The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-02-09 00:00:00

Feb. 9, 184/.

given somewhat reluctantly by M
by'confining itself to t

company

ments of the town ; and he gave a sketch of the origin of I not be made, and that a lay
the company in 1816 up to the present ."
of shares raised from time to time, &c

ger amount would not be

lalready in the company

. _
Alter adducing a variety of statistics, and stating that the
accounts had been regularly filed with the Clerk of the
Peace, he stated that the company had well and faithfully
carried their mains to the poor as well as the rich—even
in unprofitable districts. They had already expended a
large sum in additional works, and they were, therefore,
about to apply for powers to raise a further capital. He
explained the various prices at which they had supplied
gas from Ss. per 1000 feet, in 1841, to 4s. 6d. at the pre-

the parliamenta'ry borough, and also that they were not

sent time. 'the committee in the Commons laid down
the maximum price at 4s. 6d. from the Ist of January,
1846, but the company he represented had by anticipation

reduced the price to that moderate sum from the previous

of the Guardian Gas Cbmpany, for !vhoiii

produced by any company

always opposed ever-3r' person

extant. All their accounts had been duly audited, and
what they were now about to apply for was to raise a
further capital of £200,000, in 2000 shares, at £25 each,
with power to borrow half of the amount stated (X 100,000),
and a further sum, if required, to effectually carry out the

works for the b

Mr. CARSON then called Mr. George Miller, the chief-
clerk of the Liverpool Gas-light Company.
Mr. MILLER said he had filled the situation about 17
years. The capital was originally £50,000, in 500 shares
of .ZlOO. The Company had expended £193,190, by the
time they went to Parliament in 1841, when £lOO,OOO was
capitalized into 1000 shares, giving two shares to each pro-

nedthat -half of the new sliares
Act, sold by auction, and real-

Were, as required by the

ized a goodpremium-

To Mr. kVANS.—The whole of our capital, £263,534,
has been expended in the works. Of this, £200,000
bears interest at 10 per cent. In 1841, before Parliament,
the Company proposed to raise £llO,OOO, but was only
only allowed to raise £50.000. The sum of £143,000,

capital, was appropriated for dividend and extension of
works. The first act obtained did not limit them with
regard to prpfits. The charge for 1000 feet of gas was
then 15s. About 16 years ago, this was reduced to 12s. 6d ;
next reduction was to 10s., next to Ss., and then to 7s.

The total expenditure of the Company for the
respective years 1843 to 1846 inclusive, was £60,112.
The witness was not prepared to say what exnenses had

wasin operation in 1842, but then no reduction took'place
until 1844, when they were forced to reduce by the pow-

Lcurrea in worKs oeyona the Parliamentary borough.
-erao-e rental of metres for the year 1845, was £667,

ucting bac
19.6

until another year had elai

The Com

for the tenants, and in 1846 the profit On this item was
£594. In 1844, and again in 1845 the Guardian Gas
Company went to Parliament ; and :the Recorder sug-
gested a reduction in the former year, which was com-

April, 1844,
came the price of gas to 6s
dian Company persevered in thei
_

plied with, the price being reducd to 4s. 6d. per 1000
feet. which was a loss. We cannot produce gas at that

ment it would be ruinous to sell it ; and still, in the face
of all this, it was found expedient to make a further re-
duction to 4s. 6d., the price at which they now took their
stand,—thus presenting to the public a most anomalous
sort of speculation, for they virtually said that they were

price, and are several thousands short, in consequence, in
our dividends. The average dividend on the whole capi-
_ _

Mr. CROOK. an accountant, said he had examined the

plying ga

could not afford the gas at 4s. 6d., and (as we understood
him), that £4924 had to be taken from the reserved futd,
but by a reduction stated the loss was reduced to £2483.

unug to nna tne merchants of Liverpool doing ! And in
order to meet the difficulty, they wished to double their
capital—double their trade, and still sell at the ruinous
prices ! The question appeared to him simply to be, that

tie cud not think 4s. 6d. a paying price, and the increase
of consumption within the borough could alone make up
the deficiency.

he guarc

Crosbie) gave interesting statistics of the comparative
population in each in 1841 and in 1846. The total of the

However, he would briefly state what they (t

ivardian

whole nine townships was 123,984. He also gave the
number and rateable value of the houses, which from 1841
had increased from 3128 houses to 5212 ; and in value
fram £77,317 to £114,052.

