law: The Oriental Gas Company Act No. 1857
  4.  Streets   or 
  
  drains   not  to  be  broken  up  except  under superintendence of  persons
  
  having  control of  the same. 
  If  persons having the 
  
  control, etc.,  fail to  superintend, company  may proceed with the  works.--No
  
  such  street, bridge,  sewer,  drain,  or  tunnel shall, except in the cases of
  
  emergency aforesaid, be opened or broken up, except under the superintendence
  
  of the persons having the control or management thereof, or of their officer,
  
  and according to such plan as shall  be approved  of by such persons or their
  
  officer, or in case of any  difference respecting such plan, then according to
  
  such plan as shall be  determined by  a Magistrate; and such Magistrate may, on
  
  the application of  the persons  having the  control or  management of any such
  
  sewer  or drain,  or their  officer, require  the said Company to make such 
  
  temporary or  other works  as they  may think necessary for guarding against
  
  any interruption of the drainage during the execution of any works which
  
  interfere with any such sewer or drain;
  Provided always  that,
  
  if  the persons  having  such  control  or management as aforesaid, and their
  
  officer, fail to attend at the time fixed for  the opening  of any  such
  
  street,  bridge, sewer, drain, or tunnel, after  having had  such notice of the
  
  said Company's intention as aforesaid, or shall not propose any plan for
  
  breaking up or opening the same, or shall refuse or neglect to superintend the
  
  operation, the said Company may perform the work specified in such notice
  
  without the superintendence of such persons or their officer.