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1,131 yards, at a cost of 14s. 6c/. per yard ; and a part of
High Street, St. Giles, consisting of 648 yards, by Messrs.
John Mowlem & Co., at a cost of 14s. 6 c/. per yard, the several
contractors agreeing to keep their several pavements in repair,
free of cost to the Board, for a period of three years from
the completion of the work, and thereafter, for twelve years, at
a cost of Is. and Is. 6c/. per square yard. The Board consider
that at least five years should be allowed to elapse to enable it to
arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as to which of the several Wood
pavements should be adopted as the best.
Gas.
The Metropolitan Board of Works, during the Session 1874-5,
had three Bills before Parliament relating to the Gas Supply of the
Metropolis:—
1. To establish Independent Gas Works.
2. To Purchase the Undertakings of the existing Gas
Companies.
3. To amend the Metropolis Gas Acts.
The first two of these Bills were withdrawn, the third passed a
second reading in the House of Commons, and was referred to a
Select Committee, which was presided over by Mr. Forster. This
Committee, at the suggestion of the Board of Trade, recommended to
the House the adoption of a sliding scale dividend inversely to the
price of Gas. That the initial price should be 3s. 9d. per 1,000 cubic
feet for 16-candle Gas; and that the dividends of the Companies
should decrease or increase at the rate of 5s. per cent, for every
penny of increase or decrease in price. Owing, however, to the
lateness in the Session when the Committee reported the Bill, it did
not reach a third reading, and so was lost for the Session.
During the present Session the Bill, as settled by the above
Committee, was again introduced into the House of Commons ; it
passed a second reading, and was referred to a Select Committee.
This Committee has not yet, however, been appointed, and it is not
considered probable that the Bill will be further proceeded with.
Recently a scheme of amalgamation has been agreed to, and has
received the Royal Assent, between the Gas Light and Coke Company
(usually known as the " Chartered"), the Independent Gas
Company, and the Imperial Gas Company ; the last named Company
lights a considerable portion of this District.
Subsequently terms were arranged between the Amalgamated
Company and the Metropolitan Board of Works, under the superintendence
of the Board of Trade, and a Bill introduced into Parliament
by the Company for farther powers was amended in conformity
therewith, these terms being the same as those recommended by
Mr. Forster's Committee. This Bill has passed the House of Commons,
and is now before the House of Lords awaiting a second