I their gas at 3;. Bd. per 1000 feet, and still to maintain the
dividends at 10 per cent. The gas which Mr. Carson
said cost the present company 2s. 9cl. at prime cost, he
would prove to their satisfaction could be produced at
much less. He would prove they could light the public
lamps at £3. 10s. Bd., instead of the price--£4. 2s. 6d.,

Mr. SHAW, overseer of Everton, and Mr. PARNELL,
overseer of Kirkdale, and EILBECK, of Walton, also fur-
nished statistics, showing a great increase in the number

and Mr. Booth as regarded Litherland.
Mr. H. WALKER said that in the parish of Liverpool
there were of rateable houses and buildings in 1841,
36,860; in 1846, 42,106,—rateable amount in 1841,
£857,059 ; and in 1846, £1,021,089.
Mr. ALFRED KING, of the Old Gas Company, was next
examined at great length, and gave his testimony in a
very clear and lucid manner, as to the quantity of gas
made by the company, &c. It appeared that in 1844 the-
Ade 153 milß -old in 1-

the case in the hands of the court at that preliminary stage
of the proceedings. lie proposed to have 71 per cent. of

a oona ficte interest, to have 3s. Bd. the thousand feet the
bona fide price to private consumers, to have the public
lamps supplied at the bona fide cost of £3. 10s. Bd., and
to have a bona fide capital for their company.

Mr. M`DoNli,n, the secretary of the 'Guardian Gas
Company, was then called, and examined by Mr. SWIFT,

mac._ cubic feet of gas, and in 1845, ii mt,
lion feet, an increase of 241 millions. In 1846 they made
2111 millions-13eing an average increase on these years of
17 38-100ths. The quhntity of gas required would be
doubled in 41 years, and trebled in 7 years. Taking the
estimates altogether, £151,981 would be required within

was cross-examined at considerable 'length, by both Mr.
CARSON and Mr. LLOYD, after which the court adjourned
till this morning 'at ten o'clock.

IRISH PAUPERISM IN LIVERPOOL

five years from this

ate for extensions,

It was stated at the last meeting of the Selesi

ime afterwards

issistant Poor-law Commission

required for stations, extensions, &c. Witness, in reply
to a question, said the company had now to call for
£150,180. They had already about 150 miles of mains
laid. The largest were 12-inch bore, (witness described
the whole from 12-inch to 11-inch, traversing the streets,
with the respective miles). The waste or unaccounted
for gas was about 10 per cent. in the pipes, &c. Of the
£200,000 now sought to be raised, £50,000 would be dis-
_
posa

had prepared a plan, with a view to the prevention of im-
posture upon the parish, by which the town was to be di-
vided into convenient districts, and relief administered to
parties applying for relief at their own homes. For this

service twenty-four suitable men were picked out of the
police force, to whom the task of visiting was committed.
We believe the result has been so far successful, that
many cases of deception have been found out, and the
parties practising it deprived of further opportunity of

be industry and

The num

,er of persons re

companies injuriot

;ht the

an that r

[eyed -(1

Guardian Company mistaken in supposing that the ex-
tension of his (witness's) company would be injurious.

ing the preceding week. Yet the saving in money will be
found to be small. This is to be accounted for by the fact
that whilst the relieving officers of the Select Vestry have
taken down the number of the family of each applicant_
generally exaggerated with a view to procure an increased
o uantity of rationsand:soup tickets,—they have exercised a

panies, but had declined to do so from the great expense,
Of 1364 streets in Liverpool, 1006 were lighted with gas,
The charge for each public gaslight or street lamp was

£4 2s. 6d., except the lamps: The coal used iu making
the gas was exclusively cannel coal, and now cost 15s. a
ton, or nearer 15s. 6d. A ton of this produced 9,600

discretion as to the cases in which such exaggeration ap-
peared likely to be resorted to, and given their relief ac-
cordingly. _ The actual working of the new system will be

coke, which wils sold at 10s. a ton.
Mr. KING, in reply to a question from Mr. Evans, said
the number of private lamps in the town did not exceed

A. man

14, paying not more than I'2o per annum.
Mr. MILLER was then called and re-examined. He stated
in reply to the 26th requirement, that the cost of the pre.

