The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-02-16 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD GAS'INQUIRY.

On Thursday, George Lowe, Esq., one of the Commis-
ppointed by her Majesty's Commissim?ers..of

nd Forests, to inquiry at Birkenhead rela-
tive to the proposed New Gas Bill promoted by the Com-
missioners, held his court at the Town-hall. Cuthbert
Ellison, Esq., barrister-at-law, was prevented from at-
tending in consequence of indisposition. Proof having
been put in of the usual notice having been given, Mr.
J. B. Lloyd stated that he appeared for the promoters of
the New Gas Bill.. Mr. Mallaby said that he appeared in
opposition to the proposed bill, for the Birkenhead and
Claughton Gas and Water Company. Mr. W. Jackson
appeared also in opposition, as a rate-payer and a person
greatly interested in the township ; and Mr. Hicklin and
Mr. Mortimer also said that they appeared in opposition
as rate-payers, and also to represent a considerable body
of rate►ayers who were strongly opposed to the Commis-
sioners proposed bill. Mr. Lloyd then said, the reasons
why the promoters of the bill were anxious to be em-
powered to purchase the Birkenhead and Claughton Gas
Company's works, mains, &c., was in order that they
might have the sole power of supplying the township with
ons ! anti he should show by evidence that the Coromici-

ioners for the time being were opposed to the act obtained
Jackson, and it would never have been passed had

they been furnghed with the proper notices and a copy of
the bill, before it was read a second time in the House of
Commons, as then they would have been enabled effectu-

ally to oppose it.
hill, Staffordshire
of Oxton, were s

Mr.l\lees, gasometer maker, of Brierly-
and Mr. Henry Wood, iron merchant,
ccessively called, to prove that at the

time the Commissioners of the Township advertised for
tenders for the supplying of Birkenhead with gas, in 1840,
they put in a tender, and it was their impression when it
was announced to them that Mr. Jackson had obtained
the contract, that it was mainly owing to his having seen
it, or a copy of it, prior to putting in his own tender—so
that by offering £1 per cent. more to the Commissioners
for the privilege than they had done, he was enabled to
obtain the contract. Mr. Brodribb was called to
prove that, as a Commissioner of the township at the
time, he resigned his seat at the Board in conse-
quence of a meeting of rate-payers having determined,
in opposition to his opinion, to support Mr. Jackson in
obtaining his act. Mr. Laycock, who was a commissioner
of the township in 1840 and 1841, was also examined at
great length, and lie gave it as his opinion, that it would
be for the benefit of the rate-payers if the power of sup-
plying the township with gas was transferred to the Com-
missioners • but he also admitted that he did not think
the Commissioners were elected in a fair and honest man-
ner. lie was aware that the Commissioners were strongly
opposed to Mr. Jackson obtaining his act; but they were
prevented from opposing it in time, in consequence of
their not receiving the requisite notices and a copy of the
4.-Arn M.llaln, in ywnnav times At harrnino

ion of Mr

Laycock's examination, the court adjourned

SECOND DAY

FRIDAY

The Commissioner, George Lowe, Esq., C.E., resumed
his inquiry on the subject of the above bill at ten o'clock.

Mr.LL'ovo stated that, in order to save the time of the
Commissioner, he should proceed at once to the table of
requirements furnished by her Majesty's Commissioners
of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues. He then called

Mr. R. G. SALTER, building surveyor, of Birkenhead,
who stated that he considered the population of the town

the COmmis-sioners) 18,145. He then gave a similar state-
ment of the statistics of the town as was lai before her
Majesty's Commissioners on the inquiry respecting the
Water and Sanatory Bills. He added, that there were

31,015 yards of streets lighted with public lamps, the num-
ber of which was 328. From a card published by the
Company, it appeared that each lamp was lighted 3253

vate consumers, per Thousand cubic feet, was 7s. 6d. The
present works he stated were situated in a neighbourhood
likely to become densely populated, as already within a
circuit of 500 yards of them there was a number of small
houses building, and a population of 3689. They were

by the present bill, were seeking to borrow £60,000 for
the purchase of the works and making improvements.
_

Al the conclusion of the evidence of Mr. Salter, Mr.
LLOYD stated that his case, on behalf of the promoters of
the bill, was closed, so far as the government_requirements

were concernec

Mr. MALLABY wished to know from Mr. Lloyd whe-
ther, if the commissioners obtained the bill, they intended
to confine their operations solely within the jurisdiction of
the existing improvement acts. If so, what provision
would be made for furnishing gas to the out townships
already lighted, or which the gas company had power by

beyond the limits of the improvements, would entail a loss
of gas, and had entailed an unnecessary outlay of capital,
yet they were willing to go for powers to continue the
lighting of all the districts at present supplied with gas.
They, however, had no intention of lighting any other
places out of the township.
This closed the promoters' case.

Mr. MALLABY then called Mr. Gregory, secretary to
the committees of the Commissioners, to prove the accu-
racy of a great number of extracts from the minutes of
committee meetings from 1840 down to the present time,
and showing that the notice of the Birkenhead and
Claughton Gas ComPtny of their intention to apply to
Parliament for their bill was laid before the Commission-
ers, and approved of at the time, with the understanding
that they should be supplied with a copy of the bill as soon
as practicable.

Mr. MORTIMER requested the Commissioners to call
the treasurer of the Commissioners, in order to ascertain
the exact state of the finances of the township.
Mr. Milligan was then sent for, and upon being asked
as to how much of the X 400,000 which the Commissioners
were empowered to borrow under their present acts, said
the actual amount on bond and open account at present
expended was £307,563185., the annual amount of interest,
as nearly ache could tell, was £17,800. _ .

,
At the request of Mr. Jackson, Mr. Milligan retired in
order to procure an accurate general outline of the finan-
cial condition of the township.
Dr. Brett, Mr. Cooper, of London, analytical chemist,
Mr. Joseph Headley, chemist, and Mr. Rolfe, manager of
the Preston gas works, .w.eo then examined as to the pu-