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Lighting Committee admirably carried out the wishes of the Vestry, and the main centre of
municipal life was made gay with banners, crests and streamers, floating between Venetian
masts, quite in City style. The citizens of Hoxton Market had quite a jubilee on their own
account. The roadway had been carpeted with clean sand, and a large part of the Vestry's
stud, with the rolling stock of the scavenging department, were drawn up in review order,
reflecting great credit on all concerned. The men had decorated their horses with jubilee
splendour, the animals were in fine fettle, and the display, superintended by Mr. Freeman and
Mr. Taplin, gave great delight to the assembled populace. A spacious marquee, erected in the
yard adjacent to the lighting station, served to accommodate the host of visitors and local
guests, the platform being environed with choice plants and flowers, while music was supplied
by the band of the First Tower Hamlets Rifle Volunteers.
Lord Kelvin had a kindly and appreciative reception on his arrival, and amongst those
present were the Chairman of the Vestry, Mr. E. J. Wakeling (who ably presided over the
ceromony), Professor Stuart, M.P., and Mrs. Stuart, Mr. Passmore Edwards, the Rev. S. Buss
and Mrs. Buss, Mr. J. Lowles, M.P., and Mrs. Lowles, Mr. Edwin Austin J.P., Mr. Nathan
Moss, J.P., L.C.C., Mr. W. R. Cremer, Mrs. Macdonald, Mr. H. T. Sawell and Mrs. Sawell,
Mr. F. Snowden, Mr. R. Dummett, Dr. Garnett, Mr. J. Little (chairman of the Shoreditch
Board of Guardians), Mr. Manville (Kincaid, Waller, and Manville), Mr. J. B. Alliott, M.I.C.E.,
and Mr. J. Paton, M.I.C.E., Mr. H. B. Ransom, A.M.I.C.E. (in charge of the works for Messrs.
Manlove, Alliott and Co.), Mr. Cross (Spalding and Cross, Architects of the Baths and Washhouses),
Mr. F. J. Smith, F.R.I.B.A., Mr. Roland Plumbe, F.R.LB.A., Mr. W. Griffiths, Mr.
Henry Lovegrove, C.E. (district surveyor), Mr. Enos Howes, J.P. (chairman of St. Luke's
Vestry), and many of the Shoreditch Vestrymen and ratepayers with their ladies. The
Bethnal Green Vestry was represented by its Chairman, Mr. C. Hurley, J.P., and there were
present from Hackney Mr. Lovegrove (chief surveyor), Mr. G. Bethell Holmes J.P., Mr.
Sheehan (chairman of the Electric Lighting Committee), Dr. King Warry, Messrs. H.
Hulland, J. B. Kyffin, and J. W. Whiter.
The arrangements were zealously carried out by the Vestry Clerk, Mr. J. Rush Dixon (the
Vestry's Surveyor), Mr. C. H. Doughty (electric lighting inspector), Mr. C. N. Russell (chief
engineer to the Vestry), and the members of the Electric Lighting Committee: Messrs. H. E.
Kershaw (chairman), J. J. Trowbridge (vice-chairman), E. J. Wakeling, J.P. (chairman of the
Vestry), A. S. D. Arundel, J. T. Clark, A. Cocking, H. E. Ellis, W. C. Elsdon, J. J. Freeman,
J. Frost, W. R. Graham, F. W. Hall, J. Hurlin, E. H. Knight, T. Martindill N. Moss, J.P.,
L.C C., W. F. Norton, C. A. Pickett, H. T. Sawell, J. W. Vandy, and F. M. Wenborn.
Mr. Wakeling having taken the chair, the Rev. S. Buss, vicar of Shoreditch read an
appropriate dedicatory prayer.
Then came the intensely interesting moment. Lord Kelvin left the tent, the destructor
apparatus was set in motion, and in a few moments the lighting up of the two arc lamps
pendant from the roof of the marquee signalised the switching on of the light. The result
was received with enthusiastic applause.
Lord Kelvin said:—Ladies and Gentlemen : During our short absence we have performed
two operations of very great importance and interest. In the first place we passed two brightly
caparisoned horses and a brilliant looking cart. By an electrical signal that cart emptied its
load into the stores of the electric lighting station to be brought to its proper place, put into
the furnaces, and its energy converted into light and power for the parish of Shoreditch.
(Hear, hear.) I take it that all these dust carts are here to celebrate this jubilee, and I think
you will say those words are not exaggerated when I spoak of the brilliant appearance of these
horses and carts that are to be employed daily to bring their loads here from the dust bins of
this parish. In the admirable system now being tried on a large scale for the first time the
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