That included lands, buildings, general
and branch pipes. The lands alone cost
the buildings £20,975 Is. Id. ' • the
£47,473 15s. ld. ; gas metres 4.20,01

and branch pipes £107,879 19.
penses £4031 16s. 4d.

parliamentary ex-

What I have given you includes the

Mr. thigoN.—Well, will you now give us the original
expenditure of the Company ?
Mr. MILLER. - The buildings cost £20,285 6s. Bd. ;

£10,47925. 9d. ; mains and branch pipes, £83,902 18s. ld
parliamentary expenditure, £728 17s. 4d. ; making a total
of £193,190 7s.
Mr. ELLISON.—Now as to the annual expenditure ?
Mr. MILLED.—As regards the income and expenditure
for last year, the income from all sources was £44,683 14s.

;;;dwitiireference to the expenditure, I will give the con-
tracts and the manufactures separate. The cost of
and the manufacture of the article, come to £22,914 18s.

e charge wag,

to the particulM. class Or item to which sit belt
wear and tear, that is the nem

y repairs to be made in

he works, the cost last year w

The next

the head of general expenditure, which

amounted to £4319 45., making a total of £29,582 Bs. 11d.
Mr. ELLISON.— You have made no estimate of the
annual income and expenditure under the new act ?
Mr. MILLER.—That will depend on circumstances.
The rate may be reduced by the recorder, when it reaches
above a certain amount.

Mr. ELLisox-.--4-17at is the maximum of the rate ?
Mr. MILLER.-It can be reduced by the recorder after
it reaches 4s. 6d. in the pound.
Mr. ELLISON.—Then your dividends are limited ?
Yes, sir.

Mr. EVANS then stated that he had a few observations
to make on the bill which was then before them. He
represented on the pres'ent occasion, as he had done on
several previous occasions, the consumers of gas within
the borough of Liverpool. He should render but com-
mon justice to the company to whom he was opposed,
when he stated that he had received from them every
kindness and accommodation in their power to afford him.
Every account and any information they had called for
had been willingly given ; but still there was a limit 13(
N

mu which he could not; if he could help it, allow them
o go. According to the 4th Vic., ch. 2, and sec. 8, this
nmpany was for the first time restricted in the amount
of interest they were to raise of their capital ; and accord-
ing to the 23d clause of the same it was enacted that any
justice might examine a witness on oath touching the
truth of their accounts, and id such a witness should
swear, and distinctly prove that the income of the com-
pany exceeded 10 per cent. per annum, it should be in
the power of such justice to make a fair and equitable
reduction in the price of gas. They bad it in evidence
that the capital of the company at present amounted to
£264,000, of which £200,000 was producing interest ;
and, in addition to that sum, they now sought for

£200,000 more. £lOO,OOO of which was also to bear in- I IMPO
terest at the rate of 10 per cent. There was also another
company in existence, the capital of which amounted to DEFEAT OF TH
£167,000, a great portion of which bore interest at 10 MACDONELL.
per cent. also ; and while he was on the subject of capital, (From Yesterday's Morning Herald.)
it would be vain for him to close his eyes to the fact that The Iberia, Oriental and Peninsular Company's steam-,
a third company was also in the field with capital to the ship, Captain Meehan, arrived on Saturday with the usual
amount of £133,000, so he thought that, taken altogether, Peninsular mails.
there
Li ver was
pool no lack of ca
commpital to produce
the gas for th
of Com- e people The Iberia brings news of the total defeat of the Migue-
of . Thecommittee of House lite portion of the rebel army, under General Macdonell,
mons, when the Guardian Gas Company were before them, at Soborosa, and the death of the general, who has been
endeavouring to compel the two existing companies to hewn down by one of the Queen's troopers. The only
amalgamate, did not think proper to either force them to information respecting this affair is contained in the fol-
amalgamation or to give that company their bill. If they lowing communication, which was forwarded from Oporto
had compelled them to do so, it would.tave required less just as the Iberia was leaving : capital to supply the town and district with the necessary
"
fount of gas ; but no attempt had been made by either Oporto, Feb. 2.
" The Miguelites in Tras-os-Montes have been corn-
nnpany, so far as he could learn, to accomplish that pletely dispersed by Vinhaes and Lapa, General Macdo-
) also, although it was nell being' killed, and many other chiefs, at Saborosa,
King, that the present above Villa Poua d'Agmar."
3 boundary of the nar- T •

