London in Darkness by Day.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6753, 6 February 1892, Page 2

London in Darkness by Day.

Yesterday (Deo. 24tb), says a London paper, was the fourth day of the present week on which fog was spread over the metre* politan area, ccmpletly obscuring the sun, and placing London in comparative darkness. Gloomy and miserable as was I he general outlook, it was intensified by the severely cold nature of the fog, of which there was ample evidence yesterday morning in the frozen particles of the watery vapour which lay thick upon every outdoor object, and again, as on Tuesday, was suggestive of a snowfall during the night. Yesterday, in the City, and in Greater London, it could be hardly realised that the day was busy Christmas Eve, by reason of the disorganisation of the traffic, the absence of the usual shopping crowds, tho lack of Christmas business in places where at this festive season it is always excellent, and the comparatively small attendance at the great markets of Loadenball and Smithfield. In North London the fog was very dense. It did not lift during the whole day, and great inconvenienoe resulted to tradesmen in consequence of the delay in traffic, which is almost as great as that caused last year by the snow. Many tradesmen were unable to complete the decoration of their shops until late in tho afternoon in consequence of the non arrival of parcels of poultry from the country, which had been expected at least a day earlier. Nearly all (bo shops bad to be lighted up during the most part of the day. The necessity for the increasing use of gas by day and night in the streets and houses owing to the (Fog makes heavy demands on the resources of (ho gas companies. Until yesterday morning the supply bad bpen sufficient, though reduced, and continues yet to be well maintained. At Ludgate • hill Eailway Station yesterday morning, however, the gas failed, and

candles and lamps had to be used to illuminate the platforms and offices. Some shopkeepers in tho neighbourhood experienced a like inconvenience, and had to resort to a less satisfactory means of lighting their premises. Considerable inconvenience was caused at the General Post Office yesterday through the failure of the gas supply. Lamps and candles were requisitioned, bat the supply obtainable being limited great confusion existed for some time. On all the London lines great inconvenience and delay was caused by the continuance of the fog yesterday morning. Much inconvenience has also been felt on the railways in various parts of tbe country.