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148
burning is 10 hours, 30 minutes; whereas, in Camberwell,it is(as
stated by the Gas Company) 11 hours. 30 minutes. It therefore
follows that, when these two incidents of cost arc brought
to the same denomination in both parishes, the deduction
from the present cost per lamp, in Camberwell, will be 8s. 9d.,
which, if deducted from the amount now paid to the South
Metropolitan Gas Company, viz:—£3 9s. 0d., leaves the nett
annual cost at £3 0s. 3d. per lamp, or 1s. per lamp per
annum less than that of St. Pancras, viz:—£3 1s. 11½d.
This last price, it should be observed, was the lowest ascertained
from the five parishes referred to in this report. Such
a reduction in luminosity and time of burning would produce
a saving of about £1,179 per annum, but against this result
must be placed the fact that the lamps in St. Pancras parish
are about one-third closer together than those in Camberwell,
which, of course, admits of less illuminating power in the
same area.
This measurement by meter of the gas supplied, would,
the Committee considered, ensure, as far as it is possible, an
equity of supply and charge, between the Gas Company and
the Parish. The Surveyor has estimated the cost of providing
and fixing meters for 2,858 lamps, allowing 24 lamps to each
meter and including meter boxes, connections, pavings,
repairs, &c., &c., at £7 per meter, or a total of £810.
It would also have been necessary that one or more
Inspectors should be employed by the Yestry in order
to take the meter readings and continuously to supervise
the regulators or burners affixed to the lamps, as, whenever
the regulators become imperfect in their action through
any cause, the gas is expended through the imperfect burner
without producing its proper illuminating effect, and this,
without such supervision, might at any time occur without