The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-11-30 00:00:00

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And the same evidence will show, that throughout a
Very extensive district, in the parish of St. Leonard,
Shererlttch, tto fire-pings were placed until the fatal
catastrophe just referred to had taken place.—(Vide
App. No. I t and 12.),
Your Committee now proceed to the last division
of the subject, viz. the means which should beadopted
to correct these obese.t.
Frbett the fact* which your Committee have
&tailed, it oust be obvious the Legislature stone
can arbitrate the matter at issue between the. Public

Your Committee would hive gladly recommended
I.helic to compromise or to adjust theii_dilfer-
cocci with the Companies; but the evidence of fc6-
rove, beyond all doubt, no security can be put hi
any promise or pledge which these Companies' may,
lie disposed to otter.—(Vide Appendix, No. 13.) .
And it is equally obvious that the Committee at
large have no other means of entering into any agree.
mentor contract with these Companies. but through
the medium of an Act of Parliament. Upon a review
of all the circumstances of this: important case:—
The defecsive state and extraordinary nature of the
Act of Parliament ; the shameful spirit of speculation..
(not to say gambling) which actuated the East Lon-
don Company at its outset ; the obvious want of
talent in the conducting of these works after their
first establishment ; the extravagant and useless es-
penditere and slo-riot@ waste of money, naturally re-
suiting from this want of scientific information ; the
criminal combination of the Companies, affecting the
lives and properties of tfie community ; the copse-
quent onparalleled attempt, by exorbitant charges,
to make the Public bear the onus of their system of
gambling, their extravagance, and their follies ; the
reaultirig monopoly of the first and most important
nrilcle of subsistence, carrying in Its train a long
succession of alarming evils ; the total disregard, on
the pert of the Companies, of all contracts and agree.
inertia ; the discretionary power of the Companies'
oftectors to impose what charges their caprice,
ignorance, or malignity may direct ;—.forcibly im-
press open the minds of your Committee, the in-
apilitynf procuring redress otherwise than by an sp.
peal ter the Legislatore of the country.—(Vide Ap-
tysndit, No; 14.)e-.l7liey, therefore, recommend that
• Peation he lent le Pirliament from the inhvtitants
of this district, stating generally those grievances de-
tailed it the Reprirt ; and praying the Roust; of
Commons to adopt such measures, as in their nisdom
should seem most meet to grant redress. Urging the
house to appoint a Committee, to investigate into
the state of the supply of water to the Metropolis ;
and to bring in a Bill to amend the former Acts of
• these two Companies, or for toe establishment of.
tkillet Companies, astray then he determined.
Your Committee baste also to recommend, that the
ommittee of twenty-4er should remain undissolvod,
'for the p:r rpGfe of adopting such measures as may,
(P.m time to time, appear necessary to carry into
effect the appeal to Pvi:arnent. And also for the
purpose of collectiug additional evidence, and con-
ducting this necessary,md Importaabusiness through
all its subsequent stfges.'
Your Committee state It is their firm conviction, ,
that as soon as the esilthereie detailed are sutficient.
fy promulgated, and the .Prlblic•te informed of the
dangerous situation in which they are now pieced by
the culpable conduct of the Water'Compsnies, every
effort will he made, and the strongest support will
be givers in favour of the present proposed appeal to
the Legislature. Your Committee beg lerve.distinctly
to declare, iu the investigation of the subject sub-
mitted to them, 'they have carefully abstaiaed from
tit personal coesideration,s, and have pursued this
enquiry upon its 'broad public ptlnciple ; nor have
grey allowed individual interest! to sway their deter-
Atinatious.
Signed by order of the Committee,
JAMES 131ttCH Sli ARPE, Chairman.
The following are the parts of the Appendix read, and re-
ferred to during the reading of the above Report :
APPLN DIX, No. 3.
