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absord £750, and out of the balance it was intended to write off a third of the £697 Gs. 10d. which figured to the debit of the "suspense account Garman case," and was the amount of indemnity the company had to pay in connection with the sad accident, which was attributed by some to the company's negligence. It was already well known to them that the company's application for a provisional order in the Session 1889-90 was not successful, but the company had renewed its application, limiting the area to that portion of Brighton which lay outside the proposed corporation area, and in the event of its obtaining this provisional order the company would withdraw its wires and its opposition in the corporation area. Should, however, the application for the provisional order not be successful, the company would continue to supply the whole of Brighton, and would trust to its system and the greater economy which was possible under it, to make satisfactory headway against the competition of the corporation. It was a very gratifying thing to point out to the shareholders that the system which the company adopted some two years ago, the alternating current high tension transformer system, was now almost universally acknowledged as the only possible system for supplying electricity over an extended area by the leading clectricians not only in this country but throughout the world. All the new work in America was being carried out on this high tension system, and practically one might say that only very old-fashioned engineers, who had not kept pace with the times, found themselves advocating the low tension system, which had its day and finished its career in the minds of serious people some six or eight years ago. For instance, during the past few months the City of London decided to grant powers to two companies, and, in both cases, the system which was practically worked out by this company in Brighton had been adopted. Speaking of the Corporation, their purse was a much longer one than the company's, and if it came to a question as to who could lose the most money, he quite acknowledged that the ratepayers of Brighton would be able to beat them on that score-(laughter)-but in an actual and fair working competition they (the company) would gain the victory. The company were doing their very best to come to an amicable arrangement with the corporation, and he personally. had felt confident for some time past that it was greatly to the corporation's interest to come to an arrangement with the company. It would be noticed that the amount of capital at present invested in the company was £17,500, of which £2,500 was held in debentures. It was proposed to increase the debenture capital by a further £3,000, bringing up the total to £20,500. He would like to take this opportunity of correcting a misapprehension which existed in the minds of many ratepayers of Brighton, and which had been referred to in various observations that had been made in the corporation with regard to the company. There was an impression that the £17,500 share capital of the company was largely made up of promotion money, and did not actually represent plant. He could only say in reply that the original founders of the company bought a limited amount of plant compared with that which the company at present held for the sum of £2,000, and that after a further £2,000 had been spent upon it, it was valued at £8,000, so that the profit made in the formation of the company by those who were bold enough to purchase the old concern under the hammer, was £4,000 in shares. But the plant that was taken over by the company was valued at fully the £8,000 paid for it. Since then various important additions had been made, bringing up the present total to £17,500, and he had great pleasure in assuring the shareholders that during the past year the plant had been kept in repair out of revenue, and that for every penny that appeared on the balance-sheet the company could show a satisfactory asset. He had much pleasure in moving that the accounts and report be accepted, and that a dividend of 5 per cent. be paid.

Mr. CASH seconded the motion, congratulating the shareholders on the position of the company under adverse circumstances, and complimenting the directors on their management of its affairs.

The motion was carried.

On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. CASH, Mr. Kimber was re-elected a director. Messrs. Ball, Baker, Rowe & Co. were reappointed auditors, on the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. KIMBER.

The Telephone Company of Egypt, Limited. THE report of the directors for the year ending 31st December, 1890, presented at the eighth ordinary general meeting of the company, on Tuesday, stated the revenue account, after providing £345 for interest on debentures shows an amount to credit of £3,670 10s. 1d., adding to this the sum of £1,459 1s. 4d. brought forward from 31st December, 1889, there remains a balance for disposal of £5,129 11s. 5d., out of which the directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 6 per cent. on the preferred shares, free of income tax, carrying forward £1,508 5s. 5d. Considerable expense has been incurred during the past year in the renewal of lines and instruments, all charges in connection therewith having been provided for ont of revenue. The directors have also deemed it advisable to eliminate from the accounts certain subscriptions, the collection of which appear doubtful. A further issue of £1,500 6 per cent, debentures was made during the year, in order to replace a portion of the revenue that has been expended on capital account. The business at Alexandria and Cairo shows a less favourable tendency, due to local circumstances. The growth of the exchange at Port Said, on the other hand, has more than fulfilled the expectations of the directors, and this exchange will in time add to the income of the company. A small exchange was opened during the year at Assiout, and negotiations are now in progress for the establishment of an exchange at Suez, with a branch at Port Tewtick. The gross revenue of the company at 31st December, 1890, was £10,852 8s. 2d., and the total number of subscribers in

[MARCH 27, 1891.

