§ LORD JOHN MANNERSmoved for leave to bring in a Bill to authorize the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings to acquire lands for the purpose of the new Palace at Westminster, and to construct an Embankment on the North shore of the River Thames, in the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster. He said, that for the last few years a continual nuisance and danger had been experienced from the state of the premises near the Victoria Tower. It had been strongly recommended by the Commission of 1863 that the premises should be purchased by the Government, and that the embankment of the Thames should be carried along their site. He might mention that no later than last summer an attempt had been made to blow up that portion of the palace, and that, as lately an the 19th January last, a gas engine had exploded in the straw yard abutting on the Victoria Tower. These buildings would be pulled down, and on the western extremity of the land so acquired it was proposed to erect a handsome range of houses, and the money which would be derived from the sale of that portion of the ground was expected to largely compensate for the cost of purchasing the property. Under these circumstances, he thought the House would not object to the introduction of the Bill.
COLONEL SYKESsaid, he wished to inquire what number of houses were included in the Bill; and whether any estimate had been made of the money required for their purchase?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSsaid, that if the hon. and gallant Colonel would look at the Estimates he would find a full account of the proposed expenditure. The sum total was £175,000, of which £30,000 would be proposed during the present year.
§ MR. HENDERSONsaid, that the Bill would provide a protection against what might be a national calamity. Some time ago he had visited the premises, and within 167 twenty yards of the Palace he saw a coal yard, at the foot of which were two barges loading gas tar. In an adjoining yard there were 200 or 300 tons of straw, between which and the gas tar a man was smoking. A spark from his pipe might have caused a conflagration, which if the wind had been in a certain direction would have reached the Palace.
§
Motion agreed to.
Bill to authorize the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings to acquire lands for the purposes of the New Palace at Westminster, and to construct an Embankment on the North shore of the River Thames, in the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster, ordered to be brought in by Lord JOHN MANNERS, and Mr. HUNT.
§ Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 81.]