§ MR. WILBRAHAM EGERTONsaid, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works, If he can state when the 1145 works on the bed of the Serpentine will be completed, and how long locomotives will continue to run alongside the public thoroughfares in the Park; and, whether he can take any precautions against the recurrence of accidents caused by horses taking fright at the engines, especially near the bridge over the Serpentine?
§ MR. AYRTON, in reply, said, he regretted the inconvenience which appeared to be occasioned by the continuance of the works on the Serpentine. An old adage warned people against stirring mud, and it was necessary that the engineer should take every precaution against the ill consequences which would ensue if the works were inconsiderately carried on. It was necessary, in order to prevent the creation of bad smells, to wait until the weather became fine, so that the mud could be thoroughly drained and dried. The weather unfortunately became wet, and the mud could not be drained or dried. It then became very fine but very frosty, and then the mud became frozen, so that the mud could neither be drained or removed. It was then the duty of the engineer to judge between the Government and the contractor, and to determine how much time ought to be allowed in consequence of these obstacles. Tie (Mr. Ayrton) would not pretend to anticipate his decision; but any hon. Member could judge for himself. It was originally expected that the works would be finished by the middle of April, but now it would not be very unreasonable to give the contractor until the middle of May. Until then the locomotive engines and the railway must be employed to carry away the earth and spread the mud which had; accumulated at the bottom of the Serpentine, He did not know how he could prevent people from being inconvenienced if they took restive horses into the neighbourhood of locomotive engines. The only real precaution would be to stop up all the roads leading to that part of the Park where the works were going on; but if he did so, no doubt there would be great complaints. Another precaution would be if people would take only well-bred and well-broken horses near the works, because it was well known that they regarded locomotive engines as mere mechanical contrivances, and were never disturbed or alarmed by the presence of such engines. He might, in- 1146 deed, take another course, and warn persons that the locomotive engines were at work, so that they might proceed or not in that direction at their own discretion.