The Lighting of Courts: Mr. Freeman introduced Clause 18, which he said was designed to require the owners of courts to provide lamps in those courts and light them. There were between 7,000 and 8,000 courts in Birmingham, and it was regarded as an anomaly that the Corporation should have to light them and extinguish the lights. … … Mr. Keen opposed the clause, contending that it was the duty of the Corporation under the Health Act to keep the courts properly lighted … Mr. T. H. Clare (City Treasurer) gave evidence in support of the clause. In cross-examination by Mr. Campbell, he said he knew that Mr. Pinsent, as trustee, was the holder of a considerable amount in gas and water annuities, The gas and water undertakings were quite distinct and were purchased under different Acts of Parliament … … Mr. R. A. Pinsent, solicitor, Birmingham in reply to Mr. Campbell, said he was a representative trustee in the annuities to the capital value of over L. 100,000. When the gas and water undertaking were purchased, there were definite conditions applying to each class of annuities. He did not regard it as an investment that the gas sinking fund should be used to redeem waste annuities, nor that the water sinking fund should be used to purchase gas annuities. He had a definite contract with the Corporation in regard to the annuities and his consent to the variation of the terms was not asked before the bill was promoted. In reply to the Chairman, Mr. Pinsent said, in his opinion, the investment of the sinking funds should be outside Birmingham …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive
Referenced
GRO0738 Devonport: Richard Alfred Pinsent: 1852 – 1948