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71
In consequence of a complaint made by a resident at
Albert Gate of the nuisance as well as the residential
injury caused by omnibuses making a stopping-stage
opposite his house, the Works Committee, after visiting the
locality, submitted a proposal to the Vestry for an amalgamation
of the two present refuges into one refuge 120 feet
long, with a view to diverging the traffic between and across
the two refuges, and to creating two distinct lines of traffic
'
along the Brompton and the Knightsbridge roads respectively.
The police authorities, however, who were consulted
as to whether the suggested alterations would be to the
convenience of the public traffic, were so emphatically adverse
to the scheme that the Vestry proceeded no further
in the matter.
The Electric One of the principal features of the year has
been the development of the electric light. At
pages 19-21 ante is reviewed the activity of the local electric
lighting companies, the efforts made by the Vestry to prevent
monopoly and to ensure proper control, and the action
of theBoard of Trade in practically over-ruling the objections
of the Vestry made in behalf of the public safety and convenience.
The companies having secured their powers, miles
of footway in the principal thoroughfares throughout the
parish have been pulled up at whatever time the companies
chose to do the work, regardless of the public convenience,
or the wishes of the local authorities. As a consequence the
public have been put to no small incommodity.and at the same
time subjected to some misgivings at the spectacle of conduits,insulators,distributing
boxes,and interminable "mains"
being placed under foot. And, indeed, that there was some
reason for apprehension that the introduction of the electric
light would not be unattended with danger, was evidenced
by an explosion which occurred at Albert Gate on the 1st
November, 1889, due to the ignition of an accumulation of
coal gas which had percolated into a distributing box