Egypt, 994. Under the articles of association Mr. Henry Grewing retires from the direction, but being eligible offers himself for reelection. Messrs. Price, Waterhouse. and Co., the auditors of the company, also retire, and offer themselves for re-election.

The SECRETARY having read the notice convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN said: Gentlemen, I assume that the report and accounts, which have already been placed before you, may be taken as read. I think that during the past year the business has been kept up to a fair point of prosperity, though, in fact, so far as accounts are concerned, the profits are £340 less than in 1889, but the benefits arising from the establishment of exchanges at Port Said and Assiout will only be felt in this and the following years, while the working expenses have been necessarily increased on their account I think you must wait upon the reviving prosperity of the country for any large extension of the business. The wires are for the most part being renewed with phosphor-bronze, and the replacing of some very large poles has also added to the expenses. These charges have also been met out of revenue, and as the manager reports that all the lines are kept in working order, the directors have not thought it necessary to reduce the capital value of the company. Charges against revenue may become larger in future years on account of maintenance, but so long as the lines and instruments are kept in good order from revenue there is no reason to make any charge for depreciation. You are no doubt aware that much trade has been transferred from Alexandria to Port Said and Suez, and as a consequence our business at Alexandria has fallen off to some extent; but Alexandria will always remain a place of considerable importance, and any falling off there will be certainly compensated by the esta blishment of telephonic communication at Port Said and Suez. We have already opened at Port Said-I think we said so in our last report-and though we have not yet opened at Suez, we are under negotiations for that purpose, and hope it will be established this year. We have had negotiations from time to time with the Egyptian Government as to the establishment of telephonic communication between Cairo and Alexandria, but the directors have not been able to come to a conclusion that such a line-which will cost no less than £12,000 to be efficient-would bring even a moderate return to the company. Perhaps, as the financial condition of the country improves, it may be worth while for the Government to establish a line, allow ing the company to work it in connection with their exchanges at its ends, or to make some arrangement whereby the expenditure should not be entirely at the company's risk. The matter will continue to have the directors attention. The directors believe the service is carried on with the greatest efficiency; at all events, we have had no complaints from subscribers, and as this is due to the careful supervision of Mr. Evans and his staff in Egypt, the shareholders will, I hope, be able to express their satisfaction with the services of the Egyptian staff. Our staff expenditure has also been kept at a moderate scale by our able secretary, nor are the directors dilatory in requiring the explanation necessary to enable them to authorise it. While our expenditure is at the lowest point consistent with efficiency, and the dividend remains at only 6 per cent., subscribers in Egypt cannot expect our moderate charges for services rendered to be reduced, though we hope this may be possible when the trade of the country improves. The committee in charge lend their aid to the superintendent in matters of importance when they arise, and advice is desired by the board, and our thanks are due to these gentlemen for thus gratuitously giving their time.

No questions were asked or opposition offered, and the Chairman having moved the resolution approving the report and accounts, and declaring a dividend of 6 per cent, it was seconded by Mr. Henry Grewing, and unanimously carried.

The last mentioned gentleman, who was retiring by rotation from the board of directors, was re-elected, as also the auditors, Messrs. Price, Waterhouse & Co., and the usual vote of thanks concluded the meeting.

Elmore's Foreign and Colonial Company.-The direc tors of Elmore's Foreign and Colonial Patent Copper Depositing Company, Limited, have called meetings for April 6th to alter the articles of association to enable them to distribute amongst the shareholders the assets held by the company, and represented by shares and debentures of the French and Austrian companies. If these clauses are altered so as to enable the directors to distribute the above securities as though they were dividend in specie, they will immediately propose a distribution equivalent to £6 per priority share and £5 per founders' share, reckoning the securities to be divided at their par value.

