HC Deb 14 July 1862 vol 168 cc319-20

Order for Committee read.

House in Committee.

Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.

Clause 3 (Compensation provided by 24 & 25 Vict., c. 88 to apply).

SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY

asked for some explanation of its provisions.

MR. COWPER

said, the object of the measure was to alter the architectural outline of the new buildings. It was proposed to surrender some portion of the site of the public offices in the Park, and to take in lieu of it other small portions of the Park to form part of the site. The result of the exchange was that a thousand feet would be given up to the Park.

MR. BRISCOE

said, that an opinion had been expressed by the House in fa- vour of the Palladian style of architecture for these buildings instead of Gothic. Was he to understand that any change was now proposed on that point?

MR. COWPER

replied, that no change in the order of the architecture was contemplated, In 1859, an Act was passed giving a special site marked in the plan appended to that Act. Since that year the Palladian design, to which his hon. Friend alluded, was adopted, and it had been found that that design did not in its ground plan exactly follow the outline prepared by the Act of 1859. Therefore a small alteration in the site became necessary to enable the design which the House agreed to last year to be carried out.

MR. HENLEY

said, he wished to ask whether there was to be any change in the form of the building, or whether the building as originally planned and sanctioned by the House could not be placed on the site which the Government possessed?

MR. COWPER

said, that the elevation which the House adopted, and for which a Vote was taken last year, might possibly be placed on the area obtained in 1859; but the building would suffer if they were obliged to follow that precise area, and there would be an undoubted advantage in taking the outline proposed by the Bill, There would be no change in the elevation, but the tower would be placed a little more forward.

Clause agreed to; as were also the remaining Clauses.

House resumed.

Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read 3° To-morrow.