to take up the question, as within the action of your
department, at the point remitted to the Government
by the Parliamentary committee. We desire, and we
think you will see it is essential, to provide some ma-
chinery for the investigation of the accounts of the
gas companies, to render efficient any control over
the prices charged. Let Inc present an illustration.
They- are required to present accounts to Parlia-
ment. In one account presented this year, that. of
the London Gas Company, there is a charge of
£56,000 for ordinary repairs of works and pre-
mises, and £17,000 for repairs to mains; while the
Imperial Company, with three times the capital,
charges under the same head £49,000 and £ll,OOO.
The Equitable, with less than half the capital of the
London, charges £l,OOO and £3,450 for the same
work. The Western, again, with about the same
capital as the Equitable, charges £3,600 and £7OO
respectively. In the case of the water companies,
in 1852 an investigation of accounts took place,
and capitals were adjusted with enormous beneficial
results to the public. To this we attach great im-
portance, and to the suggestions of the committee
we give our adhesion, qualified by special reference
to the suggestion that the public authorities in Lon-
don should be authorised to treat for these works,
to acquire them, and to contract for a supply of
gas. We believe under that arrangement gas, for
which we are now paying 4s. and 4s. 6d could be
supplied for 2s. 9d. to 3s• per 1,000. There is
abundant evidence to support this
view. ln the case
of Manchester, referred to by the committee a ver
large revenue is derived by the corporation from' they
management of the gas supply, available in reduc-
tion of rates, upwards of £l,ooo,ooohparvoivnegmebnetesn
derived and expended in local improvements.
Whether the gas consumer should have the whole
benefit, and no part be diverted in reduction of locale
rates, is an important question, but we are urgent
that the Government should give effect to the
views of the committee, and arm the local
authority with full power to protect the public in-
terests involved. The public pay more than two
and a half millions annually for gas ; there is a share
capital of some £6,000,000 invested. The interests
arc vast, and we feel they can only be adequately
protected and controlled by Government action, so
long as the metropolis is left without municipal
power.
Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE inquired whether it was
not a question upon which the Metropolitan Board
should take action.
Mr. AFC ULLAGII TORRENS,III.P , explained that
the action of the Metropolitan Board was not muni-
cipal ; what London wanted was a municipal organi-
sation which would enable the ratepayers to protect
their own interests.

Mr. HUGHES drew attention to the great disparity
in the capitals of the several companies, to the
icn-
perfect returns presented to Parliament, and to the
absence of any provision to enforce more perfect re-
turns. The returns moved for some years since by
Mr. Brotherton and Mr. Moore should be con-
tinued. As to the meter question, he referred to
towns where the public lamps were charged for by
one meter to every 12 lamps—to Worthing one to
every 70 lamps—and urged that so reasonable a
mode of charging should be compulsory on the com-
panies. He explained the facilities of the present
EYatem of testing, and showed by experiments how
the quality of gas could be almost instantly changed.
I\l.r. DP.ESSEIt ROGERS explained the action taken
by the City last session in the interest of the whole
metropolis, and strongly urged Government action
to embody in a bill to amend the Gas Act of 1860
the recommendations of the last commission.
Mr. DONALD complained that he paid some hun-
dreds per annum fcr gas, and-the whole building of
St. James's-hall paid near £1,300 per annum for a
bad article at an exorbitant price—that he was pay-
ing ss. 6d. for what was called cannel gas of 20
candies, and at Manchester they paid 3s. 2d. for an
infinitely superior light.

Sir S. NORTHCOTE inquired what was thee result of
the inquiry into the capital accounts of
water
companies in 1852, and what department of Go_
vernment undertook it ?
Mr. BEAL explained that Mr. Edwin James re-
presented, he believed, the Board of Health, and that
the result of an inquiry into capital was to reduce
the West Middlesex capital from £830,000 to
£506,300 ; the Chelsea Water Company from
£428,243 to £300,000; the Grand Junction from
£523,735 to £354,000; and the Southwark and
Vauxhall from £439,662 to £303,600.
Sir S. NORTIICOTE promised to consider the ques-

tion, to obtain further information, and to give n
early answer, as the urgency of the question had
been so strongly pressed.
The deputation thanked the right hon. gentleman
for the great attention he had given to the question,
and hoped they might anticipate a favourable reply.

A ROYAL BOAR RUNT NEAR BERLIN.

Although in France, Germany, and on the Con-
tinent generally there is no hunting requiring such
good horsemanship as the fox-hunting at home, yet
there is in both the first-named countries sport to
be seen that reminds one of more exciting days in
England. Our horses and saddles are used, and
our customs imitated to a great extent; and even
our sporting costumes are imported, to the great
astonishment of the natives. The " fields" are, at
all events, often as large as those that any of our
hunts bring together, and are, as a sight, as well
worth seeing.

One of the prettiest meets to be seen in Germany,
and at the same time, to an Englishman, the most
novel, is that which takes place in the Grunewakl,
not far from Charlottenburg, near Berlin, on the
3d of November of each year. It is a great day for
the riff-raft of Berlin, as well as for its sportsmen,
and both congregate in great numbers to see what
they can of the fun.

Report said the meet was to be punctually at 12,
so a little after 11 1 started, having procured with
some difficulty a horse that I thought would hardly
be up to cross-country work, although, as the event
proved, nothing very formidable was expected of
him.