The Telephone Company of Austria, Limited.-This company have declared the usual half-yearly dividend to the 30th inst., on the preference shares at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum payable, less income-tax, early in April.

Elmore's Austro-Hungarian Company.- Thursday, April 2nd, has been appointed settling day for shares numbers 1 to 50,000.

TRAFFIC RECEIPTS.

The Brazilian Submarine Telegraph Company, Limited. The receipts for the week ending March 20th, 1891, amounted to £6,174.

The City and South London Railway Company. The traffic receipts for the week ended March 21st, amounted to £766.

The Western and Brazilian Telegraph Company, Limited. The receipts for the week ending March 20th, 1891, after deducting 17 per cent. of the gross receipts payable to the London Platino-Brazilian Company, were £5,108

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Amongst the more important articles exhibited at the stand of the Acme Electric works may be mentioned the following:

Teague's Patent Electricity Meter, direct reading in B.T. units, no constants or multiplier being required. It is a simple form of electromotor, the armature of which consists of a hollow non-magnetic cylinder through which the current passes, contact being made by the lower edge, and end, of armature and spindle, dipping into troughs of mercury, in which by a special arrangement the mercury is prevented from spilling and the action of the atmosphere reduced to a minimum. The armature is enclosed in a strong magnetic field, and the speed is directly proportional to the current passing through the

BRAHAM

COUPLED D.P. SWITCH (NEW PATTERN).

They are also mounted on enamelled slates for main and, branch switchboards in combination with safety cut-out.

New Combined Improved Ayrton & Perry Magnifying Spring Volt

MARCH 27, 1891.]

One of the prettiest exhibits is that of the Keys' Electric Company, Limited; over the entrance to their room are the letters K. E. C., formed by incandescent lamps in green, red and white. The interior, which is most tastefully arranged, contains a number of domestic machines-mangle, washing machine, sewing machine, electric fan, &c, in constant operation. There is also an electric tea urn, which boils water in five minutes and an electric cigar lighter. Among the numerous other exhibits may be mentioned a wellfinished switchboard with the new "revolver switches," which are much admired; as well as a large quantity of Dolivo ammeters and voltmeters, electroliers, and fittings of rare artistic merit. As a curious incident, we may state that during the opening ceremony, the only time when the electric light was at all visible, happened whilst the Lord Mayor inspected the Keys Company's room for the space of about a quarter of an hour, and his lordship in his opening speech referred especially to the numerous useful appliances which he happened to notice during this favourable interval.

THE GENERAL ELECTRIC POWER AND TRACTION COMPANY Have an extremely interesting show of electric motors, switches, electric light fittings and accessories. Small electric motors are in operation, driving some of Messrs. Bradford's well-known domestic machinery-wringing machines, washing machines, &c., as well as one of "Ovens's" sausage making machines. This company

have in constant operation at their stand a very neat contrivance for ventilating; the electric motor and fan are mounted on the same spindle and make a handy method for keeping a constant supply of fresh air in circulation in saloons, theatres, churches, halls, and similar places. Electric drills for drilling holes of ths inch to 1 inch in metal are also shown. Artistic electric light fittings of all descriptions are exhibited, and several unique types of drawing-room and library lamps give the visitors an idea of the extent of the company's manufactures.

411

serve is to break up the colourless light into brilliant and subdued rays, at the same time affording additional security in case of, a broken lamp. The samples shown at present are each either of white beads or of beads of some single colour, but it is intended, by various combinations and arrangements, to produce diffusers of such distinct tones and tints as to meet every requirement as to colour

LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ELECTRICAL TRADES SECTION.

THE Electrical Trades Section of the London Chamber of Commerce met on Friday last at Botolph House. In the absence of Mr. Crompton through illness, Mr. Garcke acted as chairman. The secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting which were confirmed.

THE TELEPHONE CLAUSES IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING ACTS. The secretary read the report of the committee appointed on the 26th January to consider the telephone clauses in the Electric Lighting Acts.

