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think Mr. Gladstone's vras something like three or four weeksearlier.
Both Mr. Gladstone and the Attorney-General, whose
name I forget, paid that the local authority had power to prevent
overhead wires; that was in 1881.
Mr. Graham (Counfel for the Company): Are you going to call
these gentlemen?
Mr. Wilkins: No, I do not propose to do so.
Now, Sir, we come to the next year 1882, when the Board of Trade
promoted an Electric Lighting Bill. Here is the report of the
Select Committee issued by the authority of Parliament. Mr
Farrer, the then Secretary of the Board of Trade, gave evidence
I do not propose to read the whole of his evidence, but just to
select part. Question 256 is a question asked by the Chairman of
the Committee, Mr. Edward Stanhope. Mr. Stanhope asks Mr.
Farrer, as he then was, "I did not quite understand what you
said with regard to the special powers to carry wires overhead-;
that is a matter which involves some discussion. Now, as to
telegraph wires, there is no provision in the Bill." Mr. Farrer
says, "There seems to be an opinion that it is a doubtful and
dangerous practice; no provision is inserted in the Bill enabling
it to be done at all; if it is done at all it mutt be done by consent."
That was Mr. Farrer's opinion—the opinion of the Board
of Trade, that is to say. "There would be nothing to prohibit
it?—There would be nothing to prohibit any local authority from
doing it, if they have the powers already." That is, the local
authority might erect wires if they had the power. "I believe
the scientific people say that protection can be given against
accidents, still keeping the wires overhead, by placing them
in a certain position." Mr. Farrer says: "We understand
from the Electric Lighting Bill Promoters that they would never
wish to put them overhead; that they would very much prefer to
lay them under the kerbstone; that they take up very little
space, and can be laid much more readily. Therefore, there is
no power taken to place them overhead, and that could only hedone,
probably, by the consent of the owner and under the consent
of the local authority. (Q.) How is it done now, by the
telegraph?—Under the Telegraph Act of 1863, I think. If it is
desirable that they should not be put overhead, and if the electric
lighting people co not want them overhead, there could be no