MR. ALDERMAN W. LAWRENCEsaid, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether Roehampton Gate of Richmond Park will be open to the public this season; and, if not, what course the Government intend to take in order that the visitors and inhabitants of the metropolis may have a nearer entrance and better approach to the Park than they have at present?
§ MR. AYRTONsaid, he must remind the House that last year, in Committee of Supply on the Civil Service Estimates, the salary of the gatekeeper at Roehampton Gate had been struck out of the Vote, in consequence of which arrangements had been made for blocking up the entrance which enabled the gene- 630 ral public to go into Richmond Park through that entrance. The public at large suffered no inconvenience—the sufferers were those residing in the immediate neighbourhood. Nothing could be done to remedy that inconvenience, because the owner of the road to that gate, considering herself very much affronted by what was done, declined to allow any carriage to pass over her private road. The question of opening a new road for the convenience of the inhabitants of the metropolis did not belong to him, but to those who administered the expenditure of the metropolis for the purpose of making roads for the convenience of the inhabitants.
MR. ALDERMAN W. LAWRENCEsaid, he wished to know whether any sum had been offered to the owner of the private road, or any correspondence had taken place on the subject?
§ MR. AYRTONreplied, that no subsequent negotiations had since taken place, but that he had offered an apology to the lady with reference to the circumstances which led to the quarrel, but she declined to accept his apology.