The report stated that when, in the Session of 1889, the first large batch of provisional orders were applied for consequent upon the passing of the Amendment Act of 1888, the question of the protection to be given by the orders to the telephone companies was naturally raised, and in order to settle the matter a meeting was held at the Board of Trade, at which meeting the clause inserted by the Board of Trade in all electric lighting orders of 1889 was settled after discussion. This clause was the result of a compromise, but was considered by the parties present, including the Board of Trade, to be the best that could be adopted in the conflicting interests of the parties, it was not, however, deemed wholly satisfactory by either the telephone companies or by the electric lighting companies, but it was inserted in all the 1889 provisional orders, all but three of which related to the Metropolis. This clause of 1889 was subsequently adopted by the Board of Trade in the model order issued by them in 1890.

During the Session of 1890, a very large number of provisional orders were granted by the Board of Trade. In the great majority of these the the 1889 clause was inserted by the Board of Trade, and no objection was taken to that clause by any of the parties promoting the orders, or by the telephone company.

Certain of the local authorities, however, tried to amend the clause in their own favour, and the Board of Trade (which authority, it may be stated, has made it part of its policy to pay the greatest deference to the wishes of the local authority), without expressing any opinion on the merits of the difference, decided not to take the responsibility of determining the difference, but to refer the matter to Parliament. The machinery by which this was done was by altering the clause and leaving the telephone company to petition, but the Board of Trade distinctly disclaimed having settled the clause in the altered form, and explained this to the chairman of the committee.

The question thus raised came up first before the Committee on the Electric Lighting Provisional Orders Confirmation (No. 6) (Birkenhead Electric Lighting Order) Bill, on the 3rd July, 1890.

The night before that Bill came into committee, the Board of Trade wrote to the various agents representing the promoters of provisional orders, stating that the question was coming before the committee on the Birkenhead order (without saying when), and that the clause settled by the committee would be inserted by them in all provisional orders of the Session.

Your committee understand that this notice was received by some agents so late that they could not get to the committee room in time even to be present at the discussion, or until after the question had been decided.

Moreover, it is clear that the question was merely one between the promoters of the Birkenhead order and the other promoters who had objected to the clause as agreed in 1889 (all of whom were represented by the same agents), and their opponents, and that neither the representatives of the London companies nor the promoters of other orders had any locus to be heard by the committee.

This committee, however, settled a clause which is admittedly more favourable to the telephone companies than the clause of 1889, and the Board of Trade, in pursuance of the determination, of which notice was so tardily given by them to the other promoters, took steps to insert this clause in all pending provisional orders.

Your committee desires that the section should clearly understand that when a Provincial Order Confirmation Bill comes to Parliament, the promoters of a provisional order have to promote it in the form in which it has been granted by the Board of Trade, that they have nopower to ask the committee to alter the form of the order in any manner, and that no question can be raised by any one upon the order except with the consent of the Board of Trade, or upon petition presented by parties having a locus against the order.

Your committee are informed that it so happened that a great many orders affecting London and other places had been granted by the Board of Trade, with the telephone protection clause of 1889 inserted, and that the confirming Bill had been introduced into Parliament prior to the date when the committee considered the Birkenhead order.

Many of these Bills, however, were not opposed, and none of them by the Telephone Company (who had throughout expressed their readiness to abide by the settlement made in 1889), and came therefore before Mr. Leonard Courtney, the chairman of committees, as unopposed Bills.

412

The Board of Trade gave notice of their intention to request the chairman to insert the Birkenhead committee clause in lieu of the clause inserted in the order as granted.

When the question came before Mr. Leonard Courtney, he decided that in the face of opposition by the promoters of the order, he could not make an substantial alteration, even at the instance of the Board of Trade, and in those cases therefore where the order had been granted previous to the decision of the Birkenhead committee, and objection to the proposed alterations was made by the promoters, the 1889 clause remained.

The Board of Trade, however, inserted the 1890 clause into the orders subsequently granted by them, and (notwithstanding the opposition of the promoters, and the fact that the telephone companies did not ask to have the clause of 1890 inserted, but expressed their concurrence in the agreed clause of 1889 being adhered to), declined to make any alteration.

