23 & 24 Vict., Cap. 125. METROPOLIS GAS ACT, 1860. 23 & 24 Vict., Cap. 125. An Act for better regu- Whereas the following Gas Companies; (that is to say,) “The Gaslight and Coke Company," "The City of London Gaslight and Coke Company," (a) “The Commercial Gaslight and Coke Company," "The Equitable Gaslight Company" (a)," The Great Central Gas Consumers Company" (a), "The Independent Gaslight and Coke Company' (a), "The London Gaslight Company" (a), The Phoenix Gaslight and Coke Company" (b), "The Ratcliff Gaslight and Coke Company" (c), "The Surrey Consumers Gas Company" (b), "The South Metropolitan Gaslight and Coke Company," (d) "The Western Gaslight Company (Limited)" (a), "The Imperial Gaslight and Coke Company (a), or some of them, are respectively incorporated under the Authority of Parliament for the Purpose of supplying several Districts of the Metropolis with Gas; and the said Companies, instead of supplying Gas by several Mains in the same District, have agreed, as far as possible, each One to confine its Supply to a separate District, in order to economise Capital and avoid the too frequent opening of the public Streets; and, subject to the Provisions and Restrictions of this Act, it is expedient that such districting should receive the Sanction of Parliament: And whereas the Regulations to which those Companies are subject are not uniform: And whereas it is expedient that Provision be made for the due Regulation of all Companies and Per (a) Afterwards amalgamated with The Gaslight and Coke Company. (b) Afterwards amalgamated with The South Metropolitan Gaslight and Coke Company (now called The South Metropolitan Gas Company). See note (d) hereunder. (e) Afterwards amalgamated with The Commercial Gaslight and Coke Company (now called The Commercial Gas Company). (d) Now called the South Metropolitan Gas Company. Name altered by s. 2 of the Scheme for the Amalgamation of the South Metropolitan Gaslight and Coke Company with the Surrey Consumers' Gas Company. See p. 544. 23 & 24 Vict., Cap. 125. Short Title. 10 & II Vict. c. 15. incorporated with this Act. Companies sons supplying Gas within the Metropolis: May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows; (that is to say,) I. This Act may for all Purposes be cited as Metropolis Gas Act, 1860." II. [The Gasworks Clauses Act, 1847," (except so far as the Provisions thereof are inconsistent with this Act,) is incorporated with and forms Part of this Act, and shall apply to the several Companies before named or referred to as fully as if the Gasworks of the several Companies were authorized by this Act;] and the Expression "Undertakers" in the recited Act shall be held to apply to every Gas Company affected by this Act; *** provided that the Powers vested in the Justices by the said Act shall be exercised by a Magistrate. [Words within brackets in s. 2, so far as they relate to ss. 30-37 of the Gasworks Clauses Act, 1847, and words omitted, repealed by City of London Gas Act, 1868, s. 3, p. 187 (taken in connection with s. 109 of the Gaslight and Coke Company's Act, 1868, p. 512), South Metropolitan Gas Company's Act, 1869, s. 4, p. 531, and Commercial Gas Act, 1875, s. 3, p. 557.] III. This Act applies to the several Gas Companies, and to all Persons already or hereafter supplying Gas within the Metropolis, except as herein-after excepted. IV. In the Construction of this Act the following Words and Expressions have the following Meanings, unless excluded by the Subject or Context; (that is to say,) The Expression "Gas Company" or "Gas Companies 33 means and includes any and every Company, and any Person or Persons, supplying Gas within the Limits of this Act: The Expression "Local Authority" includes the Metropolitan Board of Works (a), Vestries (b), and District Boards (b) appointed under an Act of the Session of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Years of the Reign of Her present Majesty, Chapter One Hundred and twenty, for the Local Management of the Metropolis: The Word "Inspector" or "Inspectors shall mean any Metropolitan Gas Inspector or Inspectors to be appointed under this Act: (a) Now London County Council. See Local Government Act, 1888, s. 40 (8), p. 362. (b) Now Metropolitan Borough Councils. See London Government Act, 1899, s. 4, p. 483. As to Westminster, Council of City of Westminster. See London Gazette, October 30, 1900, as to Letters Patent constituting Westminster a City. Cap. 125. The Word "Consumer" means a Person receiving or 23 & 24 Vict., entitled, in accordance with this Act, to receive a Supply of Gas from any Gas Company: The Word" the Metropolis" has the same Meaning as The Word "District " means, with respect to every Gas The Word "Premises" includes public and private The Word "the Gasworks means the Works of the respective Gas Companies, and the Works connected therewith: The Word "Rate" includes all Rents and other Pay- The Word "Meter Rent" includes all Rents and other The Word "Magistrate" means any Police or Stipen- The Words แ Common Gas" shall mean Gas of an illuminating Power [herein-after defined] of not less than Twelve Candles: (a) The Words "Cannel Gas" shall mean Gas of an illuminating Power [herein-after defined] of not less than Twenty Candles. (a) (a) These definitions repealed as to Commercial Gas Company by that Company's Act, 1875, s. 3. p. 557. As to words within brackets, s. 25 of this Act, defining Illuminating Power, is repealed as stated thereunder. For provisions in force as to Illuminating Power, see Gaslight and Coke Company Act, 1876, s. 25, p. 521, South Metropolitan Gas Company's Acts, 1876, s. 26, p. 539, and 1900, ss. 5 (1), 6, pp. 550, 551, and Commercial Gas Acts, 1875, ss. 6, 52, pp. 558, 560, and 1902, s. 12 (1), p. 571. 