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suggested by the Deputation; hut the matter should have his attention, and he would
inform the Deputation of the decision of the Local Government Board thereon.
The Vestry suggested to the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and to the Local
Government Board, as alternative sites for the proposed Landing Stage, St. George's
Stairs, London Street, on the boundary between Rotherhithe and Deptford, and Norway
Wharf, Thames Street, between Deptford and Greenwich.
Ultimately, in November, 1883, the Vestry received a letter from the Assistant
Secretary of the Local Government Board, stating the Board, after a full consideration
of all the circumstances of the case, had not deemed it desirable to withhold their assent
from the proposal of the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylums District to purchase
Acorn Wharf, Rotherhithe, to be used in connection with the transfer and shipment of
Patients from the Metropolis to the proposed Hospitals for Convalescent Patients at
Darenth, and the Floating Hospitals at Long Reach.
In August, 1883, the Vestry having received a communication from the Vestry of
Camberwell, intimating that Vestry had Memorialized the Board of Trade asking the
Board .o defer taking any steps in the matter of an application for an amalgamation of
The Gas Light and Coke Company and the South Metropolitan Gas Company, and
inviting this Vestrv to send three Delegates to attend a Conference of South London
Vestries and District Boards, convened at the Vestry Hall, Camberwell, to consider the
scheme. The Vestry thereupon appointed Mr. Churchwarden Foottit and Messrs.
Bulmer and Hayward as their delegates.
In October, 1883, a letter was received from the Board of Trade transmitting a
draft of the scheme and asking the criticism of the Local Authorities. The Delegates
thereupon met in conference, and after full consideration of the draft scheme, resolutions
were passed to the following effect:—
"That having regard to the initial prices established by the respective Acts
of Parliament under which the Companies are constituted, it was inequitable, if
not positively illegal, that the initial price of the South Metropolitan Gas Company
should be set aside merely by a proviso in the scheme; and that though due provision
was made for the protection of Shareholders, no reductions could be made
in price to South Metropolitan consumers unless, and until, a reduction was made
in the whole of the proposed amalgamation district."
It was also decided to employ experts to report as to the effect of the Scheme, if
approved, on the interests of the Gas Consumers of South London.
In accordance with these resolutions, Mr. W. H. Michael, Q.C., and Mr. Sheress
Will, with Mr. A. Pennay, the Gas Engineer, and Mr. Alfred Lass, F.C.A., were
retained, gentlemen whose experience and special knowledge on all matters relating to
gas and water commended them to the judgment of the Delegates.
At a subsequent meeting, the able and exhaustive reports of the experts, with full
tables and statistics, were submitted and considered, and the representatives were
further confirmed in their intention to oppose the proposed amalgamation. Mr. Michael
and Mr. Sheress Will were accordingly instructed to settle the objections to the Scheme