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invited proposals from Electric Lighting Companies willing to work
under a license. Several proposals were submitted in response to
this invitation, but, probably owing to the short period (seven years)
allowed under a license for recoupment to the undertakers, the
terms proposed were not such as the Vestry felt justified in adopting,
except in one instance. The only proposal entertained was that of
the Electric Sun Lamp and Power Company, to whom was assigned
a district bounded by a line running along the centre of the
undermentioned streets: Oxford Street from the Circus to Poland
Street, Poland Street, Broad Street to Cambridge Street, Cambridge
Street to Beak Street, Beak Street and Regent Street northward
to the Circus. Prolonged negotiations ensued upon the details of
the proposed license being discussed and the matter still remains
uncompleted.
As stated in their report for last year, the Vestry had before
them two applications for Provisional Orders, each order including
the whole Parish in the area of supply. The Lighting Committee
had interviews with representatives of each of the competingCompanies,
and ultimately reported in favour of the application of
the Edison Company, to the exclusion of the Metropolitan (Brush)
Company. This report was adopted by the Vestry, and the Board
of Trade were informed accordingly.
Negotiations were continued with the Edison Company with a
view to settle the terms of the Order in a friendly spirit, and the
Company agreed to undertake to add a specified district to the
compulsory area of supply within two years from the confirmation
of the Order, in consideration of the Vestry supporting their
application before the Board of Trade. It may be explained that,
although the whole Parish is included in the area of supply, the
obligations of the Company do not equally apply throughout the
district. In the district described as "Schedule A" in the Order,
which comprises all the Parish south of and including Piccadilly,
the Company are required to lay down within two years from the
commencement of the Order and thereafter maintain, suitable and
sufficient distributing mains in certain streets specified in that
behalf. Owners or occupiers of property in other streets in