VrANT FROM THE PENINSIITLA

IGDELITES AND DEA.TII OF Gg/TED,AL

near rrom private sources, that this unexpected defeat
• ~-entiiry liorough, would have realised a greater amount has somewhat alarmed the rebels concentrated in Oporto,
•= • • fit than they have done by extending.their exertions although it has in no wise damped their a'idotir for the
`hn districts surrounding the town. If the clause to forthcoming struggle. Every possible preparation was
4 was not a delusion altogether, its effect being made to give the-Queen's troops a warm reception.
fortifications werebeing prosecuted with all
_ ; and all capable of bearing arms
"au enrolled themselves, and were ready for the conflict
sought for, the Clay never would come wlen the public that will decide the fate of thousands. The last accounts
would enjoy a reduction in the price of gas. If the exor- from Saldanha were, that his quarters were at Agueda,
bitant demand of an additional capital of £200,000 were about 30 miles' from Coimbra, and therefore it was un-
to be now acceded to, he would ask what.guarantee they likely that

`-aPp..., -the strongest
and also to fix their dividends within a circumscribed expedition and
V—. 44' 1 - _ _

early as

s at first anticipated.
I am just informed that a decree is to appear in a day
or two, taking off the double decima from the foreign
sufficiently largeforall .
their 1 debt

This it

.1
justified in seeking new capital for the extension of their The Cork Examiner says that some of the men em-
works when they had made no attempt to carry into effect ployed on the public roads, after a fortnight's delay, have
the suggestion of the committee of the House of Commons been paid Is. for one week's wages, and the other week's
with respect to the amalgamation of the two companies. was left unpaid. Is there any wonder that people die of
He would say, in conclusion, that for the purposes for starvation ?
which they sought this sum of £200,000 there was not The Rev. :Charles Welsh, curate of Clones, county
the slightest data before the court to entitle them to Monaghan, begs to acknowledge, with most sincere and
recieve it,
grateful thanks, the receipt of £lO on the 24th Jan. and
Mr. ELLisoN.—Do you wish to call any witnesses, Sir ? £lO on the 31st Jan.,
remitted to him by the St. Jude's
Mr. EVANS.—No, Sir. - Irish Relief Committee. on behalf .i• +1,,,. ‘.4-.....__:_
Mr S Tirm 4-hork rnoo rAml oni ri 441...4. i. rs ...,,,,,1,1 ...4.... -----

le parish of Clones.
The celebrated marriage of Mr. H. A. Browne, of Dub-
daughter of Mr. Copeland, manager of the Royal
i Bank in that town, has been annulled by the Dublin
. .
Court of Delegates ; the court being of opinion that the
.... onuTTLE WORTH said that he appeared on behalf I
of the Town Council, to watch the inquiry. In his oP- case of Mr. Browne was a concocted one, and founded
'tion however, he would be strictly guidieid by.,,w12, on perjury and corruption.
posi ,
...: —:._.i.,. 1-..1,... -1- .1.--: A.,

