fourteen days particulars of damage, also in writing, have been sent to the company.
Chimneys on Fire.—If, within the Metropolitan Police District, the chimney of any house or other building be on fire, the occupier will, irrespective of any question as to negligence, be liable to a penalty not exceeding 20s.; but if he proves that he incurred the penalty by reason of the neglect or wilful default of another, he may, by summary process, recover the amount from such other person.
In boroughs and in urban districts.—If any chimney accidentally catches fire within such districts, the occupier will be liable to a penalty not exceeding 10s., unless he prove to the satisfaction of the magistrate that the fire was in no wise owing to omission, neglect or carelessness of himself or his servants. And in order to put a stop to the practice of cleaning chimneys by burning the soot in them, any person who wilfully sets, or causes to be set, on fire any chimney is made liable to a penalty not exceeding 5s, and in addition may be indicted for felony.
Destruction of premises by fire, effect of with regard to payment of rent see p. 1959.
FIRE INSURANCE
A contract of insurance against fire is a contract of indemnity only, that is to say, it is not the cost of replacing any property which has been destroyed that can be recovered under the policy, but only the actual value of the property lost, at the time of its destruction. The amount to which the property has been insured only represents the limit beyond which no claim can be made, and has not, necessarily, any connexion with the amount recoverable. Damage by fire means damage caused by ignition; it is not sufficient that it be caused by scorching due to overheating.
GAS
Subject to any express limitations contained in the special Act under which any particular gas company may be authorized to carry on its business, the supply of gas is governed by the following provisions:—
A gas company, if required to do so by the owner or occupier of premises situate within 25 yards from any of their mains, or such other distance as may be prescribed by their special Act, are bound to supply such premises with gas, and must furnish and lay any pipe that may be necessary for that purpose. But the owner or occupier must pay the cost of so much of any pipe as may be laid either on his property, or for a greater distance than 30 feet from any of the company's pipes, whether on his property or not.
Every owner or occupier requiring a supply must enter into an agreement in writing to continue to receive and pay for, during a period of at least two years, a supply of such an amount that the rent payable for it will not be less than 20 per cent, of the cost incurred by the company in providing the supply; and must, if required, give security for the payment of what may become due from him. The gas supplied must possess the illuminating power prescribed by the special Act.
Meters.—All meters must be in accordance with Government requirements, and must be duly stamped. Any meter required must, on request be supplied by the company; but they may demand security to be given for the payment of its cost, or hire.
No meter may be fixed or disconnected by a consumer without twenty-four hours' notice to the company, under a penalty of 40s.
The consumer must, at his own expense, keep in order any meter belonging to him; but the company are responsible for those supplied by them on hire. The company may, at all reasonable times, test any meter belonging
