§ MR. KER SEYMERasked the Chief Commissioner of Works by whose authority cows are permitted in Hyde Park, when they are excluded from the other parks; whether the number are limited, and whether any of the officers of the Ranger's Department, or of the Board of Works, are allowed to have the run of cows free of charge; and, if so, how many are allowed to each such officer?
§ SIR BENJAMIN HALL, in reply, said that he had himself no authority in the matter, but he hnd communicated with Mr. Stephenson, the superintendent of Hyde Park, and from whom he had received the following statement:—
Cows are permitted in Hyde Park under the authority of the Ranger for the time being. The number is limited, being regulated according to the state of the herbage. Permission is granted to any person to put cows in the Park on payment of a rent; such rent is collected from many persons, and amounted for the last year to £470 14s., which was duly carried to the Public Accounts. It has hitherto been considered to be of great benefit to the public that so large a supply of fresh 1200 milk should be so easily obtained during the summer months. The superintendent is the only officer in the Ranger's department who has the privilege of depasturing cows free of expense to the number of five, which privilege has been enjoyed by him for twenty-five years, and by his predecessors in office. If it should be considered to be more for the public advantage that the cows should be removed from Hyde Park, the Superintendent will make no claim for compensation.