23 & 24 Vict., Cap. 125. Limits of Act. Sanctioning Districts to Gas Companies to be subject to triennial Revision. V. The Limits of this Act shall be the Metropolis: Provided always, that this Act and the several Clauses and Provisions thereof shall not extend or apply or be construed to extend or apply to the several Gas Companies set forth and enumerated in the Schedule annexed to this Act; provided also, that the Districts severally specified and described in the Acts and Instrument of Incorporation respectively mentioned in the said Schedule, or within which the said Companies or any of them are now supplying Gas, (notwithstanding the said Districts, or any Portions thereof, are or may be within the Limits of the Metropolis as defined by this Act.) shall not be included or deemed to be included in the Expression "the Metropolis," or any Extension thereof which may hereafter be made, under the Provisions of the herein-before mentioned Act of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Victoria, Chapter One hundred and twenty; provided also, that if the said Companies or any of them shall supply Gas in Parts of the Metropolis other than those within their respective Districts as defined in the said Schedule, then the Provisions of this Act shall be held to apply to such Companies respectively so far only as regards such extended Limits as may be within the Metropolis. VI. The Limits of each of the said Companies shall be the respective Districts supplied with Gas by such Companies as the same are defined upon Four duplicate Maps, signed by the Right Honourable Thomas Henry Sutton Setheron Estcourt, and which Maps have been severally deposited with the respective Clerks of the Peace for the Counties of Middlesex, London, Surrey, and Kent; provided that at the Expiration of Three Years next after the passing of this Act, and of every Three Years thereafter, [Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department for the Time being (a)] may, either upon the Application and with the Consent of any Two or more of the said Gas Companies whose Districts adjoin one another, make any Alteration in the Boundaries of such Districts, or, upon the Application of any Local Authority, or upon the Requisition of not less than Twenty Gas Consumers within any District or Districts proposed to be affected, and upon Proof to his Satisfaction being given that any of the said Gas Com (a) Now Board of Trade. See City of London Gas Act, 1868, s. 3, p. 187 (taken in connection with s. 109 of The Gaslight and Coke Company's Act, 1868, p. 512), South Metropolitan Gas Company's Act, 1869, s. 4. p. 531, and Commercial Gas Act, 1875, s. 3, P. 557. panies are not in a Condition adequately to supply with 23 & 24 Vict., Gas their respective Districts, or have substantially failed Cap. 125. to fulfil the Obligations imposed by this Act, may make such Alterations in the Boundaries of such Districts, or admit any new Company respectively, as he thinks proper; and all such Alterations shall be certified on One or more Maps, to be signed by the said [Secretary of State (a)], and deposited with One or more of the said Clerks of the Peace; and such last-mentioned Map or Maps shall be binding on all Parties, and the Provisions of this Act shall be held to apply to the several Districts, when so altered, and to the several Companies affected thereby, as fully and effectually as if no Alteration in such Districts had been made, and no other Company or Person than the Company to whom such Limits are for the Time being assigned or shall hereafter be assigned shall supply Gas for Sale within the said Limits, unless authorized by Parliament so to do; provided that before proceeding to consider the Necessity for altering any of the said Districts the said [Secretary of State (a)] shall cause at least One Month's Notice to be given of such Application to all Parties interested therein or affected thereby, and such Notice shall state the Day and Hour when and the Place where such Application will be considered; and Notices to be given to any Gas Company shall be left with the Secretary or some other principal Officer of the Company, and Notices to be given to any Local Authority shall be left with the Clerk or some other principal Officer of the said Local Authority. [VII-XII. repealed by City of London Gas Act, 1868, s. 3, P. 187 (taken in connection with s. 109 of the Gaslight and Coke Company's Act, 1868, p. 512), South Metropolitan Gas Company's Act, 1869, s. 4, p. 531, and Commercial Gas Act, 1875, s. 3, P. 557-] District. XIII. All the Costs, Charges, and Expenses of and Cost of incident to any Inquiry and Decision of the said [Secre. altering tary of State (a)] under this Act shall from Time to Time be borne and paid by such Parties as the said [Secretary of State (a)] shall direct, and such Decision may, upon an ex-parte Application, be made a Rule of any of Her Majesty's Superior Courts of Law at Westminster. (a) Now Board of Trade. See City of London Gas Act, 1868, S. 3. p. 187 (taken in connection with s. 109 of The Gaslight and Coke Company's Act, 1868, p. 512), South Metropolitan Gas Company's Act, 1869, s. 4, p. 531, and Commercial Gas Act, 1875, s. 3. p. 557. |