ng• poor of

++.5.,", ......., p.a.,,, tau' It's /11G I.IIU,GGUILISO• 11, ~., ..‘'. in me nouse of commons on Friday, Colonel Sibthorp
wish to have it understood that he came there to oppose gave notice," that if no more competent member would
b
any party, formally ; but just to watch the course of the bring in a Bill for the better regulation of Railways, he
conga en inquiry. should on an early day move for leave to brin in a
ensa Bill Mr. LLOYD and Mr. CARSON stated that they respect- to compel Railway Companies to give ample co
ively appeared on behalf of the existing companies, to op- to the survivors of those persons who should
have lost
pose the Guardian Gas Company. their lives by accidents on railways.
Mr. SWIFT then proceeded to state, that the bill which Intsx RELIEF.—What is to be the end of it F The
he had charge of was a bill for lighting the borough and last week witnessed the introduction of three Irish m
cessary tea-
townshipo
o read the f Liverpool with;
but he . He
mi did not
ght state think
that the it ne- sures, involving an outlay of some £23,000,000, besides
i promoters of this bill were the consumers of gas in Liver-
extras. What is this week to develop? Expectation is
clauseson the qui vire. There are three Houses of Assembly
pool, and they required powers to raise £130,000 of capi- sitting simultaneously, one in St; Stephen's, another in
tar
for that. purpose. He would go through all the re
- Palace-yard, and a third in Dublin, all inspired with a
quirements, en which he would give the most ample evi- miraculous unanimity of extravagance.—nmes.
dence, but he would nqt trouble them with any length- On Saturday the Rev. M. A. Gathereole and his bro-
ened statement. He would not follow Mr. Carson through ther were acquitted at the New Court, London, of the
what he had stated with reference to his case. It had charge of having obtained a considerable sum of money by
been said, and much stress had been laid on that view of false pretences. The defendants believed the prosecutor
the case, that the limitation made in the powers of the had had something to do with a fraud practised on them,
company, in 1844, were quite well calculated to rectify all and by a stratagem induced him to advance a large sum
evils which might previously have existed in the working of money ;
y but as soon as they discovered their mistake
of this company ; but, like most fine parliamentary ar- ter, ~,,...,,a 4i.—
erefore,

withdrew the indictment.
THE POOR LAW COMMISSION AND THE WORCESTER
_ _ -The Poor Law Commissioners have intimated
Lii.L tuff
,ound out for the first time that theyofficially to the guardians of the poor of the Worcester
y could afford to sell
6d. per
Union that it is their intention to send down to that
gas to the public at the reduced price of 6s.
arnion an assistant commissioner for the purpose of inves-
Then it was found that this miracu-
rigating the charges of irregularity, &c., against the
-scluce any farther salutary effect, governor, Mr. Longstreeth, whose resignation the com-
led, when, the Guardian missioners recently instructed the guardians to call for
le went to Parliament in and accept, but which the latter body tacitly declined to
and immediately down do. The charges are of an extraordinary nature.
&gain, when the Guar- A meeting of the Irish party took place in London on
undertaking, down Saturday. Lord Monteagle took the chair, and six other
noblemen and twenty-four members of parliament were
' present. Among them were the Marquis of Sligo and
Earl of Mountcashel, two O'Connells, G. A. Hamilton,
Esq., &c. The government measure for relieving Ireland
was discussed, and several members declared themselves
opposed to the clauses of the bill, and the majority ap-
-^,•Pci anxious to obtain some modification of all its pro-

UNION

I visions

ARE PUSEYITE BOOKS NECESSARY FOR A STUDENT
FOR THE CHURCH ?—This question came before the
Court of Exchequer on "Saturday, in a trial brought by a
.
they must be labouring under some mistake when they bookseller against a student for the church. Among the
thought of submitting such a proposition to the public. books were I" Newman's Sermons," a Roman missal, a
They must be under such a mistake as they had been Roman breviary, Pusey's Senn- "7"--d's r -
labouring under all along, from the time they charged The young man became a Roy,-
• it 11111f1

Adeal, &c.
Catholic, and his father
we books. The Lord Chief
~iisidering the books supplied were necessary
or a young man studying for the Church of England, was
of opinion that the defendant could not be held liable for
them, and irmsuited the plaLtiff. Plaintiff nonsuitd..
PRESENTATION PLATE.--A, service of plate, to be pre-
sented to Mr. Houldsworth, the chairman of the Man-
chester and Leeds Railway Company, by the director 3,.
has been just manufactured. The service weighs upwards
of 3,000 ounces, and is of excellent desien

mut). iHe principal piece is or an ornamental character,
being of a triangular form ; around the lower part are
figures of Sir Roert Peel, Watt, and Mr. George Ste-
phenson ; the whole is surmounted by a figure represent-
ing Science. On one of the panels is a representation in
relief of Summit Tunnel. There are also some very
elaborate vases.

The advices from Alexandria of the 20th ult. describe
an active market for most descriptions of goods. Grain
and cotton were the two leading articles commanding at-
tention. Maize had been purchased in large quantities
for shipment to England. A scarcity of vessels and the
high rates of freight are circumstances still complained of
as operating injuriously upon business. The cotton crop
is PCHMAted to be much under an average. One cultiva-
, whose grounds have, hitherto, yielded 18,000 to
"' 'his year not preserve more than
e have caused