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

THE LIVERPOOL STANDifii

to those who shall have exercised their functions
satisfactorily for fifteen years ; and, fourthly, that
schools shall be provided with the means of in-
structing the children frequenting them in various
trades and industrial occupations, which, it was
argued, would induce parents of families not to
withdraw their children at so early an age as at
present is the practice, and also encourage ()tilers
to send their children to schools, in which they
would learn occupations calculated to be useful to
them in after life. The workhouse schools, the no-
ble marquis also intimated, are to be improved in
efficiency.
Further than this mere improvement of the exist-
ing educational machinery, and to the establish-
ment of any really comprehensive system, of which
religion shall form a part,—any system, in fact,
worthy of being called national,—her Majesty's
Government express themselves afraid to go. Any
attempt to establish such a system, the noble mar-
quis stated, would be met by two powerful classes
of objections and opponents :
" In the first place, objections were raised to it by those
who in this country, from motives the most virtuous and
pious,—motives which must be respected,—dreaded even
contact between persons of one religious persuasion and
those of another. They carried their objections, certainly,
to a degree far beyond what he (Lord Lansdowne) thought
ne should do, however consent he might he in the sound-
ness, the truth, or thu excellence of the religion with
which he might be so connected. But at the same time
there were many who felt these objections to such a de-
gree that they could not be brought to consent to any
system which would combine under the same roof, and
under the same system of instruction, persons of different
churches and sects. Another great class of objectors to
such a system,—and they were not without power, or
ability, or authority in this country,—were those who ob-
jected to any interference of the Government at all with
the national education, and who considered that educa-
tion, into which subject they carried the same views which
they entertained on the subject of religion, ought to be on
the voluntary system. They held that any interference
by the Government on a large scale would have the effect
of damping energies and discouraging exertions which
were now making to some extent, though not to the ex-
tent to which they ought to be made, but which they
thought would ultimately be made to an extent commen-
surate with the necessities of the case."

Where the novelty of the statement of difficulty
set up exists we are utterly at a loss to discover.
There have always been religious differences im-
peding the establishment of a national system of
Education, from which religious teaching is not ex-
cluded ; and, as there always will be such differ-
ences, we must conclude, from his Lordship's own
premises, that a National system of Education,
of which teaching in Religion is a component part,
is to be indefinitely postponed—at least, until we
have a Government in the country which is honest
and courageous enough to act upon its own convic-
tions, and to brave the factious cries of hostile and
contending sects. The deference of the Noble
Marquis to opposition from such a source is inex-
cusable after the confession, in a subsequent pas-
sage, that, " whilst he thus brought forward these
two powerful classes of objections, he was far from
saying that such opinions were generally enter-
tained ;" and his strong declaration that, "he
thought no person deserving the name of States-
man could contemplate the establishment of a sys-
tem of popular Education; in this country, on• the
basis of not admitting Religion in that system at
all, or who could have supposed it safe or expedient
that the great mass of the people should be called
on to enter the field of general knowledge, and yet
they should be invited to travel there without the
light of Religion." Entertaining such opinions;
his lordship would surely have done well to have
thrown himself upon what he confesses to be the
general" feeling of the country, and to have
risked the apprehended " difficulties, opposition,
apprehension, jealousies, and doubts," which, with
such a general feeling existing in favour of a really
comprehensive national system, must speedily sub-
side as its usefulness manifested itself.

In behalf of such a course Lord Brougham ex-
pressed himself in decided terms ; and in a great
measure recognises the fact, left out of view by
most parties who have of late attempted to deal
with the subject, viz., the fact, that the Institutions
of this Country are based upon an Established
Religion. After eulogising the past exertions of
the clergy in promoting education amongst the
people, his lordship went on to say :
" The Church would not have any system which was
so comprehensive as not to allow of any clerical inter-
ference ; the Dissenters would not have any system which
allowed the least interference on the part of the Church ;
and, therefore, unhappily, between the two, education
went more or less to the wall. It was impossible to have
such a system of supervision as would suit all Dissenters
so numerous were they ; and his belief was, that it would
be better to give the Church a proper superintendence,
and leave the Dissenters to take it or not, as they pleased."

