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317
manifestly unsuited to its work and the proprietors
were required to take steps to abate the nuisance. A
steam-air blast was fitted, which was found on trial
to entirely prevent the emission of smoke from the
shaft.
In the autumn there was some difficulty m
securing an unlimited supply of best Welsh coal,
and from the middle of November until the middle
of January last, black smoke was observed on
several occasions from the shaft at the Generating
Station of the Metropolitan Electric Supply Company
in Amberley Road. A summons was issued
for allowing black smoke to issue, contrary to the
terms of an Order made by Mr. Curtis Bennett in
the autumn of 1898. It came out in evidence
that nothing had been done to comply with the
Order except to fit certain appliances to consume
the smoke, which appliances had not been used.
The plea in defence was inability to get proper
coal. Only one summons was originally taken out,
but the Magistrate after hearing the case, directed
that ten should be issued returnable at once, gave
convictions on nine, fining the Company £1 with
£2 2s. costs for each conviction, and dismissing the
tenth without order as to costs.
Cutting off of Water Supply.—The question of
the existing powers of the Water Companies to cut
off the supply from inhabited houses for non-payment