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59
upon the average meter system; the Vestry carrying out
the work of lighting, cleansing, and repairs by its own staff
of lamplighters and other workmen, and the gas being paid
for by meter indication.
The Gas Committee at the commencement of the year, in
their Report to the Vestry, upon the subject of lighting,
expressed a hope that the introduction of the meter system
would effect a saving to the Parish. The Committee however,
did not recommend the adoption of the system, upon the
grounds of economy alone, but because they felt that the
principle of the system was the best to adopt in order to
deal fairly between the Gas Company and the Vestry, and
that the ratepayers would have the satisfaction of knowing
that they would be only called upon to pay for the actual
quantity of gas consumed. The Vestry also would be in a
position to use the best description of burners, and to maintain
them in an effective condition by proper supervision and
control, and the public would have the benefit of a more
uniform and better light; they would, in fact, get the
maximum amount of light at the minimum rate of gas
consumed, in consequence of the careful supervision of
the regulators, &c. The Committee, in short, felt that
the system, if carried into effect and judiciously managed,
would result in greater efficiency and economy, and be
more satisfactory to the public generally.
In order to show how far the opinion of the Committee
has been borne out by actual experience, I may mention that,
the average consumption of 1,730 lamps during the past
12 months has been 2.47 cubic feet, per lamp per hour, for
cannel gas, and 3.95 cubic feet, per lamp per hour, for
common; and that out of 149 meter lamps the indications
of only very few have had to be taken out of computation
on acccount of excess or deficit in registration. This is
conclusive evidence of the excellence of the Meters and
Regulators.
It is needless, I think, for me to add that, as regards the
painting and cleaning of the lamps, such work has been
much better done than heretofore.
That the opinions of the Committee have been fully
realized will, I think, be admitted, upon an examination of
the following statement of the past year's expenses