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were lighted by electricity, at intervals, during the months of
March, April, and May.
The Vestry did not arrive at any decided opinion as to the value
and cost of the light, as compared with gas for street lighting.
The experiment was conducted without cost to the Vestry.
ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
This subject has engaged much attention during the past year.
Several applications were received in the spring and summer of
1882 for permission to lay wires in various parts of the Parish for
lighting purposes; but as a Government measure to deal with the
Avhole question was then before the House of Commons, the Vestry
declined to assent to any of the proposals, pending a decision by
Parliament on the proposed legislation. The Bill was referred to a
Select Committee, and ultimately, in an amended form, became law
under the short title of " The Electric Lighting Act, 1882."
If, as appears probable, electricity is likely to compete to any
large extent with gas, it is desirable that precautions should be taken
to prevent a monopoly arising in the supply of the new light, as
is the case with gas. This aspect of the question was not lost
sight of by the Board of Trade, which was the Department of the
Government that had charge of the Bill, and the views of the Board,
subject to a slight modification, were adopted by Parliament. In
consequence of the elementary stage in which the science of Electric
Lighting was at the time, legislation was necessarily to some extent
tentative in character, and the Board of Trade have consequently
large powers conferred on them by the Act, for the purpose of
controlling the conditions of the supply and price of electricity.
No Authority or Company can supply Electricity without either
a license or Provisional Order from the Board of Trade. A license
can only be granted with the consent of the Local Authority (in
this Parish the Vestry), and for a period of seven years, although
it is renewable from time to time for a similar period. A Provisional
Order does not require the consent of the Local Authority,
and may be granted for any term, limited or unlimited, but it is
subject to Parliamentary sanction. A local authority, however, is