There are few who, from his large opportunities,
enjoyed during many years of intimate contact
with the leaders of the dissenting party, are better
able than his• lordship to decide how far the outcry,
which has hitherto been directed by that party
against a system of education over which the
church shall have a reasonable amount of superin-
tendence, is the outcry of the leaders merely, or is
cordially adopted by the masses whom they lead.
It is clear that he sets it down to the former; and
most justly he concludes—and experience warrants
him in doing so—that those masses will not for
any length of time be prevailed upon to withdraw
themselves from a participation, upon merely ima-
ginary grounds, in the benefits of a sound educa-
tional system.
With respect to that portion of the government
plea for declining to establish such a system, on
the ground of anticipated objection from those
who argue that education, like religion, should be
left to voluntary efforts, we do not feel it necessary
to offer more than a remark. We have seen the
short-comings of the voluntary system thus far,
even in providing means of instruction for the
children of parents predisposed by their religious
convictions to accept its aid. But that anything
short of a .national effort can reach the masses
of infant vice, resulting from ignorance, existing
amongst the neglected poor of our large towns,
and even in many of our agricultural districts, it
will require great hardihood to maintain.
We regret most deeply that Lord John Russell
and his colleagues have, in the measure under
notice, shrunk from the performance of what is
now acknowledged to be, on the part of the state,
not only a great public duty, but one, also,. which
can be justified on purely economical grounds.
No previous government has ever been placed in
such a favourable position for the settlement of
this question upon a comprehensive and, efficient
scale. The church, we firmly believe, was. not dis-
posed to throw- obstacles in the way, but rather
willing to concede somewhat to obtain such a set-
tlement ; and their relations towards the various
dissenting. sects would have enabled the ministry
to do mote towards appeasing any clamours, which
might have arisen from those sects, than a Con-
servative government can ever expect to effect.
Whether an effort will be made in the. other house
of Parliament to procure an extension of the present
measure, we do not, of course, as yet know. The
feeling with which the proposition was received in
the Lords, and the approval recorded in its favour
from the episcopal bench, leave us little to hope
for from that quarter.

Lieutenant Benjamin Alpin has been appointed to com-
mand the Redwing steam-packet at this port.
The Rev. J. Groom, at present curate of St. John's
Church, in this town, has been presented, by the vicar of
Prescot, to the perpetual curacy of Rainford.
The Rev. J. W. Gouring, of Trinity College, Cam-
bridge, and late ipcumbent of St. Matthew's Church, in
this town, has been appointed Faaminer' at that College,
in Natural Philosophy and Commerce, College of Pre-
centors.
Messrs, Sewell and Dalton deliver, this evening, a lec-
ture at the Craven Rooms, Birkenhead, on electricity,
which will be illustrated by the most brillant experiments
connected with the science. The whole of the proceeds
are to be given to the fund in aid of the distrossed.
ANOTHER DEATH FL OM BURNING.----Rosanna
O'Neill, aged six years, living with her parents in Dale-
street, was left alone in a cellar, and her clothes catching
fire she was so severely burned that she died on the fol-
lowing morning.
ACCIDENT TO MR. TYLER, THE DARRISTER.—This
gentleman, who has recently joined the Sessions here,
and whose abilities have already attracted notice, met
with an accident last Thursday forenoon. The car in
which he was proceeding to the Railway Station was com-
pletely upset at the corner of Castle-street, but with the
exception of his being slightly brnsed, we are happy to
say, that the learned gentleman escaped without any ma-
terial injury.
EXAMINATION OF MASTER 9 AND MATES.—At a meet-
ing held by the Board of Examiners, at the Board-room,
Observatory, on Tuesday last, Mr. John Hind, first offi-
cer of the Caledonia steamship, one of the British and
North American royal mail packets, was found so well
acquainted with nautical astronomy, surveying, and great
circle sailing, as to entitle him to a master's first-class
extra certificate. Mr. Robert Jay, second officer of the
steamship Acadia, in the same service, and Mr. William
Henry Grebow, late master of the William Murray of this
port, were both found well qualified to take Ard-class
extra certificates as mastera,

CFFICIAL INQUIRY RELATIVZ TO THE . SUP-
JeLY or' GAS tog LIVERPOOL.