There was little time to spare, so although the
chaussee through the Thiergarten. (Berlin's only
park) is not the pleasantest place for quick going, I
made what haste I could along the stony roads, till
clear of the suburbs of the town. Here you get on
to the great sandy plain that stretches on all sides
for miles ; and another twenty minutes brought me
to the young plantations that bound the forest
known as the Grunewald. There are a few car-
riages here, and every now and then a foot passenger
going to the rendezvous. From these one can ask
the way, but the information, even with many di-
rections, is easily lost, for when the young planta-
tions end the old wood begins. Tall, straight
Scotch firs stand, with their purple and red-tinted
bark, close together, and allow but little sun to
pierce through their thick branches. Numerous
crossways, one exactly like the other, and all mere
sand or grass-covered tracks, invite one to lose one-
self. It was only after a long gallop down one of
these that I knew by the increasing silence and lone-
liness that the meet must be elsewhere, and managed
to get on the right path, but with my horse in no
good condition for a quick run. He had, however,
plenty of time to rest ; for when I at last came to
a place where a large crowd was assembled, I was
told that the royal party was expected there, but
that they would not come for another half-hour.
There was, therefore, opportunity to have a good
look at the crowd, and a rude set they seemed to
be. Carriages by the dozen were there, and a good
many horsemen, and these were incessantly, and not
very politely, chaffed. It was a crowd that had
evidently come to make holiday, and were deter-
mined to be merry. Several were drunk, and these
were often teazed and irritated for the amusement
of the rest ; and when they became 'quarrelsome or
bumptious were much set upon and knocked about.
A plot of greensward was kept clear for the
" Herrschaften" by the helmeted and mounted
police, who did their duty in no very gentle man-
ner ; sometimes half riding over those who pushed
themselves too far forward. In spite of this there
were no cries against the police. On the contrary,
if anybody was knocked back by them, an imme-
diate rush was made towards him, and a loud laugh
raised at his expense. There must be 1,000 or
1,500 people there to see the start.
An orderly now gallops towards us. A number
of voices cry, "the King is coming !" The hubbub
hitherto indulged in ceases, and all who cart line
one of the wood ways to catch a glimpse of the
hunt cortege. Here come scarlet huntsmen, their
collars bearing the black eagle of Prussia on a
white ground. With these men are the dogs ;
good, strong hounds, but not very numerous.
Then ride in some police ; then officers,
and following them some jageri in green uniforms,
with black felt hats, their broad rims turned up on
one side and adorned with a feather. A gleam of
red is now seen through the trees, and off go all
hats as the ruler of North Germany, the Crown
Prince, and, behind them, one or two hundred gen-
tlemen of the Court, ride by. They are all in red
coats and tops ; in short, in English hunting cos-
tume, except that every one wears a large white
tie, and some have a short hunting-sword at the
side. The King, looking like a grey old Indian
officer, is mounted on a fine horse, and both he and
his son seem none the worse for the campaign in
which they have lately led their people to such won-
derful victory.

After the numerous cavalcade came many of the
royal carriages. The Queen is in the first, with
some of her ladies, and drawn by four horses. A halt
is made, and some minutes' grace allowed to piggy,
while the red coats disperse, in picturesque groups,
among the pines, and the restive horses toss their
manes, which are often curiously decked with rib-
bons, and paw up the moss with their hoofs. It is
not long before the King rides slowly on, for the
hounds are now laid upon the scent. In another
minute they have taken it up, full cry, and away go
the cloud of scarlet riders, and with them the officers
and police, with sabres clanking at their horses' sides.
Away, with a shout and yell from the crowd be-
hind, who are mostly too fat, or too much wrapped
up in fur cloaks, to think of seeing anything more.
The boar has put his best leg foremost, and leads
us up a steep hill; then down, and away along its
crest; and always still beneath the firs, fair
through
the wood. There are no ditches to
lain sailing,
the way, o
jump, no bullfinches to negotiate. It is mostly
p
except
a nasty stumpceptwherea hasbroken
to be
d
treeavoi d liese
across;
you may be cannoned against a tree, or your
y pTohlieoemgeroousno,Colo
findis
o
horse may get ,4snagged " as the Mississippi
boatmen would say ;
of the hunt. but 'these are the only perils
and some Leavy
they
uneven,m us
t
thatfteu
pull up their horses to breathe; but the hounds are
still in front--it is difficult to see w here, for the
The trees are thick ; but on we go. Th king tides well
to them, and it is not etiquette to pass him ; but as
the riders get scattered all press on, not knowing
now lasted where his Majesty is. The run has 1 about
fifteen minutes, and I find myself, with
Nvi some others,
on the top of a steep bank; there is a cry
below, and
one or two of the hunt are there. We half slide,
half trot down, and before we have gone far the
glimmer of water is seen through the firs. There is
a broad space of open ground below us. Beyond is
a lake, stretching far to right and left. The oppo-
site banks are high, and again dark with forest.
But the bay of the hounds is loud, and we stare
through the branches to make 'out where they are.
the water is disturbed, and half
There, in the lake,
way across are a number of white specks. The boar
has taken to the water, and the whole pack are
swimming fast over after him. We gallop to the
bank, and by and by the rest Of the hunt are up,
looking considerably nonplussed. is not uncom-
mon for the pig to take to the water, they say. But
what is to be done now ? It is too long a journey
to go round. Most dismount, and give their horses
to red-jacketed men, who, with trousers rolled up to
the knee, and with bare feet, have followed fast on
foot, taking short cuts. Some boats are procured,
and the huntsmen are ferried over to reconnoitre
and bring back the hounds, with or without the pig.
The ladies in their carriages soon drive up. Th ere
are only two present on horseback, and the scene
on the shore is gay and picturesque enough, with
the bright colours of the men in the foreground, and
beyond the lake, reflecting in its calm surface the
dark woods opposite. One would not have expected
to have found so fair a spot on the sandy plains
around the Prussian capital.
But now the last scene is at hand, for all have
again mounted, and
gather on a point of land towards
which some boats with
t
the huntsmen are making way. As soon as these touch the shore, the
grim old boar, who has made,•
his way so bravely
through wood and water, is 1 •
laid stiff and dead, be- '