Clara sbowiag where lantllorits have been compelled to pay the
debts contracted by their tetaints, or refused a sueply of %la.
ter to thetr premises:—
"f ase I. Mr. .1. B. Sharpe was compelled by the New River
Company, to pay arrears contracted by un'e of 1114 tettants„
atbicii had been doe several gars. but a hien had been ne,:.!eta.
ed tO he collected by the Company, though the tet.ant rout into-d
on the premises. The Chairman of the Coatt.itnee of the New
River Company answered the appeal by ititorm.ng Mr. Sharpe,
4*. tiniest' the at rear aas oak!, the premises should lint he sup-
plied; nod that they never rave themselves the trouble to dis-
tress for their debts, since they knew the landlord must pay JI
of here the tenant neglected."
S Sir. Bamford was landlord of .21 small houses in the parish
of Bethnal Green, let by an agreement for a lease of 85 years to
aperamt of the woe of Birch. This Birth appainted a receiver,
who collected the rents, but refused to pay any chat x.es what-
ever. The tenants becoming alarmed, abandoned the houses;
they remained so.above a year, and the water was cut oh'. Mr.
Itumforrt applied to the Last London Company to lay on the
water. but was r• fused unless the arrest.- were paid, and also
nil. for each fertile to be replaced. To this Mr. liumford
mtas forced to comply, and actually paid near Ea.
3. Mr. Win. Adams, No. 10. West-side Ditleaitreet, is re-
ft•ised a supply of water until 51. 16s. ed. ate paid by him,
though the debt was contracted by the former tcoant.
4. Mr. A. Remsey, No. 8, Church-row,Whitechapel. on
occupying the house, the water-rollector claimed 11. for four
years arrears, and on his refusirg to pay, the water was cut off.
•5. Mr. J. Maicord, of Poplar, oa the purchase of eight
bows, applied to have the water laid ou, which the Catapatty
did accordingly; but in a month afterwards the staler was cut
off. they entered his premises and destroyed his leaden pipes.—
Oa appealing, the Directors informed him the water was cut off
on account of arrears doe by forgoer tenants, and the supply
would not he continued unless those arrears were paid. 4/1
course Complainant was compelled to comply, and nos put to
great expense in renewing his leaden pipes.
6. Mr. J. Bromley, No. 17. Commercial-read, delivered in
the ;tabooing caw :—The hoaxes in Lucas-street were originally.'.
built by r. Vines; 1 purettased four of them in 1813. About
one year afterwards, Mr Vince became a bankrupt ; Nus. 11
aid lt had never been let till Lady-day. 1815. As soon as the
lobate street became occupied. the East London Company made
a'demand of 301. for arrears 1.1 water-rate, and :tonally cut off
the water. On appealing, it was stated, the demand was upon
Vince, the traiider, who had agreed to pay 301. per annum for
the broms, until a sufficient number were built to collect that
sum of the tenants. -
1 The Directors stated thee would not give n supply Of water
•4
unless the arrears were paid; they ackpow [edged it to he a
baid case, and added. it was quite indifferent to them whether
they supplied the water or not, and hat they would rather not
supply ; but the money must be paid."
APPtSIItX,- N 0.4.
Dlr. Mud, of Hackney-ro id. builder, was refused Intake up
his olio leaden pipe, under the following circumstances:—
The East London Company changed kis snpply from the train
to the service pipe. and iu consecpieure a considerable length of
pipe became useless. The labourer, the plumber, and the stir.
veyor of the Cotillion% claimed this ; art of the pipe as the
Company's property. •hli. Mud demanded it as his oan,tavilig
paid for it. The surveyor ordered it to he covered op wilt
earth, desiring air, Mud to take it if he pleased : but had Mr.
hlud 141 dcme, be would have hero liable to ltd. penalty for
dilaiticlatine the Company's ptoperty, by drawing the fertile
from the main. And thus he was vexatiously depi ived of the
value of his own, now oarless, property. rind at hit r irily moved
trona the untie w we service pipe, without 'Alike Or consent.