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covered the surface of the river and seriously fouled its bed and
banks, creating a most serious and offensive nuisance in the
districts through which the river flowed. Numerous complaints
were received, and reports were from time to time submitted to
your Council. So serious was the nuisance that your Council
instituted proceedings in the High Court, and were successful.
The Company having given notice of appeal on points of law,
I refrain from giving a detailed report of all the circumstances
while the case is sub judice. It is to be hoped that the
proceedings instituted will result in the cessation of a most
intolerable nuisance.
CRYSTAL PALACE DISTRICT GAS BILL.—The Crystal
Palace District Gas Company promoted a Bill in Parliament
seeking powers to reduce the illuminating power of their gas,
to be relieved of their statutory obligation to remove the
sulphur and sulphur compounds from the gas, and for other
matters.
Your Council opposed the Bill, chiefly by reason of the
clause relating to the removal of the sulphur compounds.
In their application to Parliament the Company stated
that they had been prosecuted by your Council for committing
a nuisance in purifying the gas, and that if they obtained
permission to cease the purification no further nuisance would
be caused. It was shown, however, by witnesses on behalf of
the Council that the burning of unpurified gas would be
prejudicial to the health of the consumers. In recent years
there has been a considerable increase in the number of
gas stoves used in private houses of all classes, and as a rule no
provision is made for an outlet for the products of combustion.
The use of these stoves with pure gas must necessarily result in
great vitiation of the air in rooms in which they are used, and
were the Company allowed to deliver unpurified gas this
vitiation would be still greater. The Company were not
successful in their application.