Yesterday, Cuthbert Edward Ellison, Esq., barrister-
at-law, and George Lowe, civil engineer, preiided at the
Sessions-house in this town, to examine witnesses and re-
port to parliament relative to the supply of gas. The
main interest in this inquiry was involved in an application
about to be made to parliament, by the Liverpool Guar-
dian Gas Company, who propose to supply gas at a cheaper
rate than the two existing companies, notwithstanding
their recent reductions in charges. Another advertise-
ment announced an intention of applying to parliament,
by the Old Gas-light Company, for powers to raise a fur-
I ther sum of money for the extension of their works.
Both inquiries were under the provisions of an act passed
last session, for the purpose of making preliminary in-
quiries in cases of application for local bills.
Mr. Carson, solicitor, appeared as advocate for the
Old, or Original Dale-street Gas-light Company ; Mr.
J. B. Lloyd, for the New Gas and Coke Company ; Mr.
Evans, for the Guardian Society ; and Mr. Swift, for the
Guardian Gas Company.
Mr. EVANS, in opening his case, said that on behalf of
the Guardian Society he represented a large number of
the inhabitants of the town.
Mr. LLOYD said that on behalf of his clients he was
there to oppose the pending bill of the Liverpool Gas
Company.
The Commissioners having agreed that the case for the
old company should be first heard,
Mr. CARSON said the object of his clients was to raise
a further sum to enable them to meet the new require-
ments of the town; and he gave a sketch of the origin of
the company in 1816 up to the present time, the amount
of shares raised from time to time, &c. The books and
accounts had all along been scrupulously inquired into.
After 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 Bs. per 1000Teet, in 1841, to 4s. 6d. at the pre-
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
July. He believed the gas supplied by them was the most
brilliant, and the cheapest, yet produced by any company
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, af„, £25 each,
u
with power to borrow half of themount statediXloo,ooo),
and a further sum, if required, to effectually carry out the
works for the benefit of the town and neighbourhood.
Mr. CARSON then called Mr. George Miller, the chief-
clerk of the Liverpool Gas-light Company.
Mr. MILLER said he bad filled the situation about 17
years. The capital was originally £50,000, in 500 shares
of £lOO. 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
prietor. He then explained that half of the new shares
were, as required by the Act, sold by auction, and real-
ized a good premium.
To Mr. EVANS.-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 divide/ I and extension of
works. The first act obtained did not limit them with
regard, to profits. The charge for 1000 feet of gas was
then 15s. About 16 years ago, this was reduced to 124. 6d ;
next reduction was to 10s., next to Bs., and then to 7s.
The value of the shares in the market was now about
£200.. 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 expenses had
been incurred in. works beyond the Parliamentary borough.
The average rental of metres for the year 1845, was £667,
and for 1846, £1162 2s. 6d. The gas rental was at the
same time £40,904 4s. Od., making in all £42,064 6d. 6d.
Deducting bad debts and collectors' salaries, the income
left was £39•,614 Os. sd. The Company provided fittings
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-
plied with, the price being reduced to 4s. 6d. per 1000
feet, which was tiloss. We cannot produce gas at that
price, and are several thousands short, in consequence,in
our dividends. The average dividend on the whole capi-
tal of £263,534 was, per share £7. lls. 9d.
Mr. CROOK. an accountant, said he had examined the
accounts under the act. He found that the Company
could not afford the gas at 4s. 6d., and (as we understood
him), that £4924 had to be taken from the reserved fund,
but by. a reduction stated the loss was reduced to £2483:
Ire did not think 4s. 6d. a paying price, and the increase
