View report page

49
compared with neighbouring districts, the Vestry believe
they have best consulted the interests of the ratepayers by
devoting the money realized by the various economies
enumerated above to improving the street lighting in preference
to slightly reducing the rates. The consumption of gas
in the street lamps now equals any Parish in the Metropolis,
and it may be safely asserted that the maximum consumption
of gas has been reached for some years. The full benefit of
this increased consumption, however, is not derived by the
public, owing to the defective and obsolete lamps in some of
the leading thoroughfares. This is apparent on the most
casual comparison of Regent Street and Piccadilly; in the
former thoroughfare modern lamps have been recently fitted,
in the latter heavily-metalled old fashioned lamps still exist
to obscure a fair proportion of the light. Many lamps of the
latter description will require to be replaced at no very
distant date, but this alteration will entail but one cost, and
not involve an annually recurring expenditure like an
increased consumption of gas.
In order to ensure the agreed supply of gas, the consumption
in the various street lamps is now periodically tested
by the Vestry's lamplighter. An addition of 5s. per week has
been made to his wages, in consideration of the extra work
incidental to this inspection.
PRICE OF GAS.
The price of gas supplying the street lamps was reduced
on the 1st January to 2s. 8d. per 1,000 feet of cannel gas,
and 2s. 2d. per 1,000 feet of common gas. These figures are
below the price charged to private consumers, the difference
arising from the Gas Light and Coke Company being required
E