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69
needed no attention. On investigation of complaints as to water
being "unfit to drink," it has been found that the water, clear and
transparent as supplied by the Company, had contracted all its
bad qualities in the process of " purification " by the filter !
"A New Scheme of Water Supply."—Under this head I
referred in my last annual report to a plan by eminent engineers
to provide London with a supply of the deep well water eulogised
by Professor Frankland, for dietetic and fire brigade purposes, as
well as for the purchase of the interests of the Water Companies
by the Metropolitan Board of Works. The Board brought in two
Bills to effect these objects during the current Session of Parliament,
but the opposition the Companies were able to bring to
bear against them was too strong to be resisted, and both measures
have been withdrawn.
GAS.
The subjoined tables from the reports of the Chief Gas
Examiner, exhibit at a glance the chief results (quarterly averages)
of the daily testings of the gas made by the Gas Light and Coke
Company at Kensal Green, and supplied to the testing station at
123, Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill. Sulphuretted hydrogen, a
forbidden impurity, was invariably absent throughout the year,
while ammonia was present at rare intervals only, and in such
fractional quantities (far below the permitted amount), as not
to call for notice.

The gas which was tested on nearly every week day through,
out the year fell short of the standard on two occasions onlyviz.,
October 12th (15.6), and October 13th (15.5 candles).