of consumption within the borough could alone make up
the deficiency.
Mr. WILLIAM CLEAVER, clerk to the guardians of all
the out-townships (with the exception of Garston and
Crosbie) gave interesting statistics of the comparative
population in each in 1841 and in 1846. The total of the
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.
Mr. SHAW, overseer of Everton, and Mr. PARNELL,
overseer of Kirkdale,amd EILBECK, of Walton, also fur-
nished statistics, showing a great increase in the number
of houses and the population of their respective districts.
Mr. Dickenson spoke in like manner of Toxteth-park,
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 KIN'G', 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, Scc. It appeared that in 1844 they
made 153 million, cubic feet of gas, and in 1845, 178 mil-
lion feet, an increase of 244 millions. In 1846 they made
2111 millions-being an average increase oh these years of
17 38-100ths. The quantity of gas required would be
doubled in 41 years, and trebled in 7 years. Taking the
estimates altogether; £151,981 would be required within
five years from this date for extensions, &c. and in a short
time afterwards -the full amount of £200,000 would be,
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 14-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-
posable in shares to the public, £50,000 would go to ;the
company, and £lOO,OOO would have tobe raised on interest.
If the present companies were amalgamated, the price, of
gas might possibly be reduced. He considered a plurality
of companies injurious to the public. He though 'the
Guardian Company mistaken in supposing that the ex-
tension of his (witness's), company would be injurious.
The Corporation had thought of purehasing the two com-
panies, but had declined to,do so from the great exppse.
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 in making
the gas was exclusively cannel coal, and now cost-155. a
ton, or nearer 15s. 6d. A ton of thii. produced 9,600
cubic feet of gas in an hour's working, and 13 cwt. of
coke, which was 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 noir exceed
14, paying not more than- £2O• per annum.
Mr. MILLER wasthen called and re-examined. Hostated,
in reply to the 26th requirement, that the cost of the pre-
mises audworks of the old company was £203,010 is. 10d.
That included lands, buildings, general apparatus, mains,
and branch pipes. The lands alone cost 1:52,833-12s. 3d. ;
the buildings £20,975 Is. Id.; the genera apparatus
£47,473 15s. ld. ; gas metres X2o,ol2mains
and branch pipes £107,879 19s. ld ; parliamentary ex-
penses £4031 16s. 4d..
Mr% Emasma.-That is a general statement of the
wholes expenditure, and not the annual ?
Mr. MILLER.-What I have given yolk includes the
whole expenditure..
Mr. ELLISON.-Well, will you now givadus the original
expenditure of the Company ?
Mr. MILLER. - The buildings cost £20,285 6s. Bd.
the general apparatus, £41,673 13s 10d. • gas metres,.
A 10,47925. 9d. ; mains and branch pipes,.£Bl,9o2 18s. laa
parliamentary expenditure, £728 17s. 4d.; making a total
of £193,190 75..
Mr. EmasoN.-Now as to the anneal expenditure_ ?
Mr. MILI.ua.-As regards the income and expenditure
for last year, the income from all sources was£4 ,6113 -14 s.
and with reference to the expenditure,. I will give the con-
tracts and the. manufactures separates: The cost of canal,
and the manufacture of the article, ,come to £22,914 18s.
3d. We charge wages and every other part of the, works
to the partitular class or item to which it belongs. For
wear and tear, that is the necessary repairs to be made in
the works,,.the cost last year was X 2348 6s. Bd. The next
item is under the head of general expenditure, which
amounted. to £4319 45., making s total of £29,532 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% ELLISON.-What 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 present occasion., as he had done on
several previous occasions, the commmers 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 powerto afford him.

