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The Bill was read a first time on the 21st February and
referred to a Select Committee, but the Agents of the Bill
now state it will not be proceeded with this Session.
Gas Supply.
During the year 1882-3, a scheme was submitted for the
amalgamation of the Gas Light and Coke Company and
the London Gas Company, both of which Companies supplied
gas within your district, the line of demarcation
following the line of High Street, Broad Street, High
Holborn, and Southampton Row as far as Theobalds Road.
The Gas Light and Coke Company supplying the district
north and west of that line, and the London Gas Company
the district south and east of it. The price of the gas
supplied by the London Gas Company was 2s. per 1,000
cubic feet, the Company's initial price being 3s. 6d. per
1,000 for 14-candle gas. The price charged by the Gas
Light and Coke Company being 3s. per 1,000 cubic feet,
their initial price being 3s. 9d. per 1,000 cubic feet for 16candle
gas : in both cases the Companies having the power
of increasing their dividends above the statutory 10 per
cent, at the rate of ¼ per cent. for every id. reduction per
1,000 feet in the price charged for the gas. On the Gas
Light and Coke Company undertaking never to charge for
the public lamps, throughout the whole of the area supplied
by it, a higher price than that charged by the South Metropolitan
Gas Company on the south side of the river, and
which price was based upon an initial charge of 3s. 6d. per
1,000 cubic feet, the scheme was confirmed by the Board
of Trade and came into effect on the 1st of July, 1883.
In October 1883, a further scheme was submitted by the
Gas Light and Coke Company for its amalgamation with
the South Metropolitan Gas Company.