The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-30 00:00:00

THE CITY GAS QUESTION.

Yesterday, on the re-assembling of this Committee,
Mr. Cardwell in the chair, Mr. Talbot, Q.C. in a
speech of some hours' duration on behalf of the ex-
isting City gas companies, proceeded to animadvert
on the vast amount of artificial excitement that had
been occasioned in the City by what he designated as
the elaborate and skilful agitation of a new and em-
pirical imposture, promoted in the name of economy,
and under the disguise of a cry for cheap gas, while,
in reality, the promoters proposed nothing more than
what was now done by the established companies.
Practically speaking, and on their own showing, the
promoters of the measure had asserted their inde-
pendence of Parliament, and were, in reality, doing
that which they asked Parliament to enable them to
do. They had incorporated themselves by registra-
tion, had constructed their share list, and constructed
their works, had purchased land, and got the consent
of the Commissioners of Sewers to lay down their
mains and pipes, and were nearly in a working con-
dition for the manufacture of gas, the supply of
which might be said to be impending. All they
wanted, and which alone an Act of Parliament could
give them, was compulsory power over property
and limited responsibility, though this latter
had been provided for in the company's deed
of settlement. 'What was the financial con-
dition of the proposed company ? The ac-
tual amount paid up out of the 150,0001., and half of
which was called up, was only 34,0001. Out of the
8,900 shares, between 2,000 and 3,000 consisted of
contractors' and contingent shares, and though the
last call was due on the 28th instant, nothing had
been said as to the net receipt that had accrued from
it. He believed that the Bill was introduced with
the view of making an union with the old City com-
panies. In the case of the City gas companies it was
a striking fact that they had reduced their original
charge of 15s. per 1,000 cubic feet, successively, to
7s , 65., 55., and now to 4s. They had never at-
tempted to raise it, and he was now instructed, on
the part of the old companies, to proffer that the
price should be reduced to 45., 3s. Gd., and 35., when
their profits enabled them to pay a dividend of ten per
cent. Besides this, there existed checks and securities
for a continuance of their good behaviour. On the
expiration of the contract for lighting the public lights
it was in the power of the Commissioners of Sewers
to lay down pipes, and let other companies in bor-
dering on the City. The existence, moreover, of the
City of London Gaslight Company expired altogether
in 1863, and as they would have to come to Parlia-
ment for a renewal of their powers, it was not
likely they would forfeit their pledge. He concluded
by calling on the Committee to negative the preamble
of the Bill.
The Committee then adjourned.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT AND

LOSS OF LIFE AT MORECAMBE BAY.

Several families resident in Manchester been
thrown into great distress by the tidings of a most
painful and fatal occurrence at Morecambe Bay. The
whole of the details have not yet reached the relatives
of the sufferers, but the following general particulars
may be relied upon :—A large party of ladies and
gentlemen had left Manchester to spend the Whitsun-
tide holidays at a watering place in the neighbourhood
of Morecambe Bay; and on Friday morning a boat-
ing party was formed to cross the water from Silver-
dale to Grange, consisting of five gentlemen, five
ladies, and two men servants. The name of the ladies
I have not ascertained ; but the gentlemen were Mr.
John Morris, solicitor, Manchester; Mr. North, land
and building agent, and Mr. North, jun., his son ; Mr.
Alfred Coates (son of Mr. Coates, late cotton merchant,
and now resident in Plymouth-grove), and Mr. Porter,
also of Manchester. In the afternoon, Mr. Morris
and Mr. North, sen., returned with the ladies to Sit=
verdale, crossing the sands at low water in a car, but
the gentlemen determined to wait till the tide served
in the evening, and recross the bay in the boat. It
would be high water at eleven o'clock, and it is sup-
posed that the gentlemen attempted to cross the water
at that time. Their friends, however, at Silverdale
remained in painful suspense till the following morn-
ing, without tidings of them, and at daylight intelli-
gence was brought them of the boat having been
found capsized on the, sands, with the dead bodies of
Mr. Coates, Mr. North, jun., and Mr. Porter lying
near it. It is said there were also two other bodies
found.

, MILITAUY SAVINGS BANKS.—^ID total amount of
the fund for Military Savings Beaks, up to 14th March,
1850, for cavif.ry, infantry, and crdnance corps, was
99,6664 The number of depoaiters,, on the 31g Alarch,
1849, yme 6,747.