Every accoun-tanaanyinforrgation they had called for
had been willingly given; but still there was a limit be-
yond which he could not, if he could help it, allow them
to go. According to the 4th Vic., ch. 2, and sec. 8, this
company 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 if 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 had 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 gm, they now sought for

£200,000 fildfo, £lOO,OOO of which was also to bear in-
terest at the rate of 10 per cent. There was also another
company in existence, the capital of which amounted to
£167,000, a great portion of which bore interest at 10
per cent. also'; and While he was on the subject of capital,
it would be vain for hitn to close his eyes to the fact that
a third company was also in the field with capital to the
amount of £133,000, sole thought that, taken altogether,
there was no lack of capital to produce gas for the people
of Liverpool. The committee of the House of Com-
mons, when the Guardian Gas Company were before them,
endeavouring to compel the two
_existing companies to
amalgamate, did not think proper to either force them to
amalgamation or to give that company their bill. If they
had compelled them to do so, it would have required less
capital to supply the town and district with the necessary
amount of gas ; but no attempt had been made by either
company, so far as he could learn, to accomplish that
object, for they had it in evidence also, although it was
given somewhat reluctantly by Mr. King, that the present
company, by confining itself to the boundary of the par-
liamentary borough, would have realised a greater amount
of profit than they have done by extending their exertions
to the districts surrounding the town. If the clause to
which he alluded was not a delusion altogether, its effect
must be to confine' the amount of the company's capital,
and also to fix their dividends within a circumscribed
limit ; for if they could get a capital as large as what they
sought for, the day never would come when the public
would enjoy a reduction in the price of gas. If the exor-
bitant demand of an additional capital of £200,900 were
to be now acceded to, he would ask what guarantee they
had that next year a demand fully as extraordinary would
not be made, and that a larger amount would not be
demanded the year after ? He thought that the capital
already in the company was' sufficiently large for all their
exertions if they confined themselves within the limits of
the parliamentary borough, and also that they were not
justified in seeking new capital for the extension of their
works when they had made no attempt to carry into effect
the suggestion of the committee of the House of Commons
with respect to the amalgamation of the two companies.
He would say, in conclusion, that for the purposes for
which they sought this sum of £204,000 there was not
the slightest data before the court to entitle them to
recieve it.
Mr. ELLISON.—Do you wish to call any witnesses, Sir ?
Mr. EVANS.—No, Sir.
Mr. SWIFT then rose, and said that he would state very
shortly the case of the Guardian Gas Company, for whom
he appeared. He was opposed by his tivolearned friends,
who always opposed every person.
Mr. SHUTTLEWORTH said that he appeared on behalf
of the Town Council, to watch the inquiry. In his op-
position, however, he would be strictly guided by what
might take place during the proceedings. He did not
wish to have it understood that he came there to oppose
any party formally ; but just to watch the course of the
inquiry.
Mr. LLOYD and Mr. CARSON stated that they respect-
ively appeared on behalf of the existing companies., to op-
pose the Guardian Gas Company.
Mr. SWIFT then proceeded to state, that the bill which
he had charge of was a bill for lighting the borough and
township of Liverpool with gas. He did not think it ne-
cessary to read the clauses ; but he might state, that the
promoters of this bill were the consumers of gas in Liver-
pool, and they required powers to raise £130,000 of capi-
tal for that purpose. He would go through all• the re-
quirements, on which he would give the most ample evi-
dence, but he would not trouble them with any length-
ened statement. He would not follow Mr. Carson through
what he had stated with reference to his case. It had
been said, and much stress had been laid on that view-of
the case, that the limitation made in the powers of the
company, in 1844, were quite well calculated to rectify 414
evils which might previously have existed in the working-
of this company ; but, like most fine parliamentary ar_
rangements, it proved a decided failure. That restriction-
was in operation.in 1842, but then no reduction took place
until 1844, when they were forced to reduce by the pow-
erful influence of opposition. Then it was that they
found out for the first time that they could afford to sell
gas to the public at the reduced price of 6s. 6d. per
1,000 cubic feet. Then it was found that this miracu-
lous clause did not produce any farther salutary effect,
until another year had elapsed, when the Guardian
Gas Company, for the first time went to Parliament in
April, 1844, for their bill ; and immediately down
came the price of gas to 6s. Again, when the Guar-
dian Company persevered in their undertaking, down
it came to 55., below which they had stated in parlia-
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
supplying gas to the public at a losing rate—rather a rare
thing to find the 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
they must be lalsouriug under some mistake when they
thought of submitting such a proposition to the public.
They must be under• such a mistake as they had been
labouring under all •along, f in the time they charged
12s. until they fixed' the price at 4s. 6d. per 1000 feet.
However, he would briefly state what they (the Guardian
Gas Company) intended doing. They proposed to sell
their gas it 3s. 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. 9d. 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—X 4. 2s. 6d.,
which was at present charged. for that accommodation.
He would prove that he could do so, and still have a re-
munerative profit ; and, having done so, he would leave
the case in the hands of the court at that preliminary stage
of the proceedings. He proposed to have 74 per cent. of
a bona fide interest; to lave 3s. Sd. 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 fortheir company.
Mr. MPONALD, the secretary of the Guardian Gas
Company, was'therucalled; and examined by Mr. SWIFT,
to prove some of the requirements, which he did. He
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.