View report page

204
Electric Lighting on a very large scale, and can point to
work accomplished in a thoroughly successful manner for
close upon live years past.
Its financial position, system, and methods, were exhaustively
investigated at the recent Board of Trade
enquiry, and again in Committee of both Houses of Parliament,
with a result in every way satisfactory to the Corporation,
which secured statutory powers in respect of the
important area scheduled in the Special Act known as the
Electric Lighting Orders Continuation (No. '2) Act, 1889, a
copy of which has been already forwarded to you.
The provisions of the order which the Corporation is
now promoting for the ensuing session are the same in all
respects as those contained in the Act of 1689.
Many of the Electric Lighting Companies established
in London gave notice in 1888 to all the Vestries and
District Boards of the Metropolis (except Camberwell), of
their intention to make application to the Board of Trade
for Provisional Orders for supplying Electric Lighting in
their Parish or District.
The Board of Trade referred all these applications by
order dated March 1889 to Major Marindin to enquire and
report thereon, he commenced the enquiry on the 1st May,
1889, all the Companies were represented by eminent
Counsel, and also the Solicitors and Vestry Clerks of the
different parishes, many expert and scientific witnesses were
examined, the systems of the supply were subject to certain
criticisms, the effect of competition was discussed, the extent
of areas, and districting, also questions of Finance, &c.,
powers of local authorities, the price, and the public safety