Your committee, however, are informed that in the case of the City of London provisional orders, the last two granted by the Board of Trade, during the Session of 1890, the Board of Trade, at the request of the Commissioners of Sewers for the City, agreed to the 1889 clause being inserted in the House of Lords in these orders in lieu of the clause of 1890, which they had inserted in the orders when granted. For the convenience of the section, printed clauses of the Sessions of 1889 and 1890 are attached to this report.

Your committee understand that the Board of Trade's action in the matter was governed by the following considerations :

:

They say that in 1889 the responsibility of dealing with the question had been taken out of their hands by the agreement come to between the parties.

The Board of Trade therefore determined to insert such agreed clause in all orders.

They departed from this, however, at the request of a local authority, with the result that a committee of the House settled the clause. The Board of Trade thereupon came to the conclusion that their proper course was to put the committee's clause into all pending orders, without reference to locality, or to the expressed wishes of the telephone and electric light companies.

At the request of a local authority the Board returned to the 1889 clause in the case of the City of London Orders.

The Board of Trade have, however, not acted consistently to the course of procedure thus laid down by them.

During the present session some 70 to 80 provisional orders are being promoted, and the Board of Trade, in the model order which they have issued, have put forward a third clause on this subject differing from the clauses of 1889 and 1890, and again altering the rights of the two sets of parties.

Your committee feel strongly that while the Board of Trade are the protectors of the rights of the public in dealing with these matters, and are perfectly justified in altering the conditions which they think necessary to impose upon undertakers in the interests of the public, or of the safety of buildings or otherwise, or as to the prices to be charged and so on, should not lightly take away from two sets of people the right to contract as to the relative positions of such parties in carrying out their undertakings.

It is true that the electric light companies only carry on their operations under statutory authority, and that the telephone companies have no statutory authority.

The telephone companies were, however, so to speak, in the field, and carrying on a lawful business when the electric lighting companies were promoting their orders.

The Telephone Company therefore had a right to say: You shall not injuriously affect our business, but we will be satisfied if you will give us certain clauses for our protection, and the electric light undertakers had also the undoubted right to say we will give you such protection, but no more.

Your committee moreover admit that in cases where there is a contest as to the proper clauses to be inserted, the Board of Trade was no doubt justified in abiding by the precedent set them by a committee of the House under similar circumstances. But your committee cannot understand why the Board of Trade should think it necessary to intervene between the only parties interested, and say that those parties shall not be entitled to settle by agreement the quantum of protection to be given by one to the other.

It has been suggested that the Board of Trade in this matter are protecting the rights of the Postmaster-General, as the telephone companies carry on their business under a license from the Postmaster-General.

The rights of the Postmaster-General are, however, expressly reserved by the orders granted, and anything that is arranged between the undertakers and the telephone companies can in no way affect these rights.

It would, therefore, seem to your committee that the Board of Trade in dealing with this question are unnecessarily curtailing the rights of electric lighting and telephone companies to agree amongst themselves how far one is to take precautions against interference with the property of the other. For, as already stated, the essence of the clauses is protection to the telephone companies.

In the Birkenhead case, moreover, the two parties did not agree, and the committee was asked by the parties to settle their dispute. Your committee feel that it is most desirable that steps should be taken by the Chamber of Commerce on the question of principle, as they feel it is most desirable in the interest of those who have invested and are investing capital in these undertakings, that they should not be put to the continual expense of discussion every session, both with the Board of Trade and Parliament, how far one of them is or is not to be protected, that there should in fact be some finality to the discussion, and that the rights of the parties to contract with each other should not be disturbed.

Your committee feel that it is not for them to suggest what steps the section of the Chamber of Commerce should take upon this

[MARCH 27, 1891.

report, but they do feel very strongly that the representations should be made to the Board of Trade, based upon the principles to watch they have here referred.

The report was signed by Colonel Jackson and Mr. Winterbotham on behalf of the telephone companies, and by Mr. E. Garcke and Sydney Morse on behalf of the electric light companies.

Some discussion followed the reading of the report.

