§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, How soon that part of the new 464 buildings at South Kensington to be appropriated to the Royal School of Naval Architecture is likely to be completed and roofed in; and, whether he is aware that building materials of great value have been long lying on the ground at South Kensington and suffering deterioration for want of money to make the proper use of them?
MR. GLADSTONEreplied, that the Treasury had limited the sum which was to be appropriated for the buildings at South Kensington during the present year, and his right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works was engaged in considering what was the best application to make of that sum. The right hon. Baronet was quite correct in stating that a considerable quantity of building materials was lying upon the ground at South Kensington; and although those materials were not of what was usually called a perishable character, they would certainly be none the better, and might be much the worse, in consequence of prolonged exposure to the weather. His right hon. Friend was sensible of that circumstance, and would endeavour to lay out the money in such a manner as to prevent any further progress in such deterioration.