Mr. SIDNEY MORSE read a letter from the Board of Trade, saying that the telephone companies had informed them that they intended to oppose all provisional orders for their protection unless satisfactory to them, and that the railway companies did not consider the clause as it stood at present, afforded adequate protection to their telegraph lines. Speaking on the subject he said that he had written to the Board of Trade, pointing out that the 1889 clause had been agreed on by the telephone and electric light companies, and pressing then to insert it in their orders in place of the clause of 1891. The Board of Trade had replied that they had considered the matter, but could not do as requested. Members of the chamber were probably awar that the custom in private legislation was for the opponents of a bill to approach its promoters and offer to withdraw their opposition. provided the clause they desired should be inserted. The clause was usually inserted as a matter of course, and the opposition withdrawn He had supposed the Board of Trade would follow the same cour with provisional orders, but they had refused to do so. Promoters of an electric lighting provisional order were in a great difficulty when coming to the House of Commons for confirmation, They could not alter a word whilst anyone else might object. If he, as representing an electric lighting company went to the Board of Trade with a clause agreed on between himself and the telephone companies, no notice was taken, but when a telephone company threatened to oppose an order in Parliament unless it was made satisfactory to them, the Board of Trade gave way. The telephone companies had signed the report and were prepared to join the Chamber of Commerce in approaching the Board of Trade and pressing for the 1389 clause, but unfortunately they had already informed the Board of Trade that the model clause as altered, was satisfactory to them.

Colonel JACKSON said the telephone companies were quite prepared to accept the 1889 clause as a general clause, and if they could prevail upon the Board of Trade to adopt it under all circumstances they would do so. He did not think Mr. Morse could ask more than that He could hardly expect them to refuse every order but that. They were agreed that the Chamber of Commerce should be invited by the section to use its influence in the report they had made, but they could not fight against an order which suited all their purposes. Such a course might lose them both the model order and the new

one.

The CHAIRMAN said the best course which could be pursued would be to ask the Chamber of Commerce to take some step with a view to making the report effective, and, if Colonel Jackson agreed, they might pass. a resolution asking him and the telephone companies to support the report by joint action with the electric light companies before the Board of Trade.

Col. JACKSON, speaking for himself, had no objection to such a reso lution being passed, but, of course, he had colleagues. Accordingly a resolution was moved by Mr. C. J. WHARTON, and seconded by Colonel JACKSON, calling on the Council of the Chamber to embody the substance of the report in a letter to the Board of Trade and to support it by a deputation attended by both interests. This was carried unanimously.

CO-OPERATION OF TELEPHONE AND ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANIES IN THE LAYING OF UNDERGROUND CABLES.

The CHAIRMAN said this was the next matter on the agenda. It was to have been brought forward by Mr. Crompton who, unhappily. was too ill to attend.

Colonel JACKSON said there were some features in the suggestion that might be valuable, and so far as the telephone companies were concerned they were prepared to discuss the matter. The section car do no more than bring the interests together, because to give effect to Mr. Crompton's suggestion there would have to be negotiations between the electric light and telephone companies, as, for instabe. on such questions what should be the relative shares borne in the cost of laying a main, what should be paid for mains already laid, also for application to the Board of Trade for power to allow the telephis: companies to lay wires for the electric lighting companies and e

verså.

The CHAIRMAN said it was obviously to the advantage of both that the streets should not be unnecessarily taken up, but as there was no motion before the meeting he thought the matter had better be postponed.

This was agreed to.

OVERHEAD WIRES.

The report of the sub-committee on overhead wires had bee previously circulated and was taken as read.

The CHAIRMAN said they would all notice how unfairly they were treated. No other industry was hampered in the same way. Th matter had been before them for some time; but they could only pass a resolution to make a strong representation to the Board of Trade of the subject.

Mr. Č. J. WHARTON suggested that it would be a good plan to allo the report to be published in the technical press. Perhaps that could thereby create a consensus of public opinion in their faven Taking experience within his own knowledge of that year, thro all the bad weather he had never had a wire break down which been-put up in defiance of the Board of Trade regulations, thor: several had which had been put up in accordance therewith.